Category Archives: history

polishing the image

Posted on September 4, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. last century, after prints were developed, a special chrome sheet and heated press was used to add a glossy finish to the print. Without this process, paper-based prints would have a matt finish and somewhat lower contrast. Late in … Continue reading →

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stereo and department store catalogues

Posted on September 1, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. I hope you enjoyed the airshow ending today (Monday Sep 1st). It has been running annually at the CNE for over 70 years! Years ago, a major department store chain in Canada was Eaton’s. When stereo hit one of … Continue reading →

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when night falls …

Posted on August 29, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. For many decades after the invention of photography, it was a daylight – bright daylight – pursuit unless one resorted to bright artificial lighting – flash powder, flood lights, flash bulbs, electronic flash, etc. Sensitive media of the day … Continue reading →

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Autochrome and fashion.

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. From the beginnings of photography until the early 1900s, photographic processes were all monochrome – unless the image was hand coloured! Around the turn of the 20th century, a variety of additive colour processes were invented, the best of … Continue reading →

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Mr Goss, You make great pictures …

Posted on August 27, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. …. with  a nod to Christie’s tag line for the idea. If you have ever crossed the Don Valley on Bloor or Danforth, you used the Bloor Viaduct shown here at left (July 18, 1917) while it was under … Continue reading →

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once upon a time in Toronto …

Posted on August 26, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. In our journal, editor Bob Lansdale worked hard to present Canadian photographic history, often drowned out by the cacophony from across the border. While older Canadians learnt British history; younger ones through products, movies, magazines, TV, etc. learned about … Continue reading →

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so what is a camera …really?

Posted on August 25, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. At left is a c1544 drawing of a camera obscura showing a solar eclipse. In the image, the  left wall has a pin-hole to let in the light. The right wall acts as a screen to allow the image … Continue reading →

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wagon ho!

Posted on August 23, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Many old photo collectors have a ‘war’ category. One well known NYC photographer anticipated a demand  and decided he would photograph the American civil war. Sadly, interest in these war photos died with the end of the American civil … Continue reading →

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remembering john vanderpant

Posted on August 22, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. In issue 25-2, editor Bob Lansdale published Sheryl Salloum’s copyright 1999 article on the famous Vancouver based John Vanderpant titled, “John Vanderpant’s Vibrating “Voice” and Vision”. Ms Salloum’s article begins with this prècis. “From 1919 to 1939, the Dutch-Canadian photographer … Continue reading →

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of mouse traps and man

Posted on August 21, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Have you ever thought about how photography came about? In early January of 1839, Daguerre felt he had perfected his process enough to have it noted in the French newspapers of the day. Some more modern articles consider the … Continue reading →

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