Author Archives: Robert

OMG shades of the Thambar

Posted on October 7, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Our friends at Lomography have announced a variable soft focus lens of 64mm focal length and f/2 maximum aperture for full frame mirrorless cameras. The press release states in part, “We are thrilled to announce the launch of a … Continue reading →

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digging in

Posted on October 6, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Photo historians are blessed with a rich source of photographic history – a community archive of photographs from long ago local studios. The names and often addresses paint a picture of the community as it grew. Verification can often … Continue reading →

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entertainment in the late 1800s

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Did you ever wonder how people amused themselves before movies, radio, television, etc? Books, newspapers, and stereo cards? Well thanks to the Megalethoscope, patented in 1862 by Swiss born Carlo Ponti, people could also be entertained (and educated) by … Continue reading →

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tribute to a couple of Ws

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Keystone is a familiar name to members of the PHSC. As publishers of stereo view cards and sets (at one time), their wares are seen at many PHSC fairs. At left is a shot of one of the Keystone … Continue reading →

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hurry up and slow down

Posted on October 3, 2023 by Robert

Toronto.We usually cover old still photographic items in these posts, but today I take a look at movies (motion using the brain’s persistence and a rapidly projected series of frames). Frame rate can noticeably affect a movie. When a movie … Continue reading →

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an innovator called Karl

Posted on October 2, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. You have likely used his designs or innovations, especially if you took photographs last century with smaller roll film cameras (127 and 35mm) or used an SLR. A young Dutchman, Johan Steenbergen, moved to Dresden in 1912 where he … Continue reading →

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a field of reads

Posted on October 1, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Ken Metcalf sent along the issue 2 2023 of the Graflex  Journal devoted to, “SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT GRAFLEX AND THEIR CAMERAS”. You can see the back issues by visiting the journal web site here. Issue 2 2023 has these … Continue reading →

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help!

Posted on September 30, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. At a recent PHSC auction, one lot of photographs included the photo at left. The lady seems to be wearing an unusual costume with what looks like padded bloomers. Also, the lady seems to have vaguely Oriental facial features. … Continue reading →

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a debt unpaid

Posted on September 29, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. … promise made is a debt unpaid … as Robert Service wrote in his 1907 epic Yukon poem, “The Cremation of Sam McGee“. Service was born in England and lived in many places, including Canada (he once worked for … Continue reading →

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expensive words

Posted on September 28, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. The old chestnut says a picture is worth a 1000 words. If so, the 14,000 words for these 14 daguerreotypes are worth nearly $39 USD each! Many Canadians remember the stories of Franklin and his two ill-fated vessels, the … Continue reading →

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