Category Archives: history

when f/2 was super fast

Posted on November 25, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. In the 1930s, the films and plates were very slow by today’s standards. Normal lenses were usually around f/3.5. To help this lack of sensitivity, Leitz designed a new lens around 1933. The 6 element lens was a modified … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on when f/2 was super fast

an early marketing phrase …

Posted on November 23, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. In the 1930s, the minicam rage was taking off, so how could you differentiate one camera from another? Leitz chose to call its camera an AUTOFOCAL camera in advertisements in various early 1930s magazines. An example is this small … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on an early marketing phrase …

Kodak – not just photo supplies and cheap cameras

Posted on November 22, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. We often think of Kodak in the film days as a maker of films and other photographic supplies along with a multitude of inexpensive cameras, both still and movie, and other accessories, projectors, etc. However, Kodak also made a … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Kodak – not just photo supplies and cheap cameras

shining a light on an iconic American photographer

Posted on November 18, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. O Winston Link lived from late 1914 to early 2001. A number of his photographs are offered by the Atlanta, GA gallery, Jackson Fine Art. George Dunbar, also a photographer (and a retired industrial cinematographer) , saved Link’s obituary. … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on shining a light on an iconic American photographer

scoring in the frozen north

Posted on November 17, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Brrrr, it was real cold in 1905. Up in Dawson City, the guys put down their sticks and stopped flinging the rubber disk around long enough to let a local snap-shooter take this group photograph. David Shribman, published it … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on scoring in the frozen north

remembering Korda Camera Montreal

Posted on November 16, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. I spent some time researching alternative Leica camera models in the early 1970s. After settling on the M4 as the best offered, I searched the camera shops for one (newer models were out by then and any new M4s … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on remembering Korda Camera Montreal

the faraway hills

Posted on November 14, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. The OstLicht Gallery sends us this message via email. “We would like to draw your attention once again to the 24th OstLicht Photo Auction, which will take place on 19 November 2021 at 5 pm at the OstLicht Gallery. … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on the faraway hills

George snaps Manitoba

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. The ladies from the CHPF spoke to us recently via ZOOM. The other day, our society president, Clint Hryhorijiw kindly copied me on this email from Nicole Plaskett sent to him and Celio Barreto, our programme and ZOOM expert. … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on George snaps Manitoba

a silent salute to Hell’s Angels …

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. We have all heard of the Howard Hughes (he of Spruce Goose fame) epic film, Hell’s Angels. But I wonder just how many folk knew it was basically a silent film with sound effects etc. and rewrites/shoots before its … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on a silent salute to Hell’s Angels …

lessons from the movies

Posted on November 10, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Just picture the late 1920s. Movies were well established as silent entertainment media complete with musical accompaniment from piano to orchestra and all in-between. In 1928, the silents used body language and text slides to convey meaning. Actors could … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on lessons from the movies