Cássio Vasconcellos exhibition in France

Posted on May 25, 2020 by Robert

A Picturesque Voyage Through Brazil by Vasconcellos

Toronto. Our favourite gallery, Galerie GADCOLLECTION in Paris has extended its exhibition of Brazilian photographer Câssio Vasconcellos’s work to June 7th. Take a look here for a preview.

The galerie says, “Cássio Vasconcellos (1965-) is a Brazilian photographer from São Paulo. He studied photography at Imagem-Ação school in São Paulo before starting a photojournalist career. In parallel with reports and advertising orders, he conducts personal work.

“Recognized by both his peers and critics, his photographs explore the themes of travel and displacement. Thus, his series of nocturnal photographs are like intriguing urban strolls, punctuated by multi-colored lighting.

“Cássio Vasconcellos also immerses us in the lush vegetation of the Amazon in his series A picturesque voyage through Brazil. Displacement can also be illustrated through the modes of locomotion: roads, planes, cars… that Vasconcellos photographs from the sky. Their repetition gives them the appearance of very simple motives, nested in a logic that goes beyond them.”

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take a shot for t-dot

Posted on May 24, 2020 by Robert

Tdot Shots Photo Contest

Toronto. Mike Simpson over at Tdot in the GTA sends this note along about a photo contest  held from May 15 to July 1 of this year (2020).

If you like to show off your photos, then consider entering this contest. What better way to enjoy the constraints imposed to fight this nasty pandemic?

You can learn more about Tdot by visiting the website for tdotshots.

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things go better …

Posted on May 23, 2020 by Robert

things [like photography] go better with Coke …

Toronto. … with Coke, or so they say. In 1964 Coke used a B&W copy of this advertisement to inform the general public that both Coke and Coca-Cola are the trademarks of the same big company. A camera signified just how popular photography was in the latter part of the last century.

With high speeds, colour film, flash bulbs, and inexpensive cameras, etc. anybody could take decent photographs – or so the marketeers insisted. Ads like one on p 148 in the November 20, 1964 issue of LIFE used cameras to sell other products.  Everybody hopped on the photography bandwagon. Books, cameras, accessories, advertisements, magazines, clubs. What a great time to take up a practical hobby like photography. Every family group had at least one photographer dedicated to snapping that Kodak moment for posterity.

Once again, a big thank you to PHSC member and my good friend George Dunbar whose enthusiasm and research reminds us all of photography’s golden days.

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76 trombones in the big parade

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Robert

Photographic Canadiana 46-1

Toronto. That’s what professor Harold Hill said in the Music Man play of 1957-1960s. And today we in the PHSC host a very special event too! For the very first time, an issue of Photographic Canadiana is being sent to all member of the society for 2020 via pdf. This mostly colour issue with extra pages has been restructured to suit the pdf format. Hopefully a printed version in black & white with a colour insert will be sent later by mail.

If you are a member in this year of the COVID-19 pandemic and have an email address on file you should receive your pdf copy later today. No copy? No problem. Email me at news@phsc.ca and I will confirm your membership and email issue 46-1 to you. Not a member? Just pay the measly sum requested via PayPal – you don’t need a PayPal account, just your trusty bit of plastic.

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dead still

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Robert

cover shot – PC 13-5

Toronto. Our PHSC president, Lewko (Clint) Hryhorijiw, sent me a note the other day about an Irish mystery series on CityTV involving photographs of the dead.

This process was duly discussed in our journal many years ago (Vol  13-5 in March 1988). The Toronto Star column by Debra Yeo (May 15th) nicely captures the spirit of the post-mortem art with a twist.

I have a couple of far more modern photographs my self of some relatives.

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there’s something happening here ….

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Robert

sample page of Photographic Canadiana 46-1

Toronto. … as the old tune sung by Buffalo Springfield says. With the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing in effect, the PHSC will be sending a series of pdf files to members as specials.

First out is Photographic Canadiana issue 46-1 expanded in size and using mostly colour images. It will go to all members registered for year 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 and with an email address.

If this applies to you and you do not see this colourful issue due out this Friday afternoon, drop me a note at news@phsc.ca  and I will make sure you get a copy and are posted on MailChimp. Note that future perks will be sent to members registered for the year 2020-2021 with emails on MailChimp.

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it’s in the cards

Posted on May 19, 2020 by Robert

1865 Stereo Card from US Civil War

Toronto. Over a century ago, before movies, radio, television, computers, and smart phones, a key source of education and entertainment was the stereo card.  These slightly curved bits of cardboard held two photos (usually taken at slightly different angles, although fakes using two identical photos existed). With a photo for each eye, a cheap viewer (or none at all if the viewer was skilled) let the brain merge the two photos into one in 3D.

The cards acted as a travelogue for many. Subjects included city views, medical,  comedy, wars, history and many other educational and entertaining topics. People of all ages viewed these marvels to learn and laugh! This example is a band of slaves who  escaped to the north and fought for the Union. This card is one sold by “The War Photograph & Exhibition Company” in Hartford Connecticut. Other larger companies (Keystone, Underwood & Underwood, etc.) sold the bulk of the cards.

My thank s to George Dunbar for bringing this piece of history to my attention.

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a wing and a prayer

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Robert

One of Geroge Hunter’s Aerial Cameras

Toronto. The late George Hunter spoke to us a couple of times (Tales of a Photographer in January 2003; Songs of the Future at the AGO in summer 2011). George took iconic photographs across North America using a war-time aerial camera and a small two person airplane to take many of them.

A natural story teller, George gave stomach grabbing descriptions of his work across the years including leaning out of aircraft with purposely missing doors and falling out on the strut while trying for a photo. He valued a good shot over the risk to life and limb.

He told a story of borrowing a plane and pilot in Edmonton and removing a door. A few months later, the owner of the aircraft emailed me to confirm the story! Scary stuff!

Near the end of his life, an exhibition of his work was on display at the Mississauga City Hall. The beautiful photographs were all printed on a professional ink jet printer from scanned negatives.  George died at age 92 on April 10, 2013. Many of us attended his memorial in Mississauga 10 days later.

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up close and personal

Posted on May 17, 2020 by Robert

Scott’s fertilizer bead?

Toronto. I took this shot in October 2014 with a century old Zeiss licensed, Krauss made Tessar 35mm f/3.5 at f/22 after looking at the soil sample under a Leitz stereo microscope using 12.5x, 50x, and 100x magnification. The Tessar shot is about 25x magnification before any computer screen enlargement. According to the web, the tiny ball is either a slug or snail egg.  Scott’s (the seed and fertilizer people) say it is a slow release fertilizer bead. I tend to agree with Scott’s.

The tiny 35mm f/3.5 Tessar lens has an RMS (Royal Microscopal Society) thread (a standard once used by all microscope makers). I used a Leitz RMS to 39mm adapter, Leitz Bellows II, Visoflex housing II, Leitz M-mount to Sony E-mount adapter and my Sony NEX-6 camera to make this image.

Just as a note, in the early years of photography, Zeiss licensed other camera lens makers to use their lens designs. Licensing over-came duty penalties, scarce resources in house, and spread the name and prestige of Zeiss designs world wide.

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PHSC News newsletter for May 2020

Posted on May 16, 2020 by Robert

Mamiya Professional Camera

Toronto. Our latest issue of PHSC News in pdf format was released yesterday by our inspired editor Sonja Pushchak and her team in this trying time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Page 1 offers “World Pressure”; page 2 covers  a virtual presentation on making a cereal commercial at home (since our monthly Toronto meetings are currently on hold); and in “Pandemic Follies” we see how others are not coping that well with the pandemic.

Photo Book 101 on page 4 discusses the TPL online (Toronto Public Libraries), while the Streamables on page 5 talks of the challenges faced by Franklin and Co. 1-3/4 centuries ago. David Bridge talks focus stacking with software in his Equipment Review. David follows this effort by once again helping partner Louise Freyburger with a trio of interesting web links. As a wrap, PHSC Events and the Classifieds are book ends for “Vi and Dot” who address movie fan magazines like PHOTOPLAY so popular last century.

Click here for the current issue or check out this and past issues under NEWSLETTER on the menu bar.

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