Category Archives: history

moon shot

Posted on November 16, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. The year my first child was born, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. It was an exciting time for all. And photography proved its worth by capturing space images on the moon, not earth. Years earlier, I learnt in … Continue reading →

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I’se the b’y that writes the book …

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In 1949, Newfoundland and Labrador formed the last and 10th province of Canada, Joey Smallwood as head of Newfoundland negotiated the transfer of this beautiful and rugged land from England control to Canada. 1941 saw a brief history with … Continue reading →

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a Keene sense of subjects

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Our resident photo historian, George Dunbar, dropped me a note the other day after he browsed the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) website. George writes, “The Photography and bio of Minna Keene are found on this National Gallery of … Continue reading →

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an easy way to try film

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. An easy way to see if you like the look of film-based prints is to pick up a disposable camera! How-to Geek recently posted an article titled, “How Do Disposable Cameras Work, and Why Do They Still Exist?”. The … Continue reading →

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if so inclined

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Various incline and funicular railways were built to allow families with small children, plus the elderly, the frail, and the casual walkers to ride in comfort from one steep height to another – usually a few hundred feet. Often … Continue reading →

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what’s in a name

Posted on November 6, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. … or so Will Shakespeare is credited as writing in his famous tragedy about star-crossed young teen lovers. I thought of Alberta as home of the famous Tar Sands when I was a kid. By the 1960s, the sands … Continue reading →

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leaf it to beaver

Posted on November 4, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. The landscape photographers recorded the great outdoors over the years allowing us to see the changes – by season and by time. Mountains change, leaves fall, forests are lost. All carefully recorded by landscape photographers over the years. Without … Continue reading →

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time after time

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the glass plate/film era, a latent image was captured and developed. If necessary. the resulting image could be reversed and enlarged. The earlier media were insensitive to many visible colours created by less energetic light rays. These media … Continue reading →

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a supporting stand

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In this day of smartphones and digital cameras with maximum  ISO settings beyond our wildest dreams in the film era, camera supports are seldom necessary (other than to take selfies or closeups where framing is critical). In the early … Continue reading →

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tossed upon cloudy seas

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Cloud photography was a challenge in the earlier years of our art. The media were mainly blue light sensitive. Both sky and cloud showed dark on the negative material when the landscape or person was suitably exposed. To correct … Continue reading →

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