Newsletter 15-8

Posted on January 16, 2016 by Robert
Anne and Bill Harker of St James Cathedral with PHSC Treasurer John Morden

Anne and Bill Harker of St James Cathedral with PHSC Awards Chairman John Morden (centre)

Toronto. Editor David Bridge dishes up another yummy issue of our email newsletter. The lead article introduces our January speaker Ralph Beaumont who will discuss his book of the historic CPR photographs  taken by Joe Heckman.

Next is my report on the December Show and Tell meeting with our tradition of a Christmas gift exchange and a silent auction. The meeting started off with a uplifting talk by Anne Harker from the archives at St James on King Street. The cathedral  received a PHSC award to help offset restoration of two full plate daguerreotypes.  The December meeting report is followed by George Dunbar’s suggestion of member Before and After images (including two example images). Continue reading →

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Camerama Show – Sunday, January 24, 2016

Posted on January 16, 2016 by Robert

Camerarama2016Toronto. Gary Perry is holding his popular Camerama show this January 24th at the Delta Toronto East.

Click on the icon at left for a full size poster detailing the times, location, and admission. Links for directions and table rentals too.

Come out and enjoy the day. Bring some collectibles to trade. Buy some new collectibles for yourself!

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Photography on a Silver Plate

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Robert

DagPlate-smToronto. My friend George Dunbar sent me this interesting link to a narrative called Photography on a Silver Plate. The narrative includes a video using historic equipment to take and develop a daguerreotype, stereo photos, typical stills, and even a couple of stereo nude studies.

The narrative explains the importance of the process and its impact on the society of the day. The first years were spent in experimentation and rapid technical improvements to the process and equipment (i.e. much faster lenses) with the goal to make taking and processing daguerreotypes a commercially viable business.

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Another Vivian Maier Exhibit this year

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Robert
Stephen Bulger by Fred Lum of the Globe

Stephen Bulger by Fred Lum of the Globe

Toronto. Gallery owner Stephen Bulger plans to hold another exhibit of Vivian Maier photographs this coming Summer according to the Globe this morning. Bulger hopes to exhibit modern day prints from negatives he owns. There is some concern regarding copyright which may affect the price of any of the prints made from these negatives.

Vivian Maier is the Chicago nanny whose talents as a photographer were discovered after her death and the subsequent sale of her negatives and prints. A recent biography shed some light on this enigmatic soul. A second more deeply researched biography may uncover different potential heirs. Meantime Bulger hopes to print under the copyright law’s orphan works statues. Read this morning’s Globe and Mail or go online with the above link for more details.

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Guess which camera is currently most popular?

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Robert
Charger for Smartphone camera

Charger for any smartphone camera

Toronto. Which is the most popular camera today? We usually think of Nikons or Canons and perhaps even lesser brands like Olympus or Sony, but by far the most popular camera today  is… the camera in your iPhone!

Yes, in 2015 many sources show the iPhone in its various iterations is the most popular camera. This fact has many ramifications. Professional photographers are swamped today by amateurs. TV stations, Flickr, Facebook, Instagram, and the other social sites all host amateur photos. Continue reading →

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The Single Lens Reflex Camera

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Robert

Exakta VXIIa bought the summer of 1958 while I was in Labrador

Toronto. The SLR concept is at least a century old now. The Graflex comes to mind. It was an ideal design for interchangeable lens cameras since one could view through the lens rather than needing a separate viewfinder for each focal length. When I went to Labrador in 1957, I remembered the big ads for the Exakta camera. Although Leica marketed the M series cameras in 1954, I had seen only the IIIf cameras with their little 5cm f/3.5 normal lens and their squinty viewfinder with the rangefinder next to it.

When three of us in Labrador bought good quality 35mm cameras in 1958, we all chose Exaktas with their big bright waist level viewer and the eye level pentaprism viewer. The Exakta body and an f/2 normal lens cost over $400 even with a big discount while Leicas were $100 or so less. Exaktas were made by Ihagee (IHG) in Dresden, then in East Germany. The designer was left handed so the Exakta winder and shutter release were  swapped right to left. Continue reading →

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Heckman’s Canadian Pacific: A Photographic Journey

Posted on December 27, 2015 by Robert

HeckmanCPR-smNEXT TORONTO MEETING: Wed, January 20, 2016
Ralph Beaumont: Heckman’s Canadian Pacific 

Author Ralph Beaumont takes us on a photographic journey into the visual history of this country’s first transcontinental railroad, in his new book on the CPR’s pioneering photographer.

From 1898 to 1915, Joseph William Heckman traveled from coast to coast photographing every aspect of the CPR: main lines, branch lines, stations, bridges, steamships, hotels, and those people who made this vast organization run.

Mr. Beaumont’s detailed description of each striking photo provides its context and delves into the railway’s rich history. The book displays 380 photographs (mostly never before published), taken from CPR’s Archive of  4,000 plus Heckman views. Each photograph is printed from the original large format glass plate negative.

Don’t miss this opportunity for a unique glimpse into the expansion of the CPR, and Canada itself, around the turn of the 20th century.

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

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2015 Show and Tell Night

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Robert
Christmas Gift Exchange by Robert Lansdale

Christmas Gift Exchange by Robert Lansdale

Toronto. We had a wonderful time at the Show and Tell session this year. The event started with a bang when Clint rushed in like a hurricane and quickly set up the silent auction and ranked the presenters for the night. After a short announcement time, we held a draw for a trio of door prizes donated by Felix Russo. After the door prize draw and donation to winners, the night’s presentations began, followed by the gift exchange and silent auction results. Continue reading →

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Photographic Canadiana 41-3

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Robert
John Kantymir's Adams Torpical Idento Camera

John Kantymir’s Adams Tropical Idento Camera

Toronto. All you lucky people who are PHSC members have received or are about to receive the latest edition of this excellent journal from the mind of editor Robert Lansdale. Not yet a member? Sign up today using the Pay Now button in the upper right.

Bob is a perfectionist and it shows in each edition of the journal. Draft copies are diligently proof-read by selected PHSC members and the proof is carefully reviewed by Editor Lansdale and members of the executive. Bob personally visits the printer to oversee the preprinting of each issue and days later directs the wrapping of the issue ready for mailing by member Bob Wilson.

This issue includes Mark Singer’s reviews of recent speakers, photo essays of the fall show and fall auction. There is a detailed review of the Adams Tropical Idento camera owned by John Kantymir and researched by Robert Wilson. We include a review of the book The Poor Man’s Picture Gallery by Denis Pellerin and Brian May.   Continue reading →

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Zeiss and Photography

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Robert
Zeiss and Photography proof plate

Zeiss and Photography proof plate

Toronto. Two years ago at our Show and Tell night I announced a marvellous book by Larry Gubas covering in detail  the vast range of Zeiss and Zeiss-Ikon cameras and Zeiss lenses including hundreds of photographs and a history of the Carl Zeiss organization as it pertains to photography.

We are pleased to announce that the book has been successfully printed in Manitoba by Friesens as a massive single volume. We have ordered a limited number of copies direct from the printer to avoid the cost of shipping to the USA and back to Canada. Our dollar as you know has fallen significantly over the past year or so as the price of oil has tanked world wide.

The title will be sold by Petra Kellers in her store Camerabooks on the west coast in Oregon.

Once the shipment arrives we can price copies accordingly and offer them to members.

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