double feature – September 18, 2019 – 7:45pm

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Robert

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.

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modernish proscenium arch…

Posted on September 10, 2019 by Robert

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.

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closing time

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Robert

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!

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dreaming of Maggie

Posted on September 8, 2019 by Robert

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.

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pitching the big one – October 27, 2019

Posted on September 7, 2019 by Robert

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!

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a model photographer

Posted on September 6, 2019 by Robert

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.

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Montréal … c’est magnifique à l’automne

Posted on September 5, 2019 by Robert

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 🙂

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Oh to be in Van now fall is here!

Posted on September 4, 2019 by Robert

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.

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mom says screens are bad for your eyes

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Robert

an evening in 1876 – from a book at the Toronto Public Library

Toronto. This copy of the frontispiece of an 1876 book at the TPL titled, “Shadows on the Screen; or, An Evening With The Children” reminds us that “screens” have been around for well over a century now.

As a kid and an enthusiastic reader, my mom told me books would, “ruin my eyes“. When we got TV in the 1950s my mom said, “don’t sit so close. You’ll ruin your eyes“. I wonder what she would say of computers and smartphones – especially smartphones – today?

As we know in photography, projectors have been around since well before 1839. The first use of the painfully slow/insensitive dry glass plate emulsion was to create magic lantern slides, often religious in nature. Slides became a means to project colour photographs last century – from Autochromes to Kodachromes, Ektachromes, and Anscochromes. Movies in black and white and later in sound and colour became a special treat, replaced by the convenience of television. Tommy, can you see me?

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east side, west side

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Robert

Old CNE postcard used by the Toronto Sun newspaper Saturday

Toronto. Fall is here. The last day of the CNE for this year is the air show today. The Toronto Sun ran an article by Mike Filey and this old postcard for the occasion last Saturday.

Mike was an early member and speaker when we were first established (journal issue 1-8). He spoke once again as a guest speaker at our November, 1989 meeting. And he has dropped into the PHSC meetings since then on occasion.

Speaking of fall, its time to drop your remote and check your collection list. It’s fair time once again! whether you visit us in the big smoke, or sashay out to the west coast to see Tonchi, or east to la belle province to visit Sol or even (plug your ears, gird your loins)  head south, visit a fair, or auction, or an image show and augment your collection of cameras, accessories, ephemera. and photographs.  Remember, it’s fair time once again!

The title of this post was taken from a song titled “The Sidewalks of New York“, written over a century ago.

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