Category Archives: history

blinding me with flash bulbs

Posted on February 7, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the 1800s, efforts to use photography and its very slow media under poor lighting (i.e. less than full sunlight) resulted in the invention of flash powder ignited in a long narrow tray held high(ish) by the photographer. As … Continue reading →

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the way we were – updated and corrected.

Posted on February 3, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Thanks to Trish J who diligently searched the LAC site and discovered this photo is NOT King St TORONTO, but King St SAINT JOHN NB! Trish J writes, “A photograph of King Street, Saint John NB is mistakenly labelled … Continue reading →

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to print or not to print

Posted on February 2, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. The popularity of mid 1800s printing made possible the Victorian practice of making a photographic album. This practice carried on well into the next century. When the idea of albums disappeared, a drawer, shoe box or other small space … Continue reading →

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a bank clerk makes good

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. When Englishman Richard Maddox discovered a dry plate process fast enough for use in a camera, he set in motion many things including the shift in technological revolution from the old world to the new. During the 1870s in … Continue reading →

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… and keep your camera dry

Posted on January 31, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. The wet-plate process became the primary process in photography for the next few decades until another Englishman, Richard Maddox solved its problems of slow speed, damp cameras, and the need for immediate exposure and processing. Maddox came up with … Continue reading →

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when wet-plate was king

Posted on January 30, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Of the two earliest photographic processes, most photographers chose to use the Daguerreotype. It was free (outside England), had the best resolution by far, and had good contrast. But it was limited to one plate unless the plate was … Continue reading →

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Hollywood in the Klondike – Book Review

Posted on January 29, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. About five years ago I did a post called, “Frozen in Time” about some movie reels discovered up in Dawson City. Since then Michael Gates has written a book about the find. Our good friend, “George Dunbar” managed to … Continue reading →

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flattop revisited

Posted on January 28, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. A few days ago I did a post on a February, 1950 ad for Kodak’s enlarger – the Hobbyist. Two months after that ad, Kodak did another one on the Hobbyist, this time explaining the way the Hobbyist ensured … Continue reading →

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egging it on

Posted on January 27, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the early days of photography, the idea of paper prints took hold. Thus the albumen print came into being. At its peak, photography was a major user of eggs. Albumen (or raw egg whites) was (were) used to stick … Continue reading →

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a hot time in the old town tonight

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. When I first saw this March 1950 ad for a Kodak lens that used Lanthanum, I immediately thought about the radio-active Leitz lenses I remembered reading about. To create unique glass characteristics, many glasses were melted with pinches of stuff … Continue reading →

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