Who invented the first digital camera?

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Robert

9a079d26-4163-11e5-9d05-e21db24024da_20150811-lens-sasson-slide-QS7V-superJumbo--363x363Toronto. Russ Forfar, a frequent contributor to this site dropped me a note today about the first digital camera ever invented.

In mid August, James Estrin in Australia’s Business Review Weekly wrote a column titled “In 1975, this Kodak employee invented the digital camera. His bosses made him hide it“.

In 1973, engineer Steve Sasson joined Kodak. Two years later Sasson who was given the task of seeing if the CCD had any practical use, put together a heavy and awkward device that would take a 100 x 100 pixel image on a CCD and record the digital version to an audio tape. Continue reading →

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Where have all the cameras gone?

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Robert
Bald faced Hornets drinking rain drops

Bald faced Hornets drinking rain drops

Toronto. ….to smart phones and tablets one and all.

A few days ago as my wife and I set out shopping, I spotted a bunch of bald faced hornets sipping water on the euonymus hedge at the front of our house. I quickly pulled out my iPod Touch (basically a phoneless iPhone) and snapped this picture using its fill flash option.

While the sensor is tiny and the file a compressed jpeg file, the result is quite pleasing. If I had to run in and get my Sony (or Leica) and take a shot with a “real” camera, the nasty little insects may well have disappeared. As I think about recent events I attended,  smart phones and tablets were everywhere while traditional cameras were seldom to be seen.

It reminds me of the old adage “the best camera is the one you have in hand”. Not only can you “snap” a photo with a smart phone, you can quickly send it to friends almost instantly, eliminating much education (focus, lighting), processing, mailing, etc.

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Alfred Pyner 1917-2015

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Robert
Alfred William Pyner 1917-2015

Alfred William Pyner        1917-2015                                  by Robert Lansdale

Toronto. I received an email recently from Alf’s daughter, Marilyn. She sadly informed me that Alf had passed away a few weeks ago.

Her father,  Alfred William Pyner was born in Barking, Essex, England on November 12 1917. He joined the RAF during the second world war flying Spitfire aircraft and performing aerial photography. Late in November 1944, Alf married his wife Emily. After the war, Alf joined the famous British firm of Ilford, noted for its films, papers and photographic chemicals. At Ilford, Alf became an industrial and scientific photographer. He was involved with Ilford as the company evolved its colour processes.

In his spare time, Alf enjoyed working with his hands and in 1952, he built his own home. A decade later this was topped when he built his own yacht! Both a yachtsman and photographer, Alf loved to travel throughout the UK. Continue reading →

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Instagramming Toronto

Posted on August 15, 2015 by Robert
Toronto on instagram

Toronto on instagram

Toronto. As I read the Globe this morning, I came across an article by Layla Bozich in the Globe T.O. section. She discusses photography of our city and the use of Instagram.

The column continues inside Globe T.O., covering the full page M5 and features an image and tips from eight Instagram photographers. Have a read. The column may be up for a while and maybe not.

Click on the icon at left  or here to go to instagram/toronto_insta.

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Kodak Building 56 dissolves

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Robert
Kodak Building 56

Kodak Building 56

Toronto. In the early hours yesterday another Kodak building disappeared forever as a demolition company in Rochester quietly imploded the structure which once housed 18 acetate roll coating machines.

In my youth, Kodak was a  huge force in photography with world-wide facilities. In fact, well into the late 1990s, Kodak remained a powerful organization. As the new century unfolded, Kodak began to stumble and fall. In early 2012 the hallmark of the photographic industry declared bankruptcy and an end to the era of chemical photography.

Continue reading →

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Photographs of then and now

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Robert
Gettysburg

Gettysburg

Toronto. My thanks to Russ Forfar who sent me this very engaging article from the Guardian newspaper in England.

Everyone has heard or seen the famous Gettysburg address by Abe Lincoln. Guardian has created a remarkable site showing before wet plate photographs taken during the American civil war and after photographs taken by David Levene this year. A simple slider dissolves one image into the other and each pair is accompanied by a short video narrative. In each pair of images, a key element helps the viewer during the transition.

The old black and white wet plate prints are sharp and clear. Levene has carefully matched them as to viewpoint and focal length in his colour images. His separate article linked above describes his diligent efforts to recreate the iconic images taken a century and a half ago when tripods, glass plates and horse drawn darkrooms were a must for decent glass plates.

I seen many before and after/ then and now  approaches. Levene’s is clearly one of the better ones. Have a look.

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Newsletter 15-3

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Robert
Niagara Hotel - Clint's Curio Collection

Niagara Hotel – Clint’s Curio Collection

Toronto. Editor David Bridge has released another insightful newsletter. While it is timed to promote our 5th Trunk Sale this Sunday, it has increased to 10 colourful pages. Toronto Notes mentions the June meeting with Jamie Day Fleck and her Canon DSLR created video for her Ryerson thesis and the photographs of Kodak Canada today by Clint and Bob Lansdale.

We say good bye to the well known Sam Vinegar. The column “Clint’s Curio Collection” appears here with a surprise image and a story of a Niagara tragedy. Les Jones presents a Photographer’s Brochure from Kawanee, Illinois. We hear again from our friend Stan White with a two-pager about “Oddities from My Collection”.

Receipt of Zeiss Historica 37-1 is noted along with status of editor Larry Gubas’s book “Zeiss and Photography“, currently being printed in Manitoba by FriesenPress. And Louise Freyburger has unearthed another bunch of photography related web links.  Click on the icon at left to read or print this issue of our newsletter.

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Feedback on Deckle-Edge Snap-shots

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Robert
Trimmer

AMATO deckle-edge cutter

Toronto. I remember seeing an old Kodak deckle-edge trimmer that was one of the late Larry Boccioletti’s favourite items. After we published Anna Krentz’s story of Snap-shots with an Edge, member Frank Calandra of Rochester wrote Bob Lansdale the following note:

To: Anna Krentz

I loved your articles on the history of deckle-edge snapshots in Photographic Canadiana. For many years, one of my favorite items has been my small deckle-edge cutter (see attached photos) I found it at a tag sale long ago, mainly because I was fascinated by how the cutter blade profile perfectly matched the edge on the platen. But when I used it on an actual snapshot, I was hooked! I love making prints with white borders and trimming with my cutter. The people I give these photos to love them as well. It makes the pictures really special. Continue reading →

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A Visitor from Rochester

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Robert
From left: John, Lisa Ann, Mark, and Clint.

From left: John, Lisa Ann, Mark, and Clint.

Toronto. At our end of season meeting in June we had the pleasure of seeing Lisa Ann Seischab, VP Strategic Advancement, at GEH.

Bob Lansdale took this impromptu picture with Lisa and three of our presidents – John Linsky, our first president and the two most recent members to hold that position – Mark Singer and our current president Lewko (Clint) Hryhorijiw.

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Photos by Kirk – II

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Robert
Fleck by Lansdale

Fleck by Lansdale

Toronto. Our speaker for June was Jamie Day Fleck who gave an engaging talk and video on Bronx photographer Kirk. She did the video as part of her Masters at Ryerson. The slightly under a half hour video was followed by a detailed analysis of why and how she took the clips.

Jamie noted that her documentary covers three concepts: firstly the history and work of the Armenian-American photographer Kirk, secondly the importance of studio photography in the 20s – 40s (many people exist only in their photos), and finally raising awareness of the Turkish genocide of Armenians in Turkey which took place 100 years ago this year.

Jamie used a DSLR camera – the Canon 5D Mk II – to shoot the clips for this video. As a professional photographer she noted that she preferred to work with equipment she knew. The video is an excellent tribute to her meticulous care in recording the clips and creating a story line that is easily followed by her audience.  Well done, Jamie.

Note: A more complete review will appear in our next newsletter and the fall edition of Photographic Canadiana.

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