Category Archives: history

suddenly, a shot rang out …

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. In the pre-ww2 days of film, the media was relatively slow and lenses were of generally smaller aperture, especially as the focal length increased. The result was to make it difficult to keep longer focal length lenses steady for … Continue reading →

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snapping some zzzzz’s

Posted on June 10, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Many of us recall the Nikon ‘F’ mount. A few years ago, Nikon came out with the larger ‘Z’ mount for its digital cameras. This larger mount is used on both full frame cameras and the smaller APS-C format … Continue reading →

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picture of an era

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. The picture at left is that of UK engineer I K Brunel in 1857 in front of the massive chains of the ‘SS Great Eastern’ taken by Robert Howlett a year or so before Howlett’s early death at 27. … Continue reading →

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who the heck was Geo E Smith?

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. We all know about the contributions of Daguerre, Fox Talbot, Scott Archer, Dick Maddox, and George Eastman to photography. Most were eccentric, sometimes well-to-do individuals whose ideas have become sign posts along the way in photographic history. By the … Continue reading →

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before movies, radio, TV we had …

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. … stereo cards.  These often well photographed three dimensional cards gave folks  entertainment and education before the many ‘opiates’ of the 20th century became common place (as a child in the 1940s, I was enthralled with a relative’s ‘basket’ … Continue reading →

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the minute man in video

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Today’s photographers and snap-shooters know  any photos they take are displayed ‘instantly’, ready to be edited or sent world-wide as is. It wasn’t always the case. In late 1948, Dr Edwin Land first offered his famous B&W Polaroid 95 … Continue reading →

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credit where credit’s due

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. The PHSC from its beginning has been blessed with many well educated members – lawyers, professors, software designers, managers, professional photographers, etc. For example, issue 23-4 picks out Dr Marta Braun, professor of  Image Arts at Ryerson Polytechnic University (now … Continue reading →

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how much exposure?

Posted on May 28, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. The digital fraternity (and in the waning days of film) have no difficulty with exposure – the camera does the heavy lifting. It wasn’t always so. All of the 19th century (well at least when photography experiments began) and … Continue reading →

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dating those stereo cards

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. A common sight at our fairs is the ubiquitous ‘stereo card’. You know, the usually slightly curved cards with two similar images ‘glued’ to the card. Often the cards are undated and it’s difficult to estimate a date. Past-president, … Continue reading →

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…two for the money …

Posted on May 26, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. In issue 23-5 (spring 1998) the late Bill Belier began his long running column, “A Treasure From My Collection….”. Featured are two “No. 2 Folding Pocket Kodak” cameras from the late 1800s/early 1900s when George Eastman was putting the … Continue reading →

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