Those were the days

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Robert

1953 inauguration from Keystone/Getty Archives

Toronto. George Dunbar sent me an email the other day showing an American inauguration some 64 years ago. The photo shows a cluster of news photographers, most of whom appear to be using the venerable 4×5 Speed Graphic cameras and a mix of no-flash, flash guns (bulbs) and electronic flash. In the photo you can see freshly minted President Eisenhower and his VP a young Richard Nixon.

The photo from the Keystone/Getty archives seems a far cry from the opulent bread and circus affair we saw last Friday when the 45th American President and his VP were sworn into power.

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New York Photo Show Mar 31 – Apr 1 2017

Posted on January 22, 2017 by Robert

Image from NY Photo Show March 31 – April 1, 2017

Toronto. Sid Yager sent me an email Friday reminding everyone that he still has some tables available at his spring Photo Show at the New York Sheraton Hotel on 53rd Street in NYC.

The show attracts dealers world wide giving you a great chance to schmooze with other image collectors and add to your personal collection.

If you are in NYC in late March be sure to drop in at Sid’s show on 53rd.

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Photographic Canadiana 42-4

Posted on January 21, 2017 by Robert

Print by Baker and Johnston of an Indian (First Nation) woman and child  c1880

Toronto. Editor Bob Lansdale sent this issue to the printer. The proof was reviewed and 42-4 is off to the press! Copies will be in the mail by late next week.

I selected the cover shot as an example of the quality of this issue. The reproduction is from a framed print displayed by our president, Lewko Hryhorijiw, at the December Show and Tell meeting. The image had to be extensively photoshopped by our editor before it could be printed.

This issue includes the second half of Carla-Jean Stokes’s thesis on First World War photographs at the AGO,  An article on the Language of Photographic History by our first editor, Terry Wedge, images of digital cameras which are becoming collectibles these days, Toronto Meeting notes for November and December, A Treasure from my Collection column, a Photo Essay from our last Image Fair and another Mystery Camera.

A copy is mailed free to every member – enjoy! Not a member? Just choose the time and country from the drop down menu in the upper right sidebar, click the Pay Now button, and automatically join or renew.

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Icons & Images at Swann Auction Galleries

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Robert

Ellis Island NY in 1909 by Lewis Hine – a modern(ish) 8×10 silver print made in the 1950s

Toronto. Lew Hine is one of my favourite photographers. This is Lot 22 of Sale 2436 at the Swann Auction Galleries on East 25th in New York City. The auction is on Feb 14, 2017 but you can preview the photographs and photo books from February 9th to noon on the 14th. See the online catalogue for dates and times or to even enter a bid.

Swann Auction Galleries send me an email notification of upcoming events and I often post those events which have  a photographic theme. This particular event offers many rather expensive items to whet your taste and expand your collection. For example, this silver 8×10 print of a famous Lewis Hine photograph, developed by someone in the 1950s – over a decade after the death of Hine – is estimated to go for some 6,000 to 9,000 US dollars!

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Snap Shots 22-6 now available

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Robert

PHSNE Logo

Toronto. Thanks to Bob Lansdale for noting that the latest pdf version of Snap Shots is now available.

Snap Shots is the official journal of the PHSNE and announces the topic and location of the next meeting as well as other items of interest to collectors.

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Classic Photographs Los Angeles

Posted on January 18, 2017 by Robert

Vivian Maier – California Beach 1955 – Stephen Bulger Gallery Toronto

Toronto. Fed up with the rain and snow here in the Big Smoke? Join Stephen Bulger at the Classic Photographs show in L.A. this weekend on January 21, 22nd.

Numerous dealers and classic photos available at the show. Dealers such as Stephen Bulger plan to attend.

Head west to California and down to L.A. to take in the sunshine and ambiance of the west coast in January.

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The Buzzing Lights Project

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Robert

Buzzing Lights – Tanja Tiziana

Toronto. Photographer Tanja Tiziana of our city has just completed her opus to the North American Neon Signs common over a half century ago. The book, “Buzzing Lights – The Fading Neon Landscape of North America” uses photographs to record the old neon business signs whose buzz, crackle, and flicker introduced cities to many of us.

Robert Everett-Green of Montreal discusses the “Signs of the Times” in the Globe and Mail  article last Saturday.  I was a teenager when I first went to Montreal. The flashing neon along streets downtown sang out places like the Capitol and Princess theatres, Dunn’s and Ben’s delicatessens, American Lounge and Harlem Nights night clubs, and many more stores and businesses in that magical time between dusk and late night.

The Montreal Movie Palaces, a book by the late Dane Lanken, lovingly recounts the marvels of the movie houses that formed part of Canada’s large cosmopolitan city. Dane spoke to us at the March 1999 meeting.

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Book: Ritual by V. Pietropaolo out Feb 1, 2017

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Robert

Ritual by Vincenzo Pietropaolo –  Available on Feb 2017

Toronto.  I received a nice email from Toronto photographer Vincenzo Pietropaolo last Friday announcing his latest book of photographs. Ritual – four decades of the Easter parade in Toronto’s little Italy,  will be printed and available the first of next month. The press release announces that the book will be available directly from Vince who has spoken at our monthly meetings twice (Feb. 2008, March 2012 – see Toronto Notes). The release as written by Vince, is as follows:

“RITUAL is a hard cover book, 216 pages, with over 150 photographs (colour and b&w) of the Good Friday Procession, in Toronto’s Little Italy, from 1969-2015. It is a coffee table book with an embossed cloth cover and dust jacket. Continue reading →

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Tony Armstrong-Jones, 1930 – 2017

Posted on January 15, 2017 by Robert

Anthony Armstrong-Jones, future Lord Snowdon

Toronto. Do you remember him as Lord Snowdon? Famous photographer Armstrong-Jones married Royalty (princess Margaret) in May, 1960. The Toronto Star for last Friday announced his death at 86.

While we have heard little about the illustrious photographer in recent years, he was truly famous in the late 1960s through the late 1990s.

My thanks to George Dunbar for bringing this sad ending to my attention.

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PHSC Newsletter 16-8

Posted on January 14, 2017 by Robert

Click icon above for the January 2017 issue of our PHSC News

Toronto. Our first newsletter of 2017 was sent to our MailChimp list last evening. We begin this edition with a story about Hamilton and ice fishing illustrated with 104 year old John Boyd’s c1919 photograph.

Our January meeting is covered in “PHSC PRESENTS” while last month’s meeting is summarized under “IT HAPPENED”.

Check out these and many more stories in this issue of editor David Bridge’s latest release of the ever popular PHSC News (and kudos to Sonja Pushchak for the innovative and articulate layout).

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