Category Archives: history

…the holly and the ivy …

Posted on June 20, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Rats! Wrong web site! This should be about Photographica, not Christmas in July(ish). Oh well, let’s talk about the Holly camera, at least it’s Photographica. A rare, unsuccessful German plastic box camera of 1950 vintage, The Holly uses 120 … Continue reading →

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scaring the daylight out

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Bob Lansdale, our late editor, was a staunch supporter of Canadian technology and innovation. An article in issue 29-3 stated, “… detailed in Photographic Canadiana Vol. 29-3 that the daylight developing machine was patented April 17, 1900 by Arthur … Continue reading →

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Ted Shepherd’s Replica Camera

Posted on June 18, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The world was electrified in early 1839 when Louie Daguerre’s amazing process for creating images by the action of sunlight was announced. The new process meant new devices to ‘capture’ these images. Being French, Daguerre’s early cameras were made … Continue reading →

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slice and dice

Posted on June 15, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Dr Edgerton experimented with high speed flash in the 1930s. He analysed motion by triggering the flash rapidly as the the subject moved. It was a precursor to electronic flash which was also called strobe light in the mid … Continue reading →

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corny but collectible

Posted on June 14, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Image collectors lust after all kinds of images. The farm couple at left while a bit homely to current tastes, hold some unusual items. Collectors might have included this image in their collections for many reasons (process, symbolism, subjects, … Continue reading →

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who the heck is Todd Webb?

Posted on June 12, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Years ago, I was busy devouring large photograph ‘coffee table books’ including Frank photographs in the book he co-authored called “The Americans“.  The Washington Post on the 5th of this June had an interesting article/review titled. “Two photographers traveled … Continue reading →

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pretty as a picture

Posted on June 11, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. In fact this is a picture from the Toronto Reference Library of a little girl photographed by Alfred Pittaway in 1893. Image collectors may have eclectic tastes, or focus on one aspect such as: Clarity, process, studio or subject. … Continue reading →

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give a little, take a little …

Posted on June 9, 2024 by Robert

Toronto.  In a recent post, I described an unusual binocular that could be reversed to become a camera. By using one side as a camera, and the other as a monocular, this French gadget just a few years later let … Continue reading →

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out in the sticks

Posted on June 8, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. This cover photograph for issue 34-1 (summer, 2008) of the journal is courtesy of the late Dr Robert Wilson. The child’s portrait is taken while the baby sits precariously on a stick furniture high chair, To describe the photograph, … Continue reading →

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c’est magnifique

Posted on June 7, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. In the spring of 2008, president Clint Hryhorijiw shared the photograph at left with our journal editor, Bob Lansdale. It became the cover illustration for issue 33-4 (Feb-April 2008). The photo shows the executive of the ‘Professional Photographers of … Continue reading →

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