Film is Making a Comeback

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Robert

Marx Brothers in A Day at the Races. A 1937 Movie when the brothers were at their peak

Toronto. My thanks to Russ Forfar, one of our speakers this month. Russ emailed me a link to this Time Magazine article by Olivier Laurent on the state of film in today’s largely digital world.

It is a timely article as we recently reported that Kodak joined the new wave with a re-introduction of Ektachrome via its subsidiary Aliris.

The image of the Marx Brothers at left is a great illustration. The boys are at the races and are looking at a “photo finish” of one race in a darkroom of the era. Harpo (left) holds a big news camera (Graflex?), Groucho inspects a negative while Chico looks on too, holding a betting slip.

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Review of January 2017 Miracle Repair Tips Meeting

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Robert

We had two very interesting speakers tonight as demonstrated by the very active Q&A sessions. Both speakers are PHSC members and exhibitors at our fairs. Russ Forfar, now semi-retired, was in the  camera repair business for many decades. Our main speaker, Lincoln Ross, has been doing print and slide restoration and conservation for an equally long time. 

Russ Forfar by Robert Lansdale

Russ Forfar. Kominek Camera & Optical Instrument Sales and Service on Yonge below Wellesley was founded in 1951 by three immigrants. In 1988, Russ and the late Hugh Cooley bought the business. Parts of the business which went to the Kominek estate, were auctioned at Waddington’s including a collimator (now in Russ’s hands). A decade later, Hugh died and Russ elected to buy out his share. From the beginning, Russ was customer interface on the front desk in spite of his technical training – he did the triage – deciding if an instrument should go upstairs to independent repair agents or be scrapped. Unclaimed items were tagged for a grace period before being junked or sold. When the Yonge Street lease was up, rent escalation forced Russ to move to a College Street basement. Continue reading →

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Toronto Mirage in 1894

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Robert

Quote by Erica Jong courtesy of picturequotes.com

Toronto. George Dunbar sent me an email the other day about a curious phenomenon which was deemed to be news-worthy when it happened in the summer of 1894 – a superior mirage.

The city of Toronto was seen briefly by citizens of our sister city, Buffalo NY, appearing to hover above Lake Ontario. It was believed that a temperature inversion on that hot summer’s day above the cool lake air created the illusion. Apropos my post a few days back, this event apparently was not recorded by a photographer and can only be imagined today.

George was informed of this event by a recent article reported in the Toronto Star.  We all recall mirages on hot days, often seen while driving when we approach a gently hilly area on our smoothly surfaced highways .

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Early Colour Books for 35mm cameras

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Robert

Color Photography by Paul Wolff

Toronto. We treat black and white images as niche photos today. Modern day digital cameras take beautiful full colour photos out of the box. The photographer needs to know little about colour, his (or her) camera, or the subject to get a colour balanced, correctly exposed image.

That wasn’t always the case. Seven decades ago the majority of photos were taken in black and white – films like Super XX,  Verichrome and  Tri-X prevailed. Even movies where monochrome delights.  Early television into the 1960s was back and white as well. When I was in Bell’s Engineering department in the mid 1960s, one lady had a new color TV. She preferred to watch only colour shows if one was available regardless of its content.

Colour was always the goal for improving photos. In the late 1800s and early 1900s various additive schemes were marketed to allow people to take colour photographs. The results didn’t fully replicate reality and were grainy. None of the processes would scale down to 35mm cameras which burst on the photographic scene in the 1930s.

Continue reading →

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Fine Photographs Auction in Boston Jan 27, 2017

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Robert

Oscar Rejlander, England, Skinner Lot 183, Nude  Female Study

Toronto. I received an email from Skinner a few days ago announcing their auction of fine photographs tomorrow at noon in Boston, MA.

If you can make it down to Massachusetts this Friday, be sure to drop in at Skinner’s in Boston at 63 Park Plaza.

A great chance to add some real historical images to your collection! Check their on line catalogue here. 

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Still Standing… Together

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Robert

Close-up of Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans Feb 2016 courtesy of the NY Times. Click to see full image by George Georgiou.

Toronto. We read with mixed feeling about the dichotomy created by President Trump who is in his early days in office. George Dunbar offered this article last Sunday from the NY Times Magazine.

The pictures by George Georgiou in “Where Americans Still Stand Together” emphasize the value of photography to record moments in time at events big and small.

It is interesting in these days of smartphones and cameras everywhere that a seasoned eye can still prevail. Look closely at these images.

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Love That Kodak: History of Kodak Canada

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Robert

Kodak Diskette

NEXT TORONTO MEETING: Wed, Feb 15, 2017
Alison Skyrme – Love That Kodak

When Kodak melted under the onslaught of digital, both Rochester Park and Kodak Heights were almost levelled. Only building No. 9 remained here at Kodak Heights. All the Canadian Kodak historical material was donated to Ryerson University.

Alison, as Ryerson’s Special Collections Librarian, will speak on the History of Kodak Canada.  She specializes in collections management and documentation in Ryerson’s heritage sector and has over 15 years of collections experience in galleries, libraries, archives and museums.

On the upper right of this page is a search field for our site’s WordPress content. Type in “Kodak” to see other recent articles on this great old company, once the mightiest of photographic companies world wide. Also Bob Burley, who spoke to us in February 2007, wrote a book on the end of Rochester Park and Kodak Heights “The Disappearance of Darkness — Photography at the End of the Analog Era”.

The public is welcome. Go to our Programs page for times and directions.

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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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