Lorne Shields and the Velocipede in 3D

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Robert
Lorne Shields by Robert Lansdale

Lorne Shields by Robert Lansdale

Toronto. We had a relatively big turnout Wednesday to hear Lorne’s talk.  Bob Lansdale counted some 50+ members and public in attendance. Lorne is a well-known and respected authority on bicycle history who has spoken widely in North America and Europe on that subject. He has been a member of the PHSC for two decades and has blessed us with various talks on multiple occasions. My thanks to Lorne for reading this review and making the necessary corrections. 

Lorne began his talk with a brief review of bicycling’s prehistory; Manumotive and Pedimotive mechanisms with rotating wheels that eventually developed into the earliest cycles.  Tonight Lorne used mostly anaglyphs created from authentic contemporary stereo cards to show the evolution of the velocipede and its eventual transition into early high wheel or penny-farthing bicycles.  Continue reading →

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Edwin Haynes, Photographer 1877 – 1918

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Robert
Toronto Camera Club by Edwin Haynes

Toronto Camera Club by Edwin Haynes

Toronto. Members Sarah Shrigley and George Dunbar separately sent me an email about Edwin Haynes being featured by the Toronto Star website.

Haynes, born in England, had a relatively short life here in Ontario before falling victim in 1918 to the notorious Spanish Influenza which affected people world-wide at the time.

Haynes was a professional news photographer to the Star and a keen amateur photographer and member of the prestigious Toronto Camera Club.

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Remember to Remember

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Robert
Tom Bochsler by Robert Lansdale

Tom Bochsler by Robert Lansdale

Tom Bochsler was our speaker at the April 20, 2016 meeting. Tom took us on a journey back in time to honour fallen Canadian soldiers of the two world wars in France and Belgium. Mr Bochsler is a noted photographer and journalist who has spoken at the society before. His studio is celebrating 60 years of work. His son now runs the studio with his grandson and some dedicated photographers and  staff. Tom’s book, The Art of Industry, covers 50 years of his photographic work in journalism and industry. This review was written by our past president Mark Singer. Continue reading →

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Estate Auction Held on Sunday, June 19, 2016

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Robert

JuneAuctionRolleiToronto. PHSC hosted an Estate Auction at the Legion Hall in Long Branch on June 19, 2016. The public was invited. A slide show has been posted here. Now 174 lots listed – 11 more added June 12, 2016. plus many more not photographed!

Our second auction this year is an estate auction on Sunday, June 19, 2016. This event will be held at the Long Branch Legion Hall. Just click here to see detailed times, directions and rules. Please note that all are welcome to attend as buyers only. No goods will be accepted in advance or at the door as this is an estate auction with pre-determined lots.

Photos of some of the items to be auctioned Sunday can be viewed by clicking on the image below. Once opened, click on the first thumbnail and then click on any thumbnail to see a larger image.JuneAuctionPhoto

Drop by before the auction next Sunday. More photos and information will be added frequently.

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Mug Shots – Shades of the Departed!

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Robert
Shades of the Departed

Shades of the Departed

Toronto. In early May my friend George Dunbar sent me a link he called, “A wonderful, online magazine of old crime and police photography“.

It turns out that Shades of the Departed, which I had as a link on this site for a time, also produces free online magazines with each issue featuring a topic.

According to the Shades web site, the name, Shades of the Departed, is credited to photographer Abraham Bogardus who in 1885, with tongue in cheek,  used the term to describe any picture he took for which the sitter failed to return and pick up. These orphan pictures were exhibited in a separate case in his studio.

The spring 2014 magazine is devoted to photography associated with cops and robbers. Click on the link and enjoy the read!

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Women of Hollywood Collection – CONTACT Festival

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Robert

ARTDIEM-smToronto. As a part of the Scotiabank Toronto CONTACT Photography Festival, ARTDIEM launched their inaugural exhibit earlier this month on May 5, entitled The Milton H. Greene “Women of Hollywood Collection”, Volume I.

Attached is the program from that evening for your reference.

The exhibit is now open to the public until June 30th at 18 Watt studio, located at 660 Caledonia Road here in Toronto. If you would like to schedule a private viewing, or an appointment to meet with their art consultants, please do not hesitate to contact them directly.

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Early American Daguerreotype

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Robert

Early-American-Dag-smToronto. I received an email courtesy of the Daguerreian Society this past week announcing a book and signing (earlier today) by author Sarah Kate Gillespie down in Washington D.C. The book sounds like it would be of interest to our members.

THE EARLY AMERICAN DAGUERREOTYPE,
TALK, BOOK SIGNING, AND OBJECTS OUT OF STORAGE

Friday, May 27, 2016, 12 – 1:30pm
Presidential Reception Suite, first floor
National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Constitution Avenue NW between 12th and 14th Streets NW
Washington, DC

The daguerreotype was patented in France in 1839, but by 1851 this early photographic method had been so improved by American daguerreotypists that it was often referred to as “the American process.”

In a talk based on her new book, The Early American Daguerreotype: Cross-Currents in Art and Technology, author Sarah Kate Gillespie will recount the activities of the unexpected mix of fine artists, scientists, and mechanical tinkerers who transformed the daguerreotype into a new  way to see the world.

After the talk, National Museum of American History curator Shannon Perich will show rare daguerreotypes from the Museum’s collections. Gillespie will sign copies of The Early American Daguerreotype, which will be available for sale.

Presented by the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.  For more information, please visit the Lemelson Center’s website or email lemcen@si.edu.

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Verichrome and Super-XX films

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Robert
Kodak Verichrome and Super-XX film.

Kodak Verichrome and Super-XX film.

Toronto. My friend George Dunbar sent me this ad by email. The ad appeared in the December 1944 issue of LIFE magazine. As a kid our family could never afford the luxury of a magazine subscription – I read older issues of LIFE at the local barbershop on occasional Saturdays waiting for the owner Niles Reid or his associate to crop my unruly head.

Verichrome (orthochromatic) was like Ilford XP-1 (panchromatic) in later years. It was actually two emulsions, one slow and one fast, so that common box cameras and folders of the day were sure to give a usable exposure – at least  in daylight. In grade six, I went on a bus tour with my trusty baby brownie. Believing the Kodak ads, I confidentially bought Super-xx so I could take photos in poor (indoor) light. Sadly, the film was far too slow to give a printable image of any snap taken indoors with my little f/16 box camera.

In any case, have a look at this LIFE Kodak ad of some 70 years ago and think of how lucky we are today with our super high ISO cameras and built-in optical stabilization. My little Sony NEX-6 auto adjusts the ISO level to as high as 3,200 ISO and can be set to a fixed ISO from ISO 100 to ISO 25,600. Verichrome was about 125 ASA (ISO) tops and Super-XX slightly faster at 200 ASA (ISO) tops and fully pan-chromatically sensitive. Exposure was recommended to be below these setting!

You will notice that the ad emphasizes how fast the films are but NEVER gives the actual speed which is so painfully slow today.

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New (Old) Lomography Art Lens

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Robert
Lomography Art Lens

Lomography Art Lens

Toronto. Katherine Phipps from Lomography sent me an email last month. The company plans to offer a two element in one group f/2.9, 64mm brass lens with waterhouse stops.

The lens is named a Daguerrian achromat and signed as a Chevalier lens although to me the f/2.9 aperture is more reminiscent of Petzval’s Voigtlander camera lens aperture.

The lens is intended for the digital cameras and will be offered in Canon EF or Nikon F mounts, both easily converted to fit mirrorless cameras via a suitable adaptor.

You can learn more from the American press and marketing documents here (first impressions) and here (press release).

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What is the largest camera ever made?

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Robert
Biggest Camera and Photo ever Made

Largest Camera & Photo Ever Made

Irvine, CA. Back on May 15, Russ Forfar asked if this article on a pinhole camera was relevant. I agreed as I had recently posted George Dunbar’s pinhole selfie celebrating national pinhole day April 1, 2016.

The folks in California light proofed an old and empty F-18 Aircraft hangar and used it as a pinhole camera to “snap” the airforce base on a 111 x 32 foot piece of light sensitive seamless white muslin cloth.

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