Category Archives: history

a treasure from my collection

Posted on April 15, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. At some point when the late Bill Belier became editor of Photographic Canadian, he started this column. In issue 30-3 dated November/December 2004, under editor the late Bob Lansdale, Bill has written, “A Short Survey of Some Earlier Medium … Continue reading →

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carbon without the tax

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Robert

Toronto.  Image collectors browsing the fairs and shows noticed many mid to late 1800s carded photos were faded and had poor contrast while the odd one was bright and crisp, seemingly printed just recently, belying its century plus age. Our … Continue reading →

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room with a view

Posted on April 6, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. In the days of Daguerreotype portraits, photographers opened studios illuminated by daylight. Given the slowness of the media and equipment of the day, many studios chose northern lighting. Sunlight from the north had softer shadows and a more pleasing … Continue reading →

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April showers …

Posted on April 4, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. … bring May flowers … as the old saying goes. A few posts back I mentioned that inclement weather can improve landscape/cityscape photos. Witness the famous jumping man shot by Cartier-Bresson, or the mood set in various ‘film noir’ … Continue reading →

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the camera that wasn’t there

Posted on April 3, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The production and sale of dry plates brought with it a different kind of camera,  one that could be handheld (by steady hands) or even worn rather than requiring a special support like a tripod. These cameras, especially those … Continue reading →

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Kodak’s contribution to the war effort

Posted on April 2, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. WW2 brought war photography to a new level – along with  advertisements and non-German cameras etc. The ad at left shows how Kodak continued to support the war effort in the States with military goods manufactured of ‘Tenite’ – … Continue reading →

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a man from Kinmount

Posted on April 1, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. My good friend and fellow photo historian, George Dunbar, sent me a note the other day about Keith Stata and his Kinmount theatre/museum. George writes, “A wonderful documentary featuring Keith Stata, a movie fan who built his own cinema … Continue reading →

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this is where I came in …

Posted on March 30, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. As kids, we sometimes missed the start of a movie at a Saturday matinee. The solution was simple – we sat through the second running until we saw what we had missed, then left … As a kid, on … Continue reading →

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keep to the right now, ma

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. When Canada was established in 1867,  the automobile did not exist. By the time it came into being, Quebec had followed France in driving to the right. Ontario elected to follow suit to be in line with its neighbouring … Continue reading →

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stormy weather

Posted on March 22, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Image collectors have a great many images from daguerreotype portraits on. One genre of eye-catching images is that of landscapes in inclement weather  – be it rain, snow, wind, threatening clouds, etc. An otherwise mundane subject can be transformed … Continue reading →

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