Category Archives: history

the value of photography to history

Posted on September 16, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. As we sit back in our easy chair and view a colour video clip of a catastrophe (from nature, man,  or war) on the other side of the globe, we seldom think about the impact photography has had on … Continue reading →

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look-a-like-a-leica

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. After WW2, the world was inundated with Leica lookalikes. Some were  flat out copies like the Russian FED and Zorki models; some were copies of Leica features like Canon; and some were marketed as improvements on Leica like the … Continue reading →

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genealogy and photography

Posted on September 13, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Have you ever wondered about your ancestors? The American company  Ancestry (with the Canadian link shown here), does a wonderful job of indexing an astonishing number of genealogical databases. Before Ancestry, one had to visit city directories, or government … Continue reading →

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silent movies and colour!

Posted on September 12, 2021 by Robert

Toronto.  I usually think black and white when I think silent movies but it was not so! The movie, “Ben-Hur” released in 1925 was the most expensive silent movie ever made. Much of it was shot “on location” in Rome … Continue reading →

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how to fail without really trying …

Posted on September 8, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. “What the heck is a photon, anyway?”, you may ask. Actually, it is a measure of light. In 1948, Bell & Howell misspelt the word to create a unique name for its still camera, as is often the case … Continue reading →

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drumming up business

Posted on September 5, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. In November, 2003, we had the privilege of hearing well known photographer, the late Paul Hoeffler, talk about his experiences as a youth photographing jazz musicians in the Rochester area. Back then, Paul knew and photographed many once celebrated … Continue reading →

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marks the spot

Posted on September 4, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. After the end of the war, all camera makers used marketing to try to increase market share. Even the most trivial difference between camera makers was touted as an amazing breakthrough. For example, Argus chose the viewfinder of their … Continue reading →

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cat’s eye

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Nearly a century ago, there was a race on to create a faster lens. Such a lens would allow photos  indoors and at night using natural light. In 1924 Ernemann announced the Ermanox plate camera (4.5×6 cm) with a … Continue reading →

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eye of the storm

Posted on August 31, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. It was ‘the best of times and the worst of times‘ between the world wars. After the first war, pent-up demand blossomed into unprecedented wealth in the first decade, followed by the worst depression ever in the next (world … Continue reading →

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Japan c1908 in photos

Posted on August 30, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Our President, Lewko Hryhorijiw, sent me this link from Helen Teager. The photographs are a selection of the work by the German-American photographer, Arnold Genthe, held in the Library of Congress. The photos were taken when Genthe spent a … Continue reading →

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