Category Archives: history

In Search of Geraldine Moodie

Posted on January 20, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Yesterday’s post on PhotoEd items mentioned Geraldine Moodie. This triggered in my mind an article on Ms Moodie in our journal. It was actually a book review of the book, “In Search of Geraldine Moodie”. The review is in … Continue reading →

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six things to know

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. In the course of browsing the web for photo history, George Dunbar came across the American “National Gallery of Art” website in Washington DC. Included on the site was this article on Dorothea Lange, “Who Is Dorothea Lange? 6 … Continue reading →

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when Kodak was King

Posted on January 16, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. For much of the 20th century, Kodak and photography were synonymous. By the mid 20th century Kodak was among the biggest – if not the biggest – in the industry, world-wide. Home base was Kodak Park in Rochester. George … Continue reading →

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what the heck?

Posted on January 13, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Around 1931, Leitz decided to make their tiny Leica an interchangeable lens camera and produced the first few new focal length lenses. Within a year, the Leica’s film to lens mount distance was standardized and thereafter any screw mount … Continue reading →

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more on making it better

Posted on January 12, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. When Leitz made special enlarging lenses, the first such lens was the VAROB made from about 1933 through 1939. Some people considered the VAROB lens an Elmar lens in a special barrel for use on an enlarger. Others, like … Continue reading →

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remember when

Posted on January 11, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. George Dunbar sent me this shot of the Kodak Canada campus in Mount Dennis (now part of Toronto) around 1930. You can see the fields that are no longer empty. My uncle and my father had a garage (auto wreckers) … Continue reading →

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Dail M for …

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. … Dr Mandler. The late Walter Mandler was a world renown camera lens designer. The link takes you to his eulogy by Rolf Fricke. This eulogy was published in volume 5-2 of the PHSC newsletter in May, 2005. Dr … Continue reading →

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flash for cash

Posted on January 8, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Post war there was a pent-up demand for commercial products. Cars were in short supply; telephones had a wait list while new cables were added; and many other goods were similarly in short supply. New ideas popped up everywhere … Continue reading →

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when a print in 60 seconds was fast!

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. What a heady time! WW2 was over a decade earlier; improvements in photography came fast and furious, and everyone wanted to get in on the game. Faster films; more colour options; better lighting; flash bulbs; portable electronic flash; etc. … Continue reading →

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remembering Elliott

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The photograph at left was taken years ago by talented Magnum photographer and filmmaker, Elliott Erwitt. Elliott died just over a month ago at 95. In the spring of 2011, on the occasion of Mr Erwitt receiving ICP’s “Infinity … Continue reading →

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