Category Archives: history

self portrait

Posted on December 29, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Self portraits or selfies are simple today with the ubiquitous front facing smart phone camera. Before that, a self timer allowed self portraits with  tripod mounted cameras. But how can you capture something that is over in the blink … Continue reading →

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a new tourist in town

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Kodak made many cameras from the in expensive box cameras to the high end minicams. Some of their folders settled into the mid-range with a better, faster lens and a multi-setting flash synchronized leaf shutter. An example with a … Continue reading →

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Oh Sun-Ray Days

Posted on December 27, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. When minicams became the norm, enlargers were no longer an option but became a necessity to make prints from the tiny minicam negatives. Amateurs reluctant to buy high end enlargers (Durst, Omega, Beseler, Leitz, etc.)  costing much more than … Continue reading →

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eye of a hawk

Posted on December 26, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Traditionally, the day after Christmas is called boxing day.  It was a day to give gifts to the poor. Later on, the day became known for its wide spread sales. As time passed, many sales on other days were … Continue reading →

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’twas the night …

Posted on December 24, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. … before Christmas … as Clement Moore  said in his popular Christmas tale first published in 1823. I didn’t have a decent mouse shot so these hamsters in a Dektol tin will have to do. I took this photo at … Continue reading →

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so last century!

Posted on December 23, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Last century nearly every kid remembers getting a camera or camera kit for Christmas (most likely a Kodak).  Today kids  will still ask for gifts, but not for a camera or camera kit. Instead, top of the list would … Continue reading →

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will that be matt or glossy?

Posted on December 22, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. In the early 1950s I was a member of our high school camera club. At the time we could buy a single sheet of 8×10 double weight Kodak photographic paper for a dime. If we washed and dried the … Continue reading →

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to hell and back

Posted on December 21, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. In the heady days of railway travel there were many railroads operating. On such railroad was the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railroad with headquarters in Hamilton. My friend’s grandfather and father called it the “To Hell and Back” railroad. … Continue reading →

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I met a camera that wasn’t there …

Posted on December 20, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. We have all (well some of us) heard about artificial intelligence (AI) tools and the amazing job they can do to create a photo. They can also create photos of cameras that were never made! The PetaPixel site shows … Continue reading →

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Christmas a century ago

Posted on December 19, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Our erstwhile historian and good friend, George Dunbar, discovered this photo from the LAC in ‘The Lake Report‘ and shared it with us. It shows the two sides in WW1 taking a break and celebrating Christmas together. One soldier … Continue reading →

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