Kels of Vancouver in 1946 Pop Photography Ad

Posted on July 8, 2017 by Robert

William Kels of Vancouver BC in 1946

Toronto. My thanks to my friend George Dunbar for bringing this to my attention. According to an ad for Graflex in the June 1946 issue of Popular Photography, William Kels of Vienna emigrated to Vancouver BC in 1940 and became “one of the best in the dominion” at portrait photography.

I did a brief search but didn’t find a Kels Studio in BC  today – there is one in Alberta, though. And once again, like all good ads, this one promotes the camera as a key ingredient to success!

With the rather slow films of the day, Kels mentions the use of floodlights to let him “stop down and shoot fast”. Our recent fairs and auctions have offered floods and big electronic flashes but there seems to be little interest given the speed of modern day DSLR sensors.

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Trouble Finding Photo or Camera Collector Societies?

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Robert

A bear checks out a Franklin Auto looking for camera collectors (in Yellowstone Park c1925). Courtesy of the Graflex Quarterly.

Toronto. Our society (PHSC) has been in continuous operation for over 43 years. We are fortunate to have an enthusiastic and talented core of people willing to volunteer and do much of the heavy lifting. We offer monthly meetings (except – you guessed it – July and August), fairs, auctions, evaluations and education.

There are also many societies around the world. Some specialize in a particular size or make of camera, while others focus on photographs. Many groups are exchange members with the PHSC meaning we get their publications in exchange for ours.

For example, Ken Metcalfe of Graflex.org publishes this delightful Graflex Journal (download 2017-1 here). Included in this issue are articles by Nick Graver, David Bridge. and Marty Magid – past and present PHSC members. Continue reading →

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Our other Facebook page…

Posted on July 6, 2017 by Robert

Canadian Photographic History – Facebook

Toronto. Louise Freyburger reminded a number of us on Wednesday that she manages TWO Facebook pages for the PHSC! The first is the link you go to when you click on the Facebook logo in the right hand sidebar.

The second page, aptly called “Canadian Photographic History” is located here. The page actually has a larger following than the prime page. While it is called Canadian Photographic History, it is actually a place to post old Canadian photographs for comment from all.

Louise created the page as a home for discussion on Canadian photographs.

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A Sensitive Thing

Posted on July 5, 2017 by Robert

Silver Nitrate

Toronto. After 1851 when Frederick Scott Archer invented the first practical wet-plate process, you could tell a photographer from his blackened finger-tips. This situation came about by the practitioner’s need to sensitize his glass plate with a silver nitrate solution.

First, a collodion emulsion was carefully poured over the clean glass plate. This viscous emulsion stuck to the glass and offered a base for the silver halide bath (the silver nitrate and collodion – the viscous emulsion –  form light sensitive silver halides). The whole gooey mess had to be moved to the camera, the camera to the scene for the shot, and back to the darkroom to develop the negative, all before the sensitized emulsion dried. Even in bright daylight a tripod was a necessity for sharp images.

And the bottle shown here was an essential ingredient to create a media sensitive to a brief daylight exposure in the camera, suitably mounted on a tripod, of course…

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Can you spot the photographer?

Posted on July 4, 2017 by Robert

Victoria 1916 – Click to see full image

Toronto. What a difference a century makes! The millennials of today with their ubiquitous smart phones are everywhere! A commercial jet lands on the Hudson river? Click! Click! Click! … A car crash occurs on the 401? Click! Click! Click! … Tourists visit the CN tower? Click! Click! Click!

Today everyone is a photographer. Most of the shots are too blurry or too poorly framed, but the odd one grabs your eye. When 1,000s of shots are taken, the inevitable few good ones make headlines and prove the old chestnut that “the best camera is the one in your hand”.

Not so a century ago. This photograph is from the Victoria BC Times Colonist newspaper of April 2nd, 2017. In an article by Michael D. Reid titled “100 years after Vimy Ridge: UVic exhibit tells of sacrifices”, Reid reports on the exhibit mounted at the University of Victoria to celebrate the centenary of BC soldiers fighting at Vimy Ridge. Look carefully and you will see a single photographer on shore recording the send-off of the troop ship.

Continue reading →

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Frozen Motion

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Robert

Part of Motion by Camilo Diaz of Colombia. Cick to see his full photograph

Toronto. GADCOLLECTION in Paris is featuring an exhibit from July 4 – 16 of the photographs that won the Sony World Photography Awards this year.

The winner of the Open Competition with Motion was Colombia Photographer Camilo Diaz with his thrilling shot of the Colombian national underwater rugby team as it fights for the goal.

Magnífico, Camilo!

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Pictures never lie… Well, hardly ever!

Posted on July 2, 2017 by Robert

My Grandfather c1939 with a photographer’s artistic skill…

Toronto. When I was a kid the common expression was “a camera doesn’t lie”. No longer. In today’s world our neighbours have elected a president whose first reaction to anything he feels is derogatory or against his rather ill-informed opinion is to claim it is FAKE NEWS.

As I aged, I realized that photographic images from the very beginning could be manipulated. I even helped a friend. She had no print showing her parents together – not a single print. I added her  father to a print of her mother and rephotographed the result making a print of her parents together, managing to get the height and shadows correct as well.

Years ago, I innocently mentioned to my dad that my grandfather must have had a suit since he wore one in the big print that hung in my bedroom. My dad thought I was hilarious! The portrait of my grandparents was taken by a street photographer who coloured the print and threw in a suit for my grandfather complete with a gold chain. In the black and white negative snapped by this photographer, my grandfather wore his usual overalls! No suit, no watch chain, no tie, no shirt collar… even the tree full of apple blossoms belonged next door in a vacant lot.

All this came to mind when my friend George Dunbar sent me a link to a BBC article called “The Hidden Signs that can Reveal a Fake Photo“. The article, by Ms Tiffanie Wen appeared in the BBC’s 30 June 2017 post. It is well worth the read. With digital cameras and software like Photoshop, it is even easier to fake a photograph. No darkroom skill needed. Such an image can be used as misdirection, deception, to damage a person’s reputation, a malicious effort at humour, etc.

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Happy Birthday, Canada!

Posted on July 1, 2017 by Robert

Our first Prime Minister – Sir John A MacDonald – albumen print of a Notman photograph

Toronto. Member Harold Staats felt we should honour Canada Day this year with a portrait of Sir John A MacDonald, our first Prime Minister in 1867. This portrait was taken by our most famous photographic studio, Willam Notman. Notman began in Montreal and set up branches in Eastern Canada and the United States.

Besides Harold’s image (thanks Harold),  we celebrated Canada’s 150th anniversary a couple of weeks ago with a special Toronto meeting of the PHSC.

In addition to the speakers, we had our photographs taken in both flat and 3D versions.

Sonja Pushchak baked a special cake and other treats for all attendees and speakers to enjoy.

Our five speakers gave a brief overview of various aspects of photography from the mid 1800s, when Canada was created, to the present day:

Yvette Bessels spoke about modern wet-plate photography (originally in vogue in the mid 1800s), Jeff  Ward spoke on Maritimes photographers 1839-1939, Laura Jones reminisced about her Baldwin Street gallery, the first photographic gallery, Vincenzo Pietropaolo spoke of his latest book “Ritual” and the challenges in publishing today, while Nick Chomps wrapped up the talks with a chilling look at roof topping and how it has helped him in modern photography.

Bob Lansdale took this picture of some attendees

And Bob Wilson took this anaglyph stereo picture of some of the attendees

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A Governor General Takes a Shot

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Robert

Earl of Bessborough and W D Ross, photo by Alexandra Studio, Toronto from the City of Toronto Archives

Toronto. After George Dunbar sent me the LIFE photo of Lord Halifax which I posted yesterday, journal editor Bob Lansdale shot a note across suggesting a Canadian theme would be more appropriate given the coming celebration of our 150th anniversary. And what could be more appropriate than this shot taken c1933 in Toronto (?) by the Alexandra Studio? The photograph is in the City of Toronto Archives fonds from Alexandra Studio – home of the famous Toronto photographers, the Turofsky brothers.

The scene features two dignitaries in bowler hats. On the left with the camera cable release, is the Earl of Bessborough –  Canada’s governor general 1931-1935. The Earl is famous for participating in the first trans-Canada telephone system in 1932 and in the creation of the CBC. I remember as a kid my dad paid a radio licence for each radio in the house with the funds going to the CBC. We had a big Stromberg Carlson radio made in late 1939 especially for Toronto’s 25 cycle ac power (I still have it today).

And the gentleman on the right? Well, it is Sir William David Ross, a Scottish philosopher best known for his 1930 book on ethics “The Right and the Good“.  I never did find out what he was doing in our fair city or why he was photographed with the kibitzing Earl of Bessborough and a cluster of photographers.

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An amateur assistant indeed

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Robert

Lord Halifax assists at the May 1945 San Francisco conference – LIFE May 27 1946

Toronto. George Dunbar sent me this delightful picture from the May 27, 1946 edition of LIFE Magazine (page 38). The photograph shows Lord Halifax (Edward Wood), ambassador to the USA pressed into service as an assistant to a photographer capturing the San Francisco conference in May 1945 for posterity. This is the conference that formed the United Nations.

The camera man’s very act of turning to the person beside him and pressing him into service as a holder of his flash made this a picture for posterity, along with the event he was so busy capturing!

The unknown picture snapper looks like he is using a Speed Graphic! The photo is one of a small group that celebrated the very popular Lord Halifax as he completed his assignment as abassador to the USA.

 

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