Category Archives: history

now a b-i-i-i-i-i-i-g smile

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Group photos were often taken over the years to show the team players in a school, plant, or factory for a given year. Smiths Falls pre-WW2 was a very active Canadian factory town with  a number of impressive industries. … Continue reading →

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a KODAK moment

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Robert

Toronto.  From the very beginning, the sine qua non of any portrait photographer or artist was capturing the very essence of his subject. Some images succeeded and some did not. The successes, such as the famous Karsh portrait of  Churchill, … Continue reading →

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marble nursery

Posted on April 4, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Like all youths, we were very incorrect. When we passed a cemetery for example, it was called a ‘marble orchard’! In response to a recent post on work photographs (workin’), my friend George Dunbar replied that he sent photographs … Continue reading →

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educating photographers

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the days of film, many cameras came from Europe or Japan. Photographers used the information booklet that came with the camera – often written by folks definitely not use to English – for education. Photographers resorted to books … Continue reading →

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through a computer darkly

Posted on April 2, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Another past-time of mine is family genealogy. For over forty years now I have traced ancestors diligently. The other day the society received an email from the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) announcing its free online series for this month … Continue reading →

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landscapes, streetscapes, and history

Posted on March 31, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. The old landscapes and streetscapes bring visions of history that no one can see in any other way. Years ago, at one of our fairs, I bought some glass plates from Marlene Cook.  Most of the exposed plates came … Continue reading →

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gilding the lily

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Post WW2, photography literally blossomed with new ideas. Flash bulbs became the rage for solving lighting problem allowing for snaps at night or indoors. Soon all cameras came wth flash synchronized shutters. Many included the soon to be ubiquitous … Continue reading →

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flighty photos

Posted on March 26, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Some photographers use propeller driven aircraft in their activities. Exec member Wayne Gilbert often used a small aircraft as he shot views of buildings. This ceased when his friend and pilot retired. The use of a small aircraft circumvented … Continue reading →

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what a find for the image collector

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. I always enjoy emails from George Dunbar. George diligently researches photographic history and comes up with the darnedest things! This time it is a doozy for those of us who collect photos by long ago Ontario photographers. George writes, … Continue reading →

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a baleful eye on historic events

Posted on March 20, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Not long after its invention, photography and photographers recorded exotic landscapes, famous people, disasters, wrecks, wars, etc.  Before the evolution of such photographs, we relied on wood cuts, steel cuts, and the written word to describe events near and … Continue reading →

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