Author Archives: Robert

I, said the photo, beginning to fade …

Posted on February 2, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Digital technology brought with it many amazing changes to the photo industry. One of which is the plethora of software tools available today to improve and resurrect old photographs – along with an ethical issue. My long time contributor … Continue reading →

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close call

Posted on February 1, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. One of my favourite past times is closeup photography. With the digital era this is like Dickens and his “Tale of Two Cities” – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …”. Digital technology … Continue reading →

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the Scots who pioneered photography

Posted on January 31, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. George Dunbar writes, “The Scots Who Pioneered Photography” [is] A BBC review of a 2017 show at the National Galleries of Scotland. Many unique and unusual images here.” Indeed, this fine 2017 review brings to mind many Scots famous for … Continue reading →

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did ja ever …

Posted on January 30, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. … see any of deez? When photography began some enterprising folk opened studios to make and sell a ‘likeness’. People wore their Sunday best clothes and flocked to the local studio for a family portrait which was pricy but … Continue reading →

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studio daze

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. When it took some skill to capture an image for a special event, many folk chose to visit a studio. This image was shot in just such a studio in Southern England around 1917 – over a century ago. … Continue reading →

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mon dieu! une autre Sept!

Posted on January 28, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Like the Ansco Memo, the French camera called the Sept, uses 35mm cine film. A 1920’s camera, it is spring-wound and uses a 5m length of cine film in a unique cartridge. Originally an Italian design, it was made … Continue reading →

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one grand

Posted on January 27, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. A few days ago, Wendy Elliott wrote the article “Continuing the health-care work“. Her article is on Saltwire in the Opinion section of its Atlantic Canada file. To read the article you will need to sign in with your … Continue reading →

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up, up, and away

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. After minicams became common, time and effort was spent to create developers that would reduce film grain and provided finer detail so negatives could be enlarged more without resulting in so called ’empty magnification’. A similar situation in digital … Continue reading →

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pushing all buttons

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The invention of the dry plate in 1871 opened the door to sub-second exposures in sunlight through a normal photographic lens. And with sub-second performance came a need for shutters. And with shutters came a need for shutter buttons. … Continue reading →

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cute as a button

Posted on January 24, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Professionals in the 19th and early 20th century chose a camera size such that the final print was a contact print, and generally not an enlargement from the negative.  As movies grew in popularity, some manufacturers realized that a … Continue reading →

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