Robert Frank – News of the Day
Toronto. The Globe on Wednesday this week ran an obit from the NY Times News Service. It announced that the Swiss born NYC photographer had died at 94 at his cottage on Cape Briton, Nova Scotia.
Frank is best remembered for his coffee table size book “The Americans” which contained photographs from across America taken when he emigrated to the states.
Dr Krugener’s letterhead pre ICA, courtesy of Zeiss and Photography by Larry Gubas
Toronto.I got a bad case of lovin’ you … or so the late Robert Palmer sang back in 1979 on his album titled “Secrets“.
Dr Rudolf Krugener founded a camera company in Frankfurt a Main, Germany in 1885 to make his many innovative designs for detective, box, and magazine cameras as well as shutters for the new dry plate industry.
In 1909 his company merged with some others to form ICA A.G. in Dresden. In turn, after the chaos Germany experienced with out of control inflation post war, ICA merged with Zeiss Ikon A.G. in 1926 when that company was formed and run by Zeiss. Zeiss Ikon was established at the request of the government to bring some sense of order and rationalization to the German Camera Industry.
One such detective/magazine camera invented by the good doctor was his 1893 twin-lens reflex (TLR) detective camera called a Simplex. (Shown in a link as invented in 1889) It was made and sold decades before the most famous TLR ever made, the Rolleiflex.
At our December 2003 Show and Tell meeting, a very excited gentleman, the late Bill Kantymir, presented his newly acquired Simplex with its ultra rare leather case. He bought the camera online from the owner, a man in Hamilton, Ontario (small world). Bill’s excitement stemmed from it being on his short list of rare cameras to own in his life-time.
This post used many texts including “Zeiss and Photography” (Lawrence Gubas), “A Century of Cameras” (Eaton S Lothrop Jr), “Zeiss Ikon Cameras 1926~39” (D.B. Tubbs), and “Cameras” (Brian Coe). Note that both Gubas and Lothrop spoke at the PHSC many years ago.
McQuarrie and Herget at our September 18th meeting
Toronto. Our fall meeting program begins with this double feature: Ottawa photographer and author John McQuarrie on his favourite computer imaging tools for book publishing (he will have books here to sell). And Horst Herget on portraiture and wet-plate photography.
Click on the left icon to see PHSC News editor Sonja Pushcack’s tasty description of these two presentations.
The public is always welcome. Go to our Programs page for times and directions.
Eugene Smith in a LIFE essay March 10, 1958
Toronto. In the 1958 issue of LIFE magazine, dated March 10, 1958, on page 107 and later, W Eugene Smith’s work is featured in an article called “A Camera Masterpiece”. A short essay titled “Drama beneath a City Window” accompanies the photographs.
You have to scroll down to page 107 below the colour ads since someone screwed up the index on Google’s web site so only the first 30 or so pages are listed (a paltry three articles).
In June of 1977, I bought a copy of “Darkroom” published in soft cover by Lustrum Press and edited by Eleanor Lewis. Included is an essay by W Eugene Smith. A baker’s dozen American professional photographers discuss some of their favourite photographic prints and how they achieved the special look of each print in the darkroom.
My thanks to George Dunbar for pointing out this essay and Smith’s photos.
L to R. Editor Lansdale, his sister, Dianne Sheldon, and our Celio Barreto after packaging at Aries Printers in Toronto
Toronto. As Leonard Cohen sang, its closing time for 45-2. Editor Lansdale was ably assisted by his sister and our member and speaker (past and future) Celio Barreto to package the latest issue. After numerous delays and problems, Bob and I plan to sort and deliver issue 45-2 to Canada Post early this week.
Members, watch your mail! Not a member? Well for pity’s sake its simple and fast – just hit the PayPal icon on the upper right of this page AFTER you choose one year or three, domestic (Canada) or international (and have your credit card ready). Our Membership Secretary will see that you promptly receive 45-1 and 45-2 and a DVD of the first 40 years of the journal in searchable pdf format!
The Burden of Dreams (Woman) by Maggie Taylor
Toronto. The Galerie GADCOLLECTION in Paris, France has an exhibition of photographs this fall called Dreamland. The photographs are the works of Florida based American photographer Maggie Taylor.
If you are on the continent at the time, drop by the Galerie and see what would suit your image collection! This exhibition started on September 4th and runs to October 2nd.
Click above for PHSC fair details!
Toronto. The god Neptune used one, and so do we, but ours is a Hall – the Trident Hall in Etobicoke. If you hanker to expand your camera collection (or usable gear) be it film or digital, drop in next month at our Fall Fair, held in the famous “pierogi palace” on Evans Avenue in Etobicoke (west Toronto) at Islington.
Make the Trident Hall in west end Toronto your destination on Sunday, October 27, 2019! Food and a bar as well as photographic goodies will be on hand along with free parking (alternate free overload parking for late comers… ).
We have held fairs and auctions for about 45 years. Admission is reasonable – free to students with I.D. Easy access via the TTC. Come to the Big One and browse the items on the exhibitors’ tables. Buy/Sell or just enjoy!
Peter and the Duchess of Sussex
Toronto. The Globe Thursday announced the death Tuesday of photographer Peter Lindbergh at 74. The Globe published an obituary carried by the New York Times News Service. He was remembered by the Duchess of Sussex with this rare personal photo.
Lindbergh, born in Germany, became known in Europe as a fashion photographer. He was famous for capturing supermodels and for his Vogue magazine covers.
October 6, 2019 show
Toronto. If you plan to go east early next month, drop in and say hello to Sol. And perhaps augment your camera and image collection as well. Sol’s show is on October 6th in the west island area near major highways from Ontario.
Come east to Montreal and enjoy the wonderful cuisine and ambience in this charming city (the city is over 300 years old). While Montreal is predominately French these days, the West Island area is English or bilingual so language is not a problem.
With my terrible grasp of our second official language, most folk prefer to speak English to me anyway 🙂
Vancouver Camera Swap Meet
Toronto. I heard from Tonchi the other day.
The fall camera swap meet out in Vancouver will be held on October 6th this year.
If you are looking to visit BC or will be in the Vancouver area early next month, be sure to drop in and get some added items for your collection (or maybe some user digital or film gear!
Tonchi write, “We are approaching the second camera show this year. The last show was very successful, and I have high hopes for the next one. The popularity of film cameras is growing, since film has become more readily available, and it seems to me that more young people are beginning to respect the quality, engineering, and beauty of classic cameras. I am looking forward to seeing all of your popular collector cameras on the bulletin.”
Be sure to say “hi” to Tonchi and tell him how you discovered the great show on our west coast. And if you have things to sell drop, Tonchi an email to reserve a table now.
EVENTS
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Stan White – Poems & Photos
Mise Au Point – sur la photographie Quebecois
