Stefano Cerio, Italian Photographer

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Robert

Chinese Fun – Little China, Shenzen – by Stefano Cerio

Toronto.  The Parisian Gallery GADCOLLECTION sent me notice that it currently has an exhibition titled Amusement Places featuring photographs by Italian photographer Stefano Cerio. The exhibition runs from 8 to 29 June 2017.

“Stefano Cerio lives and works in Rome and Paris.
He began his career as a photographer at the age of 18, contributing to the Italian weekly L’Espresso.

“Since 2001, his interest has gradually moved towards explorative photography and video. His work increasingly focuses on the theme of representation, exploring the boundary line between vision, recounting the real and the spectator’s horizon of expectation, the staging of a possible reality that might not be true but is at least plausible.

“In this sense, projects such as Sintetico Italiano (Italian Synthetic), Souvenir, Aquapark, Night Ski, Chinese Fun are stages in a coherent artistic development which finds in the concept of memory, in the “other” place as a catalyst for present desires and future memories, in the idea of holiday and entertainment, that suspension of daily life which the author studies and recounts in images. His works are to be found in many public and private collections.”

Take a look on the gallery site and if you are in Paris, be sure to drop by – you may even add to your photo collection.

Posted in people, photos | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Stefano Cerio, Italian Photographer

Book on 19th Century German Lenses

Posted on June 9, 2017 by Robert

A German Lens design in the 19th Century

Toronto. Journal editor Bob Lansdale loaned me the second book in Corrado D’Agostini’s series on 19th Century Photographic Lenses. Both are sold in the US by Camerabooks.com. This book is posted as costing $109 USD plus shipping.

The first book in 19th Century Lenses ($139 USD) looked at the French contribution while this beautiful book records the phenomenal contribution of German and Austrian industry to 19th century Photographic Lenses.

Written in Italian and published in Italy in late 2016, this edition has been translated into English by George Tatge. Once I finished reading the large 319 pages plus book, I will write and publish a review. This book is truly a delight!

Posted in book, lens | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Book on 19th Century German Lenses

Another Super Trunk Sale Coming July 9th

Posted on June 8, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. The back scene boys have pulled together another super trunk sale for this July. We are hosting the 7th Annual Larry Boccioletti Memorial outdoor photographic trunk sale at the Trident Hall. Usual time 8am – 1pm.

Come out and enjoy this summer. Add to your collection. Have a great Sunday. And help the PHSC at the same time! Admission is free, Parking is free. Exhibitors pay a modest fee for a first come, first serve spot. Contact our coordinator, President Clint Hryhorijiw at 416-919-9617 or via email fair@phsc.ca.

 

Posted in events, fair | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Another Super Trunk Sale Coming July 9th

Westlicht Camera Auction June 10, 2017

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Robert

A beautiful 1925 example of a “hockey stick” Leica I with the rare Elmax lens with cap, eveready case  – Lot 1

Toronto. A regular contributor of notices to this author is the well known Westlicht Gallery in Vienna, Austria.

Their latest auction next week is a fabulous opportunity for those of you wishing to augment your collection with some rare beauties. Take a look!

Posted in activities-other, auction | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Westlicht Camera Auction June 10, 2017

Bulger Gallery Announces a Move

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Robert

 

MoMA, NYC, 1959 © The Estate of Lutz Dille

Toronto. Stephen  Bulger writes, “After nearly 15 years in our current location, we have finally found a new gallery space in our neighbourhood that is large enough to accommodate our ambitions to be one of the world’s leading commercial galleries for great photographs of all types.

“On September 9, 2017, we open the doors of 1356 Dundas Street West to welcome visitors in a purposefully designed space of over 11,000 square feet. Designed by architect Michael Boxer, the new space will dramatically increase our exhibition space, include several private viewing areas, and better enable us to house the more than 40,000 photographs that currently comprise the gallery’s growing inventory.

“We will operate out of our current location until June 17th, then will move into the new location, taking the summer months to unpack and prepare for our first exhibition, which will highlight Larry Towell’s photographs of an even larger construction project: the renovation of Union Station.

“Since opening in 1995, Stephen Bulger Gallery [Photograph © Catherine Lash] has become synonymous with photography in Canada. Its extensive exhibition program of more than 180 solo and group exhibitions has introduced Torontonians to important local and international photography, has exhibited Canadian photography in special exhibitions at prestigious institutions around the world, and has exhibited in more than 60 art fairs.

“Stephen Bulger (Born 1964, Toronto) has played vital roles in the founding of the CONTACT Photography Festival and the Ryerson Image Centre, and is a past President of the Association of International Photography Art Dealers, which is comprised of over 125 specialists in photography from around the world. The gallery has sold work to important private and public collections in every continent, and is Canada’s go to destination for photographic art and artefacts.”

Posted in activities-other | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Bulger Gallery Announces a Move

Remember the Wollensak Lenses for the Leica?

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Robert

Leitz NY 127mm lens for the Leica – April 1945

Toronto. PHSC Member George Dunbar sent me this April 1945 advertisement from Popular Photography. During WW2, Leitz NY continued to operate. One big problem: merchandise from Germany dried up. To solve one of the issues, Leitz NY manufactured lens mounts that fit the Leica screw mount cameras and designed in a style similar to the Leitz Wetzlar products except they used Wollensak lenses.

The telephone companies used Wollensak lenses and cameras as recorders for their traffic registers which indicated how busy their various routes were. The 127mm lens was made as a standard lens for the Graphic and Graflex lines so it had a far wider film coverage than needed for 35mm film. Similarly in Germany the 135mm lens was first designed for view cameras hence the seemingly vast coverage of the 135mm Elmar lens on the tiny Leica.

Leitz NY survived the war on its service department doing Leitz repairs and by selling some lenses and accessories made for or by them.

Leitz NY even produced a lens brochure. This four page example is from 1948 along with a sample page. In spite of the blustery tone of the marketing minions, few true Leicaphilliae believed the lenses were superior to the Elmars of the day.

 

Posted in camera, lens | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Remember the Wollensak Lenses for the Leica?

L Stedham, Photographer, Oshawa c1880

Posted on June 4, 2017 by Robert

A High Wheeler bicycle – Penny Farthing style. Taken by Stedham of Oshawa.

Toronto. On May 28, 2017 PHSC member Sarah Shrigley sent me a note with this bicycle cabinet card attached.

Sarah states, “The Oshawa Museum has published this picture on their Facebook page. I know we have a member who collects these kinds of pictures, so [I] thought you might pass it along. BTW – “L. Stedham” is the photographer.

Member Lorne Shields notes the photo is a “nice Canadian High Wheel Photo”.

The Oshawa Museum stated that it had several examples of Stedham photographs in its archives. This example of a bicycle would be have been taken around 1880. The penny-farthings were introduced in 1870 France and lasted about two decades. The safety bicycle and chain drive replaced these picturesque machines.

Posted in people, photos | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on L Stedham, Photographer, Oshawa c1880

Visiting the Family Camera Exhibit at the ROM

Posted on June 3, 2017 by Robert

The Family Camera exhibition at the ROM

Toronto.  Both Bob Lansdale and Wayne Gilbert were a bit under the weather Tuesday night (May 30th), so Carol’s cousin Al dropped me off at Kipling Subway and I came to the ROM via the better way. Fortunately as I walked up the subway stairs at Museum station, I spotted David and Louise just ahead of me. We popped out at street level by the ROM and went down the steps by the south entrance to the George Weston Wing (I would have used the wrong entrance, left on my own).

Waiting for Godot… actually waiting for our 7pm entry to the ROM – photo by George Dunbar

Continue reading →

Posted in activities, program | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Visiting the Family Camera Exhibit at the ROM

Rachel Levy – Impressionist Photographer

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Robert

 

Rachel Levy – Iris Impression

Toronto. GADCOLLECTION in Paris sent me a quick note that photographer Rachel Levy is having a short exhibition in their gallery of her series called in the gardens of the Louvre from June 1 to 7, 2017. Rachel will be present in their gallery this Saturday, June 3 from 4:30 to 6:30 local time.

Born in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1955, Rachel moved to France and thence to the USA. After over a decade there, she returned to France in 1984. She’s been a free-lance photographer for many magazines while pursuing her own path. Today, she has a real passion for plants. Flowers are her muses. By photographing those flowers that are neither fresh nor rare, she explores in an utmost anthropological  and modern way – the classical theme of the botanical sheet.

Posted in photos | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Rachel Levy – Impressionist Photographer

That Film Plane Thing Again

Posted on June 1, 2017 by Robert

Curved Digital Sensor

Toronto. Well over a half century ago a young Latvian designed the amazing Minox spy camera. For a time, some models used a novel idea to add to the lens correction – the film plane was slightly curved along its longer side. A similar approach was taken with the Minox enlarger. Camera and enlarger were both used wide open (no aperture). I had the enlarger and two versions of the tiny camera with the curved film plane – the Model IIIs and the Model B.

Recently, Russ Forfar dropped me a note say that Science Daily in its Science News section on May 30th described how scientists had created a curved digital sensor. The curve allows a sharper lens when used wide open giving better resolution under low light situations. Shades of that old Minox spy camera! (Minox is still around today.)

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on That Film Plane Thing Again