Category Archives: history

remembering DuPont photo products

Posted on April 19, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. We all remember Kodak products and most will recall Ansco and Ilford photo products. But do you remember the other products like those made by DuPont – both film and paper? I did a post on Dupont the summer … Continue reading →

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fantastic machine

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. At 90, my good friend George Dunbar still manages to scour the web for interesting photographic items. Recently George discovered a preview of the Swedish/Danish film  called “fantastic machine” on the Strand Releasing site. George writes, ‘”Fantastic Machine” from … Continue reading →

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a rare wet plate camera in good condition

Posted on April 17, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. In June of 1998 this rare wet plate camera (sans lens) resided with member Bill Kantymir. Bill Belier in his “treasure” column traces it from its manufacture in England to an Ontario collection with stops a long the way … Continue reading →

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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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