Category Archives: history

a steamy day in old SK

Posted on July 16, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. George Dunbar sent me this photograph from ‘Canada’s History‘. George tells me that the website has a wealth of historic Canadian stories and photographs. Take a look at the site – you may find some interesting stories and photos … Continue reading →

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before we had Carousel projectors

Posted on July 15, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. When 35mm transparency projectors came along, a simple slide holder allowed a slide to be loaded while another was projected. The operator had to keep the slides in order for storage and correctly positioned for right side up and … Continue reading →

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photography and a six foot atlas

Posted on July 12, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. How the heck do you photograph a rare atlas? Very carefully, apparently with lavish attention to detail, lighting, and preservation. The Open Culture site on May 11th, 2017 published an article by Ted Mills titled, “Timelapse Film Shows How … Continue reading →

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the professionals

Posted on July 8, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Many of our members are professional photographers – working or retired. And many of those folk belong to the Professionals Photographers of Canada (PPOC). Amongst other things, the PPOC runs a photo contest and has a series of online … Continue reading →

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clarifying a radical new process and camera

Posted on July 7, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Many of us recall the iconic Polaroid Land camera of 1948 and its amazing ‘picture-in-a-minute’ black and white in-camera printing process. The basic idea dates back to pre-war Europe (1939).  Successful retail marketing occurred with this  American-made Edwin  Land … Continue reading →

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a tradition in the sky

Posted on July 4, 2023 by Robert

Toronto.  As I write this post on Canada Day when we too celebrate with fireworks (smoke and rain permitting), I am thinking of our good friends to the south who celebrate Independence Day with fireworks too. The photo at left … Continue reading →

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transparent history

Posted on June 30, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. We think of history as the distant past. Not necessarily so. Slides, or colour transparencies taken by amateurs can sometimes be an historic record beyond the intended audience of the immediate family. The slide here shows a hilly street … Continue reading →

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high resolution

Posted on June 29, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. One thing a daguerreotype had going for it from the ‘get go’ was resolution. The terribly slow process was (depending on lens quality, plate, focussing, movement, etc.) always capable of very high resolution. Even today,  the existing mid 1850s … Continue reading →

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made to measure

Posted on June 28, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the days of film, darkroom work was all wet and gooey either in full darkness or with dim reddish or brownish illumination. Strange powders were measured out and added to water and mixed to create magical solutions. Some … Continue reading →

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something’ to chew on …

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the late 1950s, I bought a Minox IIIs, tank, enlarger, etc. After the camera  was lost in the mail, I bought a new Minox IIIB. The IIIs and older cameras were about the size of a package of … Continue reading →

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