Category Archives: processes

old time quality

Toronto. When you visit the PHSC spring fair today, you may be lucky enough to discover an old photo done in a process that defies time like the portrait you see at left. The actual photograph was upscaled using Topaz … Continue reading

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candlelight’s no longer a pain

Toronto. In the days of film, candlelight was so dim and the media so slow that only a tripod could keep the camera steady. Inanimate objects or perhaps adults could stay still enough but children and animals were utterly hopeless … Continue reading

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it’s not easy being green

Toronto. … sang Kermit the frog in his famous 1970 song on Sesame Street so many years ago. This apparently applied to a film called “Anken” too. The film was orthochromatic and, according to the ads, available in the most … Continue reading

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nearly as scarce as hens’ teeth

Toronto. Have you ever seen an authentic wet-plate camera in fine condition? No? Brass lenses from the wet-plate period abound at fairs like ours, but few cameras exist and even fewer unrestored ones in top condition. And there is good … Continue reading

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computational photography

Toronto. Photography is a continuously evolving technology. Have you ever wondered how those smartphones could even begin to compete with digital cameras? These tiny marvels are a computer in your pocket just bursting with apps and technology. A phone and … Continue reading

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imagine! colour in 60 seconds!

Toronto. With smartphones, FaceTime, Skype, etc all using full time live video today, a still colour print in 60 seconds is a big yawn. But, picture photography in early 1963: To see any  photograph – colour or black and white, … Continue reading

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Dr Mike goes to Washington

Toronto. My friend George Dunbar sent me a note the other day saying one of our past presidents, Dr Mike Robinson, was visiting the Smithsonian to demonstrate modern day daguerreotype portraits. Mike makes such collectible images here in his Century … Continue reading

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red sails in the sunset

Toronto. The energy of light depends on its wavelength. The higher (shorter) the wavelength, the more energetic the light. Visible light runs the gamut from reds to deep blues and purples. The beginnings of photography used media barely sensitive to … Continue reading

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roll on

Toronto. George Dunbar threw a challenge the other day. He asked if anyone knew about or heard about the ROLLAPRINT system as advertised on page 4 in the May 26, 1961 issue of LIFE. It is full page so it … Continue reading

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swingin’ at the seance

Toronto. Did you ever notice that the earliest daguerreotypes where a bit odd? Street scenes showed vehicles or people as ghostly apparitions at best. And people shots were mostly very, very stiff, formal studio portraits. Scenes in motion or at … Continue reading

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