Richard Freeman by Manuel Bruque (Spain 2006)
Toronto. Wednesday’s Globe carried the Obituary from the NY Times. Robert Freeman died this month after a lengthy illness. The obituary was written by NY Times columnist Richard Sandomir.
Freeman is best known for his early album cover shots of the Beetles and the famous Pirelli calendars. He later went on to do TV commercials and direct films.
Larry Towell courtesy of World Press Photo
Toronto. I first saw a Larry Towell photograph at the AGO one night when we were given a guided tour of the Photography section by the curator (and PHSC member), Maia Sutnik. A far more extensive exhibition of photos by Larry Towell can be seen at his exhibition at the Stephen Bulger Gallery.
The exhibition runs from November 9th to December 21st of this year. Larry will be doing a guided tour of the exhibition this coming Saturday, November 16th, at 3pm. A reception runs the same day from 2pm to 5pm.
Jack Ford by Kevin van Paassen of the Globe
Toronto. Mr Ford died May 3 of this year (2019) here in the big smoke of a brain tumour. I did a post on Jack two years ago. He was known for his World War 2 photographs. While born in Oklahoma City, he moved here as a baby and was raised by his maternal grandparents.
This November his death was remembered in a Lives Lived column written by his daughter Tracy. It is a fitting tribute to this remarkable photographer.
By the way, if you click on the tiny photo at left, an enlarged view shows just what a professionally taken portrait can show. Well done Kevin!
LIFE touts Kodacolor
via Mickey Mantle
Toronto. There is an old truism that an expert in one field is no expert in another. That didn’t stop professional baseball player Mickey Mantle from touting Kodacolor and his Brownie as able to take professional photographs without practice… You are just more fodder for Barnum if you believe Mantle and Kodak.
Thanks to George Dunbar, a true photography professional, for passing along this May 25, 1959 LIFE magazine ad (p 55) for Kodak cameras and Kodacolor film. Hard to imagine even a thirsty ball player like Mantle using a cheap camera worth what to him would be chump change. And to suggest such quality shots without practice when he knows even professional ball players have to practice daily to keep up their game!
In Flanders Fields
Toronto. As a school kid in the dying days of World War 2, we took the minute of silence at 11 am on November 11th seriously. Every child knew John McCrae’s poem by heart:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields
And every child wore a poppy even if they had no idea who Dr McCrae was or where Flanders Fields were. Later, after the war, I gained an aunt from Belgium who grew up in Flanders, and in high school I learned just who Dr John McCrae was and how his epic poem came about.
Karen Kain by Tony Hauser
Toronto. My good friend editor Bob Lansdale sent along a note he received from Tony Hauser. Tony is a photographer with a studio in the King Eddie downtown. Tony is featuring his portraits and photos of dancers in the National Ballet of Canada (NBC) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ms Kain in the NBC.
Tony writes, “The 2019/20 season marks Karen Kain’s 50th anniversary with the National Ballet of Canada. Like many lovers of ballet and dance, I have followed Karen’s remarkable career from an audience perspective. I have also been privileged to photograph her, an iconic Canadian, several times.
“In a tribute to Karen’s achievements, I am featuring portraits of her, together with a selection of photographs of current and previous dance artists from the National Ballet, in my gallery at the Omni King Edward Hotel, 37 King Street East. V. Tony Hauser C.M.”
Schneider Kreuznach Super Angulon lens on a Linhof board
Toronto. Schneider Kreuznach has been around as an optical house for many years – in fact over a century going back to 1913 when the firm was founded as the Joseph Schneider Optical Works in Bad Kreuznach, a small town in the Rhineland area of Germany.
I first came across this firm when I bought a used Durst M35 enlarger that came with a high calibre Schneider Componon lens (F/4 50mm) made before -s series and apo- designs were available. In the late 1950s – early 1960s the company made a Super Angulon 21mm lens for Leitz in an M-mount. This complemented the Zeiss 15mm Hologon and the Leitz 28mm lenses of the era.
Our estate auction coming this month features a number of Schneider Kreuznach lenses, in Linhof Technica boards. Be sure you set aside Sunday, November 17th to join in this exciting estate auction with loads of quality user gear for the enthusiast.
PHSC Image Show on Elm Street
Toronto. Okay, hold the excitement if you can! Just imagine yourself on Nov 24th at our IMAGE SHOW. Yep, just like last year, the PHSC will host its popular image show downtown on Elm street in cahoots with the Arts and Letters club.
Just click the icon at left for a large, printable poster celebrating our Show and giving the time, date and address (don’t tell anyone, but admission is FREE)! Come on down and see what you can add to your collection or complement your home!
NB. A big Thank You to Sonja Pushchak and John Morden for their humorous and appealing posters here and on Facebook & Instagram!
Charlie the Tuna
Toronto. In the third quarter of the last century, toy cameras that took photos were popular. Some were used as marketing props – send a few dollars and some labels from the product and you received a camera advertising the product. Charlie the Tuna was one such camera. It used 126 cartridges and flash cubes. This mascot-shaped box camera took both outdoor and indoor pictures.
Some typical toy cameras are in our auction on the 17th. including a Charlie the Tuna camera. Come on down and enjoy the outing, You may just get another item for your collection, or even a piece of user gear to add to your working photographic tools.
CAMERAMA show Nov 10, 2019
Toronto. Gary Perry has his latest Camerama coming up this Sunday, November 10th at the usual locale. Drop by this Sunday and see what you can find to add to your collection or user gear!
If you need more information, or have a question, you can email Gary at cameramashow@gmail.com or call him at 905-550-7477. Meantime be sure to drop by and enjoy the show (click on the tiny poster icon at left for location, times, prices, etc.).
EVENTS
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Stan White – Poems & Photos
Mise Au Point – sur la photographie Quebecois
