Twenty will get you Forty, Boy

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Robert
TV Commercial

TV Commercial

Toronto. I think the end of Television is coming even faster these days. My wife and I often watch old comedies with 1.5 to 2 minute long commercial breaks. A couple of years ago, my daughter loaned me some 30 Rock DVDs. It was noted on the case that each half hour segment was actually 23 minutes long – say 46 minutes of show and 14 minutes of advertisements if you chose to view the shows on TV.

Earlier this spring, I was surprised to discover that I could leave my living room during commercials and still get back before they finished. So I timed them. Yep, they were now 3 minutes long.  Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Twenty will get you Forty, Boy

PHSC Fall Photographica-Fair Oct 16, 2016

Posted on October 2, 2016 by Robert
Click icon for larger view

Click icon for larger view

Toronto. The PHSC will be hosting its latest fall camera fair this October 16, 2016 at the Evans/Islington Ave Trident Hall in West End Toronto. Our thanks to Sonja Pushchak for the new poster design at left.

Click here for our journal version poster or on the icon at left to read or print a poster covering details. The sub items of the menu bar item FAIRS gives Exhibitor table reservation form, Exhibitor Rules, Location Map, etc.

Be sure to come out and enjoy the fall weather while you add to your collection or find that special piece of user gear!

Posted in fair | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on PHSC Fall Photographica-Fair Oct 16, 2016

Vancouver Camera Swap Meet Nov 6, 2016

Posted on October 2, 2016 by Robert

vanshowToronto. Rolf Eipper sent a note to editor Bob Lansdale that the fall camera meet in Vancouver will be held on November 6 this year from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Admission is $5 P/P

Antique, Vintage, Digital Cameras and Optics and everything else for Photography!

The show will be coordinated by Tonchi Martinic, replacing long time coordinator Siggi Rohde.

Exhibitors can reserve tables at $60 per table. For reservations, call Tonchi at (604) 681-8419 (note: a consignment table will be available at the Meet).

Address is: Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive at 16th Av, Vancouver BC

Posted in activities-other, fair | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Vancouver Camera Swap Meet Nov 6, 2016

A Hidden Treasure

Posted on October 1, 2016 by Robert
From Storm 2011 on dfable.com - A TTC "Red Rocket" plunging on in a snow storm

From Storm 2011 on dfable.com – A TTC “Red Rocket” plunging on in a snow storm

Toronto. I never realized that our editor of the PHSC Newsletter “PHSC News” is a photographer in his own right.

David Bridge mentioned to me that he had initiated MailChimp on his own website for use by the PHSC to distribute its newsletter.

I eventually got curious about his site and took a peek. What a wonderful selection of images. Kudos to our newsletter editor!

Posted in activities, people | Tagged , , | Comments Off on A Hidden Treasure

View-Master Stereo Camera Ad

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Robert
Oct 1950 HOLIDAY magazine ad for a V-M Camera

Oct 1950 HOLIDAY magazine ad for a V-M Camera

Toronto. My friend George Dunbar sent me an email the other day showing over a dozen magazine ads from mid last century. The magazines of that era had many small illustrated want-ad size listings, often for ways to get rich quick, fix various personal problems, own your own business, or save money.

The ad I chose today is from the October 1950 HOLIDAY magazine (in print from 1946 – 1977). The ad touts a View-Master 3D camera able to take 3D colour pictures for less than the cost of snap-shots. The wrinkle, of course, is that they are tiny colour slides that fit a seven scene View-Master reel.

The year 1950 was in the middle of the most recent surge in the popularity of 3D. Four years later, the first edition of the Stereo Realist Manual (I have a copy) was released. Unlike the View-Master camera, the Realist took an image about 3/4 the size of a 35mm slide – bigger than half frame but smaller than full frame.  The various right and left images of shots mingled in a progressive and orderly way to save film.

Posted in activities-other, camera | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on View-Master Stereo Camera Ad

Rescued Film Project

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Robert
Sample Image from the Rescued Film Project

Sample Image from the Rescued Film Project

Toronto. Some months earlier this year, Russ Forfar, a regular contributor to this site, sent me an interesting link to a person trying to rescue (i.e. process and print) some 66 bundles (about 1,200 rolls) of film shot in the 1950s by the same (unknown?) photographer and never developed.

You can learn about rescued film here on this web site.  The person rescuing this particular bunch of rolls, Levi Bettwieser, chose indiegogo to raise money and by August of this year his venture has raised about a third more money than he first set out to raise. You can learn more about the Rescued Film Project here.

Posted in activities-other, processes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Rescued Film Project

A Long Shot…

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Robert
Huge Nikon Zoom Telephoto Lens

Huge Nikon Zoom Telephoto Lens

Toronto. Back in January of this year, member and past speaker Paul Pasquarello of Buffalo sent me a short note with a link to Petapixel.com and a story about a very expensive,very long zoom telephoto lens manufactured by Nikon.

The two biggest names in cameras these days are Canon and Nikon. Professionals in our society seem to be split. Some favour Canon and others Nikon. Regardless of your allegiance, have a look at this amazing piece of glass and how it should be transported, err… carried.

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on A Long Shot…

Swann Gallery Auction of Photos

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Robert
Children in a Daguerreotype portrait - Lot 12

Children in a Daguerreotype portrait – Lot 12

Toronto. Daile Kaplan of Swann Auction Galleries in NYC sent me a note today advising me of an auction next month, Tuesday, October 25th, at 1:00 pm. This is a great opportunity to add to your image collection. The online catalogue is here and a 3D catalogue here. The auction is titled”Art & Storytelling: Photographs and Photobooks”.

You can email Daile Kaplan here for more information. The auction covers the gamut from the early days of photography to more recent times.

Posted in auction | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Swann Gallery Auction of Photos

Your Photo is in the Mail

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Robert
reuben-sallow-sm

Reuben Sallows, Postcard Photographer, Goderich Ontario (1855 – 1937)

NEXT TORONTO MEETING: Wed, October 19, 2016
Mike Smith: Your Photo is in the Mail

Our speaker is well known author Mike Smith from the world of postcard collectors. Tonight he will speak on the Goderich postcard photographer Reuben R. Sallows (1855 – 1937). I have a passing knowledge as my eldest daughter helped the designer of the gallery website with some coding. Mike Smith  published an article on Sallows and postcards on The Wayback Times website just this year.

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

Posted in program | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Your Photo is in the Mail

A History of the Future 20160921 – a Review

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Robert
Ryerson U. at Yonge and Gould, Toronto

Ryerson U. at Yonge and Gould, Toronto, Wednesday Sept 21, 2016

A delightful night for the PHSC. Our host for the presentations was Joanna Beyersbergen of Ryerson. We had two key speakers: Bob Wilson of the PHSC on the history of stereo and 4th year Ryerson student Marissa Frosst on the technologies of the DME Lab. Both speakers addressed the audience in the amphitheatre of Ryerson University Student Learning Centre located at Yonge and Gould. Click on any image in this post to view a larger version. Continue reading →

Posted in events, program | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A History of the Future 20160921 – a Review