Category Archives: history

photo booths – nostalgia writ large

Posted on March 16, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Are you into photo booths? Can you remember when the nerds had cameras but everyone else crowded into a photo booth for a memorable photo of a day at the fair, seaside, etc.? That was before everyone had a … Continue reading →

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splish, splash, flash

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. In the mid last century, these bulbs and guns were all the rage. They were replaced by cheap electronic flashguns that also went through changes. The mid blue coating on the bulbs allowed outdoor colour film to be used … Continue reading →

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re-creating the war that started Canada

Posted on February 8, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Canada was formed in 1867 in a well known conference held on spud island (PEI). The founding of the Dominion was Britain’s reaction to the US Civil War and its means to protect the British colonies in North America … Continue reading →

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hello darkness, my old friend

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Art and Paul may well have sung about night photography sixty years ago with their Sounds of Silence song in 1964. Mid last century film ASA was very slow – in fact a rating of 200 or so was … Continue reading →

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Swiss knives and cameras

Posted on February 6, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. When the minicam bug took off in the mid 1930s, people traded size for resolution. Companies like Leitz touted the use of enlargers to make large images from the small negatives. And minicams proliferated. The cameras ranged from complex … Continue reading →

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silhouette

Posted on December 24, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. This famous photographer was born in Germany and emigrated to the USA in 1935, prior to the second war to join LIFE magazine. He had already made a name in Europe before moving with his family to America. His … Continue reading →

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in the land of the blind …

Posted on November 18, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. … the one eyed man is king. Have you ever noticed that consumer goods ape each other using the most popular technical advances? Radios, televisions, smart phones, computers, even cars all embrace and promote the latest whiz bang idea. … Continue reading →

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… and the winner is …

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Those of you who have been following the posts on this site know that my friend George Dunbar has been busy researching photographic history through the ads in American magazines such as LIFE from the middle of the last … Continue reading →

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Rochester Library Website

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. My good friend Werner Drechsel pointed out the interesting “Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County” website. On it is a Kodak 1906 catalogue in pdf format which  makes a great read and research tool.  Have a peek at it. … Continue reading →

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mom says screens are bad for your eyes

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. This copy of the frontispiece of an 1876 book at the TPL titled, “Shadows on the Screen; or, An Evening With The Children” reminds us that “screens” have been around for well over a century now. As a kid … Continue reading →

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