the big picture

Posted on March 12, 2020 by Robert

Faith of the Irish – panorama in 1920s Toronto at St Pat’s

Toronto. As executives, we were often told to consider “the big picture”. Well, in the first half of the last century, that was more than buzzwords! In the day, panorama photos were popular as a means to take groups – schools, organizations, military, religious, etc.

Cameras like the Cirkut used mechanical gears and clockwork motors to turn the camera one way and film the opposite for 180 degrees or more. The prints made by a Cirkut camera negative had a tell-tale curve as the camera and film rotated to scan a flat plane. Fleet-footed wags could appear twice by running from one end of the group to the other.

Other cameras with negatives that had one dimension much greater than the other also made what were called panorama photos. The photo here is the “faith of the Irish” – the congregation outside St Patrick’s in 1920s Toronto. Courtesy of Toronto Past Archive. My thanks to George Dunbar for finding this gem.

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NYC? not this April …

Posted on March 11, 2020 by Robert

NY Photography Fair this April CANCELLED

Toronto. I just received word today that the NY Photography Fair, which I announced in a post on February 22nd, has been cancelled in anticipation of the New Corona Virus pandemic hitting the States in the coming weeks.

We wish our neighbours all the best as the world girds itself for the coming pandemic. Decades ago I read about the 1918 influenza pandemic, and I can recall in  the late 1940s and the 1950s being excluded from visiting the CNE in those pre vaccination days for polio. The paralyzing disease was especially strong in the summer months.

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Portrait of a Period

Posted on March 11, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Those of us who lust after Notman photos will welcome this book of the studio’s selected images from 1856-1915. Details for many Notman photographs reside in the McCord museum on Sherbrooke Street in Montreal, across from McGill University.

The Scotsman, William Notman, opened his studio in Montreal on Bleury Street and later expanded to other locales in Eastern North America.  He is known for his group photos of the period when cameras and their media suffered from slow speeds. He overcame this limitation by planning out each event, then photographing key people in his studio in action and at the correct proportion. Carefully cutting and pasting the staged action shots, he re-photographed his work and published it for all to buy and see.

When I first worked in downtown Montreal, I picked up a remaindered copy of this book, later trading it for a Leica lens. Come down to our auction on Sunday the 15th of March to see this book and other goodies go under the hammer of our auctioneer. Lewko (Cint) Hryhorijiw is the PHSC President, an Image Collector, and a Professional Photographer well versed in the value of photographica.  Good food, good friends, free admission, free parking – what better way to enjoy a Sunday in Toronto?

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a Kodak moment …

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Robert

A Kodak digital back and sensor for a Nikon N90s

Toronto. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Kodak produced a series of professional digital cameras in its Digital Camera System (DCS) using  a Kodak sensor and electronics plus a Nikon  or Canon film camera. My friend John Linsky called me the other day (which resulted in this post). He had a weird Nikon with a Kodak badged thing hanging below the camera. The Nikon was an N90s on top of a Kodak DCS 400.

The camera was very expensive in the 1990s and was intended for professional photographers working for  major newspapers or newswires. The paltry resolution of the Kodak sensor was offset by the speedy transmission to the newspaper or wire service without need for film processing. Back then, newspapers were mainly black and white documents. They used the halftone process of the day which made the 1.5 or so megapixel images more than adequate.

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Gary’s at it again – March Camerama

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Robert

CAMERAMA March 29, 2020 (click to read or print)

Toronto, Every spring we see a cluster of opportunities to add to our collections.

Come on out on the 29th to visit CAMERAMA and see old friends.
Tables of digital and film gear for all whether you collect or use the cameras, lenses, etc..

The show is at the usual location – the Edward Hotel up in North York at 185 Yorkland Blvd (just NE of 404/401) off Sheppard East. Check the poster by clicking the icon at left. If you still have questions, just give Gary an email at gary@cameramashow.com.

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I use a Nikon …

Posted on March 8, 2020 by Robert

Nikon FG at our March 15, 2020 auction

Toronto. Many of our members are professional photographers – both active and retired folk. I remember (kinda) one member’s business card. It showed a WW2 bomber in a side view of the front gunnery. It read, “Some use a Canon  – I use a Nikon”.

Regardless, we all should have at least one Nikon in our collection. Nikon made the model FG in the early 1980s. It will be in one of our March 15th auction lots.

If you need one or something else to add to your collection, or to let you dabble in film technology, come on down and join the other folk. What better way to spend a Sunday? Free admission, free parking, easy access. Good friends. Legion Hall 101 in Long Branch.

See you there!

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a plethora of polaroids

Posted on March 7, 2020 by Robert

Polaroids at our March 15th Auction

Toronto. Every collection needs at least one Polaroid camera – I have two personally. And thanks to innovators in Europe and Japan, Polaroid colour packs can still be found. If your collection  suffers the  lack of a Polaroid camera – or not – come on down to the legion hall in Long Branch on March 15 and join the folks at our auction.

Spend the day with good food and like minded folk bidding on photographica like the Polaroids to augment your collection or working gear – film or digital. Parking and admission are free! Never been there, or just need a reminder? Check here or on our menu above under the AUCTION heading.

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leaping on the home movie bandwagon

Posted on March 6, 2020 by Robert

Mansfield 8mm movie outfit ad in time for Christmas 1961

Toronto. Mansfield Industries made special outfits of 8mm cameras and projectors ready for Christmas. Originally based in Ann Arbor, MI, the headquarters moved to Chicago. This page 88 ad in the November 24, 1961 issue of LIFE  magazine suggests that with this outfit anyone can make “professional” home movies… Sure.

Like so many photographic companies, Mansfield worked hard to earn a segment of the rapidly expanding amateur market. The outfit promoted in this ad addresses the 8mm movie market. Like others, their camera had a three lens turret, and a built-in “electric-eye” mechanism. And the projector was equipped with a 500w lamp. easy threading and a simple preview screen.

Both camera and projector tried to solve the most glaring amateur errors. Sadly only a professional cinematographer could determine the correct light balance, framing, editing, etc. to make such a “home movie”. And a professional would demand far better equipment than Mansfield could offer.

My thanks to George Dunbar for suggesting this romp through the past when many people tried to capture part of the home movie business. We look back today with whimsey. Every smart phone can make videos miles ahead of any home movie of the 1960s – without delays or even lighting issues.

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cameras and cycles at our March 2020 meeting IS DEFERRED!

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Robert

Lorne Shields by Bob Lansdale

Toronto. Meeting, Wed, March 18 2020 at 7:00 pm
BURGUNDY ROOM, Memorial Hall.

** IMPORTANT: THIS MEETING IS CANCELLED **

HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT AND VISUALLY COMPELLING IMAGES PORTRAYING BICYCLE’S HISTORY – Lorne Shields

When I was a kid, my friend’s grandfather, who had retired from the railway as a tinsmith, pridefully hung on the inner wall of his garage, two bicycles with wooden rims. These machines were made around 1900 and belonged to him (Austin) and his wife Rachel.

On March 18th, we will have the very popular Lorne Shields speak on the topic of cameras and bicycles drawing on his extensive collection of bicycle photographs from the 1800s and early 1900s. IMPORTANT: OUR SPEAKER, LORNE SHIELDS IS DEFERRED UNTIL LATER THIS SUMMER. PASS IT ON S.V.P.

Lorne is both a speaker and a PHSC member of long standing. He sent us this sample taken from the talk this month.

For those of you who don’t yet know Lorne, he is a Toronto native and an avid collector of historic cycling for the past 50 years. He has lectured widely on the history of bicycle photography, showcasing his own diverse collection of images. Artifacts from Lorne’s collection have been exhibited at the Smithsonian, The Royal Ontario Museum, and Museé d`Art et Industrie in St. Etienne, France. He has presented papers related to early cycling history in The Netherlands as well as at various venues in Canada and the USA.

The public is always welcome. Go to our Programs page for times and directions.

 

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train song

Posted on March 4, 2020 by Robert

H C Denkelberg photo c1918

Toronto. Leslie Feist sang the Train Song a few years ago. She became famous when Apple picked her 1234  song for an ad.

The photographer of this photo, H C Denkelberg, was an American photographer who crossed over to Sarnia from time to time which is where he took this photo c1918.

George Dunbar writes to Bob Lansdale, “My son bought this photo at a thrift shop. Shows the name “Great Grampa Corby, engineer” and a Sarnia photographer, who’s name is unclear…Dukelberg? (see verso pic) [actually Denkelberg]. Are you interested? Do you recognize the name of the photographer?”

Bob asked his contacts for help and Dave Tinder tracked down the details . Dave found this info in the Michigan Photographers list he has. Continue reading →

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