another way to make money …

Posted on May 20, 2023 by Robert

a book for a quarter – and a sleeve from Westinghouse flash bulbs

Toronto. … with photography! Weegee in NYC last century seemed to find many ways to make money from his photography besides taking street photos at night of crimes, etc. –  like books and promotions.

George Dunbar writes, “Weegee, one of the greatest examples of an entrepreneur extraordinaire.

“He appeared in this ad for flashbulbs in Popular Mechanics Magazine, March 1953.

“It wouldn’t be surprising if he received a few year’s supply of Westinghouse bulbs for this.”

Many of our readers remember Arthur Fellig (a.k.a. Weegee) and his night time shots on the streets of New York with his Speed Graphic and flash gun. We owe my friend and fellow PHSC member a hearty thanks for finding and sharing this 1953 ad about a promotion between Weegee and Westinghouse.

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cool!

Posted on May 19, 2023 by Robert

an upside down view – February 1953 article in Popular Mechanics

Toronto. When I saw this article sent to me by George Dunbar, it reminded me of two things: the movie shorts about  ‘Our Gang‘ and the Saturday Evening Post sketches by well known illustrator, Norman Rockwell.

Anyone who studied optics or anatomy knows the world we see is really upside down, and righted by our brain. Modern generations often have smart phones – even grade school kids – and no idea that the old film field cameras with a ground glass back for framing and focussing show the scene reversed and upside down! Photographers of that period were use to the ground glass image.

A big thank you goes to George Dunbar, that great photo historian, for finding and sharing the article with us.

Note: This post is in memory of an old 1960s band called, “Spanky and Our Gang“. Here they sing one of their top songs on Sunday night’s Ed Sullivan Show, “Sunday will Never be the Same“.

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what’s in a name?

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Robert

1953 ad for Brand Names Foundation

Toronto. A brand name denotes the style and quality of a company’s products. Post war, an American foundation was incorporated to promote national or international names over small local firms. The foundation was called, “Brand Names Foundation, Inc.” and was discussed in the book “Advertising in the Age of Persuasion” , a brief précis of which is cited in the above link. The book evolved from a CBC series by Terry O’Reilly which I listened to  a few years back,

The premise of the foundation was promotion of national brands and encouraging people to switch from possibly less capable local brands to the far bigger nationals/internationals like Kodak or Ansco in photography.

A big thank you to my good friend and fellow photo enthusiast, George Dunbar, for sharing this full page ad from the January, 1953 issue of Popular Mechanics.

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to do or not to do …

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Robert

two gentlemen from Paris, Ontario. c1890

Toronto. In the vast number of antique photos in archives, libraries, collections, or available for purchase, many have suffered the slings and arrows of time – fading, foxing, bent, broken, torn or worse.  When modern digital technology came along, it became very easy to ‘fix’ many of these old photos.

And there-in, like Hamlet, lies the quandary: to do or not to do the digital fix to enhance damaged or faded prints. A few weeks back, my friend George and I swapped emails on the topic. We agreed that IF the photo was not for sale, THEN digital scanning and fixing to increase the available data would be appropriate. The caveat of course was NOT to enhance any photos online for sale as it might misrepresent the photo to a discerning potential buyer.

Above, an image from the Brant Library  on the ‘Images Our Ontario’ website showing a c1890 shot of two people in a Paris, Ontario, studio. The faded version is the online digital scan of the donation to the library. The much contrastier version is the same image enhanced by George.

My thanks to good friend and serious photo historian, George Dunbar, for the link to the Brant Library image and his enhanced version.

Note: Apologies to Bill Shakespeare and his famous soliloquy, “to be or not to be …”, from his play, “Hamlet”.

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PHSC Monthly Toronto Meeting for May 2023

Posted on May 16, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. The May meeting via  ZOOM features Clint (president) and Celio (programme) in conversation with Vincenzo Pietropaolo. Tickets are free and may be ordered here on Eventbrite.

In addition, Vince is part of the two man exhibition this month at the James Rottman Gallery from May 3 – May 31. The exhibition  features  Vince Pietropaolo, and Rafael Goldchain, both of whom have spoken at earlier PHSC Toronto meetings, Vince in February 2008, March 2012 and Rafael in January 2008.

The event is the kick off of Vincenzo Pietropaolo’s latest photograph book, “Toronto as Community: Fifty Years of Photographs“.  Join us and enjoy ‘in conversation’  with this author.

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mirror, mirror, on the wall …

Posted on May 16, 2023 by Robert

trying to avoid being reflected in the mirror(s) – two out of three ain’t bad  (title of  a song by Meat Loaf)

Toronto. Have you ever shot a scene with a mirror in view? It is really difficult to get the shot you want while avoiding seeing the camera (or the photographer) in the mirror.

Member, author, and sports photographer, Les Jones, spotted the interesting way moviemakers handle such situations. He sent me a note about an article called, “Mirrors in Movies: How Filmmakers Make Cameras Disappear” on the PetaPixel website.

Written by Jeremy Gray on May 12th, the filmmakers’ wizardry involves a whack of money, extra shots, and blue screens. The article is really interesting and may well give you ideas, even if you hate movies with a  vengeance.

NB. The post title was written with apologies to the brothers Grimm ….

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last shot

Posted on May 15, 2023 by Robert

an elderly lady resting in peace c1988 – photographer unknown

Toronto. In the latter part of the 1800s, photographers took final photos of the dearly departed. Some even specialized in the art. Last century, the desire seems to have passed as photography and prints became less technical, cheaper, and far more common.  Occasionally a bereaved family member would snap a memento such as shown here.

The art of recording those recently departed was memorialized by a summer 2020 TV series called, “Dead Still” which told the story of a late 1800s Dublin photographer, Brock Blennerhasset who took such photographs on request.

Postmortem photography, was also a topic in our journal, Photographic Canadiana, a few decades ago.

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careful, Helen – there may be gifts here

Posted on May 14, 2023 by Robert

a Kodak Christmas to all!

Toronto.  A December 1952 ad for Kodak is a two page spread of photography gifts for the budding amateur shutter-bug. Like all photo industry firms, Kodak worked hard to expand their market share. In this case by augmenting the potential photographic buyers market with new blood.

Gifts are an old attraction, well known to fans of Greek Mythology. Helen of Troy, the Trojan War, and a Trojan Horse are all in the mix. The expression that evolved was, “beware of Greeks bearing gifts …”.

A big ‘thank you’ goes to my good friend, George Dunbar, for sharing this ad from the December 1952 issue of Popular Mechanics with us. The ad brings back memories of all the great things Kodak offered. When I was young, ‘Kodak’ and ‘photography’ were synonymous. In fact, to the French in Quebec, every camera was a “Kodak”. Hence the expression, “Did you bring your Kodak?” for “did you bring your camera?”.

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PHSC Spring Fair May 28, 2023

Posted on May 13, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Blow the moths out of your wallets and come on down to Trident Hall the last Sunday of this month and enjoy our photographica-fair! Our treasurer, John Morden whipped up this tasty little poster:

The poster here is a jpeg without hot links. To get a table or details, email Mark or Clint fair@phsc.ca and you’re in! Remember, besides bargains for film and digital collectors and users, there is free parking… and LOTS of food! And, meet your friends too (especially after the long wait due to the COVID situation).

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in the dark of the night

Posted on May 13, 2023 by Robert

Once a great hobby …

Toronto. Post war, everyone in the photographic industry strived to gain new photographers; none more than Kodak. Gearing up for their Christmas 1952 trade, this Kodak ad in the October, 1952 issue of Popular Mechanics promoted the idea that darkroom work was fun! And in fact that all serious photographers did darkroom work to put their personal touch on the final print.

You knew the ad was aimed at potential new amateur photographers because Kodak explained, “Developing, Printing, Enlarging ..a fascinating hobby – So easy to begin, too – and inexpensive”, along with two full pages of their darkroom kits and products for the newbie.

A big thanks goes to my good friend and fellow PHSC member, George Dunbar, who shared this material with me.

Note that the post title is a play on the title of the thrilling 1967 noir film featuring Sidney Poitier, “In the Heat of the Night“.  Of special interest up here is that the film’s director was none other than Canadian Norman Jewison.

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