holy stereo realist Batman!

Posted on December 16, 2024 by Robert

cover of Stereo Realist Manual, ©1954

Toronto. When we got our new newsletter editor, Patrick Gunn, we also got our new stereo mavin! Now a Torontonian, Patrick hails from BC, and brings with him a wealth of newsletter ideas, mock-ups, and plans, plus a burning interest in photographic history, especially stereo.

Stereo is a bit like a fad. The concept seems to come and go over the years. It appears ready to take-off once again. We shall see (I saw one 3D movie a few years back that was a huge jump in reality and easing eye-strain).

In the 1950s wave of stereo-mania, David White produced the amazing 35mm stereo camera called the ‘Realist’. The well-built camera was more expensive than a Leica at the time.

The Realist handbook is published by Morgan & Lester – no strangers to the Leica (they published umpteen editions of the “Leica Manual”). The book has a stereo viewer you can hold over your eyes (wearing glasses or not) and see the book’s full colour illustrations in 3D. The book has chapters by people like Harold Lloyd, Edgar Bergen, and Beaumont Newhall. The 400 page handbook with its clay-coated pages (delays fading) is available used today – occasionally at our events, in used-books stores or even on-line.

In addition to various 3D cameras and reference books, Photographic Memorabilia down in Lexington MA, reprinted in 1976 the manual that once accompanied a new Realist camera. Keep an eye pealed for the Stereo Realist Manual – or a Realist. Well worth owning.

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NGC and Magicians of Light

Posted on December 15, 2024 by Robert

Poet Charles Baudelaire c1863 by photographer Etienne Carjat (from a Woodbury print)

Toronto. In a recent post, I showed just one of the photographs owned by the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) and displayed in its exhibit of provocative and pivotal photographs.

In issue 19-3, editor Roseborough wrote an illustrated article about the NGC, its exhibit, and the people involved back in the early 1990s. His article begins, “High above the Rideau River on Sussex Drive, in Ottawa, Canada, commanding a view of Parliament Hill, stands a jewel like structure reflecting a shimmering sun from many facets of its glass dome.

“The magic of the moment is not lost on entering the building greeted by a long marble ramp flanked by columns ascending to the glass roof. A few more steps and we reach a gallery marked Magicians of Light.

“The heavy door admits us to a cool, humidity-controlled room, dimly lit in deference to the light-sensitive treasures. Each specimen is individually illuminated entirely adequately by filtered cool light to which our eyes rapidly respond.

“This first gallery contains some of the 129 daguerreotypes given by Phyllis Lambert, Director of the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal. Ms. Lambert is a discerning collector who not only made the daguerreotype gift but also another of 280 Walker Evans photographs through the Phyllis Lambert Trust Fund.

“These daguerreotypes were first shown at the opening of the new National Gallery in 1988 as recorded in Intimate Images. The conservation work was performed by John McElhone, assisted by Anne Maheux and Marion Mertens–all of NGC Restoration and Conservation Laboratory.

“The National Gallery of Canada was among the first museums in the world to recognize photography as an art form when it organized, in 1934, a series of photography exhibitions. In 1967, under the directorship  (1966-1976) of Jean Sutherland Boggs and with James Borcoman as its first Curator.”

And as usual, You can  read the rest of editor Roseborough’s article in the paper copy of 19-3 or as a pdf on the free members-only DVD. Not a member? Join today (its easy)! See the MEMBERSHIP sub-menu above (form) and the article at right (PayPal). Send your cheque with the form or send the form and use a credit card/your PayPal account. Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

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a soggy spring

Posted on December 14, 2024 by Robert

A Spring Inundation in 1865, Banks of St. Lawrence River

Toronto. Springtime in 1865 was a bit wet as shown by this century and a half plus photograph by Henderson. Photographer Alexander Henderson was born in Scotland in 1831, immigrated to Montreal, and died there in 1913. Along the way, Henderson captured this ‘inundation’ on the banks of the mighty St Lawrence river.

His photograph graced the front cover of issue 19-3 of Photographic Canadiana. It was purchased by the National Gallery of Canada in 1972 (©1972) and displayed as part of the Magicians of Light exhibit. Editor Roseborough reproduced it from Magicians of Light.

The National Gallery featured only a small part of its huge permanent collection in this exhibition which displays many other famous photographs too. Note: the soggy scene shown here is reproduced in Henderson’s book. “Photographic Views and Studies of Canadian Scenes“.

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a glass eye for sharpness …

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Robert

Lomo’Instant uses Fuji Instax film

Toronto. A recent notice from Alexa Alexiades of Lomography in New York touts the new “Lomo’Instant Wide Glass Camera”.

The marketing blurb says, “We’re thrilled to introduce the Lomo’Instant Wide GLASS – the world’s sharpest instant camera. Equipped with a 90 mm multi-coated glass lens, this must-have instant camera for photography professionals delivers unmatched sharpness and unbelievable colours on Fujifilm Instax Wide film, with an impressive closest focusing distance of just 0.3 m.”

Those of you here in the big smoke, or a short drive away, can visit Downtown Camera and see their film products including Lomography gear.

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the art of Courtney Milne

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Robert

Cover shot -Alpine desert and Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador, – Courtney Milne © 1991 photo courtesy Royal Ontario Museum

Toronto.  The lead article in issue 19-2 is by Verlyn J Rush and is titled. “The great exhibition and book  – The Sacred Earth – by Courtney Milne”

The exhibition was held in the ROM’s Institute for Contemporary Culture, at the Roloff Beny Gallery opening (Toronto).

Rush begins the article, “Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Courtney Milne still lives near there in Grandora, a small farming community a dozen miles outside the city.

“His formal training in photography was at the Brooks Institute in California, but he holds Master’s degrees in psychology, journalism and mass communication from the University of Minnesota.

“That Milne is a superb communicator, driven by a deep philosophy, is proven by his compelling image in three books, Prairie Light (1985), Prairie Dreams (1989), and The Sacred Earth (1991).

“The latter was produced largely from a ten-month global expedition during 1988 and 1989 undertaken by the author and his wife Sherrill Miller, to whom the book is dedicated. Some 60,000 photographs were made and an itinerary equivalent to eleven times around the Earth traversed. …”

You can see some of Milne’s  works, and read the rest of Verlyn Rush’s article in the paper copy of 19-2 or as a pdf on the free members-only DVD. Not a member? Joining is cheap and easy! See the MEMBERSHIP sub-menu above (form) and the article at right (PayPal). Send your cheque with the form or send the form and use a credit card/your PayPal account . Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

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Museum voor Fotografie …

Posted on December 11, 2024 by Robert

Antwerp Photo Museum about three decades ago

Toronto. … or getting in Dutch! In issue 19-2, an anonymous writer (editor Roseborough) writes about a famous museum in Antwerp. He begins, “Covering an area of more than 1000 square meters, the Antwerp Museum of Photography explores the fascinating history of photography.

“Its exhibits range from the camera obscura to the electronic camera and from the earliest daguerreotypes to holograms. Stereo photography, colour photography, scientific applications, photomechanical printing techniques and digital image processing are displayed in different sections.

“Two ground floor galleries offer an intensive and varied exhibition program. Currently, on exhibition is ‘Young Heroes’, the concept of which contain a tragic contradiction. It  implies both victory and defeat. This ambiguity is obvious in the work of many contemporary artists. Featured until mid-September [1993], are these works by Belgian artists.”

You can see some of the  works, and read the rest of the article in the paper copy of 19-2 or as a pdf on the free members-only DVD. WHAT! You aren’t a member? See the MEMBERSHIP sub-menu above (form) and the article at right (PayPal). Send us a cheque with the form or send the form and use a credit card/your PayPal account . Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

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of collectors and columns

Posted on December 10, 2024 by Robert

collector Ron Walker and his milling machine

Toronto. When Ev became editor of Photographic Canadiana, he began changes that pushed our journal into the area of a true magazine. Each issue had an index of contents. Small items of interest to collectors peppered his column “Editor’s Notebook“. Articles covered the society activities: talks, meetings, fairs, auctions. Formal columns were established for the President’s Message, Book Reviews, Toronto Notes, Coming Events, Photographic Museums etc..

Ev recognized that collectors and collecting varied widely and the collectors were our life blood. In that spirit, his newest column, “Meet The Collector”, was established. In issue 19-2 the chosen collector was the late Ron Walker who collected  both Zeiss cameras, and various old Microscopes. Ron also enjoyed repairing the old microscopes.

Ev begins, “It’s very easy to meet this collector. Just come to the Gold Room on the third Wednesday of each month. There, Ron and his wife, Joan, graciously supply refreshments which are a highlight of each meeting.

“Ron was born in England. When he was three months old his family immigrated to a Saskatchewan farm. In the tranquil countryside Natural History became a focus for his inquiring mind and when he learned to read, our colleague became a devotee of the writer Ernest Thompson Seton.

“At the age of twelve Ron acquired his first microscope and a Voigtlander Brilliant camera, beginning a life-long interest in science and optics in particular.

“After high school graduation in 1939 the young naturalist enrolled at Queen’s University, Kingston. and was completing the pre-medical course when WWIl intervened. Ron became a pilot in the RCAF, logging many hours in Hudson and Dakota aircraft. …”

Follow the usual routine to read the rest of the article about Ron in the paper copy of 19-2 or as a pdf on the free members-only DVD. Not a member? Follow the MEMBERSHIP stuff above (form) and at right (PayPal). Easy peasy – send a cheque with the form or send the form and use a credit card or your PayPal account . Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

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Executive Meeting No 52 via ZOOM

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Robert

PHSC President
Clint Hryhorijiw

Toronto. The December 2024  session was held via ZOOM on Dec 4th.  Between the fair and the auction, I completely missed doing a post on the Oct and Nov exec meetings. Thank goodness it was a quiet period other than Mr Patrick Gunn taking on the newsletter duties. His first newsletter is planned for this month and non-time-sensitive material has been accumulated for the next few issues.

We had a visitor in editor Rita Godlevskis who covered the activities of PhotoEd magazine this year and her plans for 2025. We were pleased to renew our support. You can too – subscribe to the magazine. It’s the only one we know about that is devoted to photographic education.

Membership Secretary Lilianne Schneider advises things have been quiet giving her time to assist with the auction. Joining us is sooo easy and inexpensive. See the MEMBERSHIP menu above (form and cheque submission) and/or our PayPal button at right (PayPal account or credit card). New/Renew memberships received after October  begin January 2025.

As our journal is in ‘pdf format only’, an email address is essential. Issue 50-2 is available after a MailChimp notification. Important: if  you have UNSUBSCRIBED to our list, you will not receive notification nor Photographic Canadiana nor other info. MailChimp does not permit me to reinstate that specific email address. Renewal of such addresses are only possible via a form, not on our site. Also, if you change email addresses, please tell us – MailChimp will tag the old address as CLEANED (they cannot add your new address automatically). If you are a member but HAVE NOT seen any notification for Photographic Canadiana since you registered/renewed, please email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

*Note that as of 2022, our membership year ends December 31st.* As of 2024, membership fees are $35/$100 1 yr/3 yr Canadian regardless of the member location (one of the perks of pdf).

Celio Barreto reports a Holiday Show and Tell (plus the AGM) will be held December 18th. A speaker (Janine Freestone, Oxford, UK) is set for January 2025. Please note Celio is presently  populating our YouTube channel with past presentations.

Next year’s (2025) fairs to be held May 25th and October 19th. Happy Holidays, folks!

the gang’s (almost) all here …

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this will grab ya!

Posted on December 8, 2024 by Robert

ad for a 1912 Ellis Graber printing and cutting machine for photographic postcards

Toronto. In issue 19-2 of our journal, editor Ev Roseborough asks, “Ever wonder how the millions of “real photographic postcards” were made? These [machines] were used in almost every country in the world.”

This is the cut line under a photograph of a 1912 BJ Almanac advertisement for the Ellis Graber of Tunbridge England machine.  Most of the photo collectors around have a postcard or two in their collection. It sets the mind at rest knowing how photo postcards could be made and sold so cheaply.

For an even less expensive, but a much reduced resolution postcard, publishers used a half-tone process – one reason for collectors to pour over the cards offered before purchasing to ensure a ‘photo’ postcard was indeed a ‘photo’ postcard and not a half-tone print of a photo.

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Eaton Drug Catalogue – again

Posted on December 7, 2024 by Robert

remember this cover?

Toronto. Back in 2017, I uploaded the c1911 Eaton Drug catalogue provided by Robert Wilson. Recent [December, 2024] analysis using a different criteria determined it to be a 1910 catalogue.

Author David Kenny writes, ” … It was a chance finding while working on an article on Canadian mail order photography sales from 1898 to 1920. When I reread the drug catalogue I saw Bob Wilson’s introduction and then, bingo, Thomas Bradt stamp. 

“Bradt moved from Orwell to north of Aylmer in 1911 so that is final verification that the catalogue was 1910, Wilson got it to within one year based on cameras displayed… I love history research. It is evidence based just like science …” 

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