Spicing it up

Posted on January 3, 2025 by Robert

Fritz Spiess photographing on set

Toronto. To the surprise of many folk, Canada has an active movie industry. It has expanded in recent decades with the burgeoning North American television industry and its constant thirst for new fodder.

In issue 19-4 (some three plus decades ago) then editor Ev Roseborough celebrated the life and times of Fritz Spiess in his article, “Fritz Spiess – Dean of Canadian cinematographers”. Sadly, Fritz died just over four year later in March, 1998.

Ev begins by writing, “Now retired, with accolades from all branches of the industry, we may meet Fritz at our Spring and Fall Fairs, surrounded by pristine cameras; but more than a collector of photographica, he is a collector of awards for his work.

“I have known Fritz for many years since we share a great love for the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Here Fritz has the advantage of having been a student and chorister at Thomas Schule in Leipzig from 1935 to 1943. Bach was organist at St. Thomas Kirche and taught at the school in 1723. The great choral tradition continues.

“Fritz received his first Zeiss-Ikon box camera at the age of six from his father, a photographer and photo dealer, as was his grandfather. The family had been in photography since 1896.

“War service interrupted his apprenticeship which was resumed in 1946 with the renowned portraitist Tita Binz, in Heidelberg. …”

Well, you must know the drill by now! If not, You  can  read all of editor Roseborough’s article in the paper copy of 19-4 or the pdf file for 19-4 on the free members-only DVD. Non-members can join today. Read the MEMBERSHIP sub-menu above (Membership 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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deepfake

Posted on January 2, 2025 by Robert

AI version of actress Sydney Sweeney generated by Stable Diffusion. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Toronto. As Photo/Camera collectors, we have been bombarded with fakes over the years. Easy manipulation of cheap items to create very expensive ones are the rage.

I once looked at ‘black’ Leicas that were so poorly painted they were obvious fakes – Leitz would never allow such shabby work to get out on the market (factory serial number lists indicated the models were authentic, but as chrome versions and as such worth far less).

In the search bar (upper right) of this page, type ‘fake’ (no quotes) and a number of earlier articles on the topic will pop up.

In the spring of 1994, editor Ev Roseborough in his ‘Editor’s Notebook’ column reported a Scientific American article on fakes.

Ev says, “Digital forgery can create evidence for events that never happened. This statement, accompanied by a much-less-than-convincing example in black and white, appears on the cover of Scientific American, February 1994.

“When is Seeing Believing? by William J. Mitchell, professor at M.I.T. and author of The Reconfigured Eye, M.I.T. Press 1992, voices this concern in the six pages.

“Much of the method described has been available for home computers with sufficient memory for a considerable time and advanced techniques have been employed here for several years.

“All of which is significant to photo-historians who are concerned with authenticity, to say nothing of our law courts. Manipulation is an awesome propaganda tool, as mentioned earlier in this journal, Volume 15 Number 3, 1989 [see Return of the Body Snatcher, p4].”

With the  recent advent of so called ‘Artificial Intelligence’ [AI] programs on very powerful home computers, deepfakes have taken on a whole new meaning. The AI version of actress Sydney Sweeney plopped in a wheat field is an example of the distortions created today by AI programs.  AI can be useful to handle repetitive, mundane tasks but can also be deceptive and sinister.

All of Ev’s column and more can be viewed in the appropriate pdf file on the members-only free DVD. Not a member? Joining is so easy – see the MEMBERSHIP sub-menu item above (form) and the article at right (PayPal).

Mail your cheque with the form or send the form and use the PayPal buttons for a credit card/your PayPal account. A DVD will be sent tout de suite via the old fashioned mail service. Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

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Happy New Year 2025

Posted on January 1, 2025 by Robert

life of the party

Toronto. We at the PHSC wish you one and all the very best of good health and prosperity in the new year!

The older you get, the faster time seems to pass! As a youth, I had the pleasure of meeting Bill. He was funny beyond reproach.

When we think of New Year’s parties, we think of shenanigans like those performed by Bill. Memories of such frantic activities soften “the day after the night before” as they say.

Collectors of images may spot such hilarious photos in their collection. If not, visit our events in the new year and keep your eyes peeled – you just might spot a funny photo like this!

Keep an eye on this site, especially the right sidebar. A number of 2025 events have already been firmed up!

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all the moose that’s fit to print

Posted on December 31, 2024 by Robert

This gallery contains 2 photos.

Toronto. Apologies to the riff on the  NY Times and its slogan to make the above title.  Photographic Canadiana issue 50-3 has gone to press and the pdf version sent to all members. This issue was an amazing effort by … Continue reading →

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everything old is new again …

Posted on December 30, 2024 by Robert

comparing a Nikon CoolPix S33 digital camera (left) with an iPhone 13 camera about December 2024 – courtesy of Lily Dupuis

Toronto. This old chestnut seems to apply to early digital cameras now.

Past president Les Jones dropped me a note the other day (followed by current president Clint Hryhorijiw with same link) about an article he read on the CBC web site regarding the discovery of old digital cameras by the Gen Z crowd. The ambiance of photos taken are softer and the shutter speeds slower than those snapped by modern smartphones.

After finally coming to grips with film cameras being old, now we must contend with early digitals! It should be noted that some members began collecting the old digital cameras a few years back. Now there are people using them (like the film brigade) to create photos that are a bit closer to art than fact.

Have at look at the article posted Christmas day from Calgary and written by Lily Dupuis. My first digital camera was a Nikon Coolpix which I followed by a couple of newer ones before moving to Sony mirrorless cameras and Apple iPods. My current go to is an old iPod with an 8 mx camera on board.

I do have a Samsung smartphone with a fancier and higher resolution camera, but it’s a royal pain to transfer image files to my computer using Android technology which seems to have been designed by dumb and dumber (spoiler alert – I prefer Apple and wireless for transferring files).

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Graflex Journal 2-24

Posted on December 29, 2024 by Robert

a 1957 Christmas Party poster from Graflex

Toronto. I sure hope the turkey and trimmings are all digested by now! Those of you who collect/use large cameras, especially those of the Graflex persuasion are in for a treat. The second issue of the Graflex Journal for 2024 is now out – just squeezing in before year end.

Three tasty items are featured: first, “A Need for a Speed – An Upgraded 1939 Baby Speed for 120 Roll Film” written by Jeffery L. Yost, second, “Synchronization in 1939” a massive undertaking by editor Ken Metcalf, and third, an interesting tale from GEH, “From the George Eastman Museum 2-color Kodachrome Camera”. As usual the issue is packed with illustrations.

Illustrated here at left is a “1957 Santa Claus poster (22 x 28″), from eBay. The poster uses the original pen and ink artwork by S. P. Wickert of Rochester NY.”

“Wickert was hired as a draftsman by Graflex, Inc., and soon rose to the position of industrial designer. He became well known to Graflex employees for his many amusing  posters advertising annual company picnics, clam bakes, and Christmas parties.”

Issues from 2022 and earlier are online. If you can’t wait to see the latest issues visit Graflex today and see what others offer.

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Little Pictures Difficult to See

Posted on December 28, 2024 by Robert

… little pictures …

Toronto. Ev and future editor Bob Lansdale visited the GEH in 1993 to join the Daguerreian Society’s 5th annual symposium. The symposium speakers were reviewed in issue 19-4 by Renaté Wickens-Feldman who taught photography in the Department of Visual Arts at Toronto’s York University.

She begins her article as follows, “On October 15-17, Rochester’s George Eastman House (GEH) was the site of the Fifth Annual Symposium of The Daguerreian Society. The meeting, held in conjunction with the Regional Photographic History Group, was complemented by five exhibitions at Eastman House and two at The Strong Museum.

“Most notable were the Eastman House’s ‘Now and Then: Making the Daguerreotype’ and ‘Language of Light: Masterworks from the Collection.’

“The 213 participants at the event (a three- fold increase over the turnout at the original 1988 gathering) were also treated to an optically dizzying 48 table Trade Fair featuring daguerreotypes and, to a lesser extent , antique photographs. The Fair, in turn contributed $5700 toward publishing the Daguerreian Annual.”

The title of this post is a put down remark by a ‘seminal historian’ who ‘is reported to have dismissed these daguerreotypes as “little pictures, difficult to see, of people no one cares much about.”

The rest of this article and more can be viewed in the appropriate pdf file on the members-only free DVD. Not a member yet? Join now (it’s really easy)! See the MEMBERSHIP sub-menu item 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 and your DVD will be sent tout de suite. Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

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measure for measure

Posted on December 27, 2024 by Robert

a Leitz tape measure accessory for copy stands

Toronto. Are you aware that Leitz once offered a tape measure as an accessory? The company actually offered a few differing only in the type of attachment arm. The tape was black with  chrome markings – extending for 1-1/2 metres and marked in mm on one side and 1/16th inch on the other.

I didn’t record when or where the measure shown was acquired. Nor the actual cable code used (STAMA? STUOO? TUSOO?) depending on the arm. The black crackle arm and nickel frame holding a chrome tape casing is unsigned but obviously a Leitz product.

Used with  the various copy arms/stands, I imagine it became superfluous when the various focussing slides came to market.  And thanks to Bill Shakespeare for the title of this post.

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a Canadian-made enlarger

Posted on December 26, 2024 by Robert

Paquin Enlarger made in Canada (Toronto)

Toronto. Editor Ev Roseborough seems to have known and met dozens of eccentric folk in the photography business. Makers of darkroom equipment like enlargers were no different.

Ev has an article in issue 19-4 of our journal titled, “J.M. Paquin, Canadian Manufacturer of the ’30s” (please note that the article ends on the following page, not on page 16 as printed).

Years ago, I wondered why we saw so few Canadian products (like Paquin Enlargers). Other than Canadian Kodak or Leitz products up in Midland, which as far as I could tell (other than lenses designed by Walter Mandler), were manufactured or assembled here from designs created elsewhere.

For example, I saw only a couple of Paquin “Made in Canada” enlargers. One was in John Linsky’s collection (John had explained the Paquin to me).  Another showed up with a widow who wished to dispose of her late husband’s darkroom gear. After reading Ev’s article I realized why I saw so few ‘Paquin’ products at our events.

Ev begins, “One of the most abrasive characters I have ever met was J.M. Paquin. His dusty showroom was separated from the rear factory by a tongue-and-groove partition, decorated with signs such as NO CREDIT. Several glass showcases occupied this showroom, their emptiness concealed somewhat by a veil of dust mixed with the vapours from his japanning oven.

“In the show window, at 787 Queen St., W. in Toronto, there would be an enlarger or two surrounded by dehydrating entomological specimens, feet up.

“The proprietor was a short bandy-legged gentleman who always wore a battered fedora, (Brodie Whitelaw commented, “even in bed”) and a vest with a gold watch chain. Gold also formed a large portion of the most elaborate dental work I have ever seen, revealed only during a fleeting smile.

“J.M. made little effort to sell his products, you either wanted them or you didn’t. Although a flyer, loaned by Bill Belier, states, “see it at your dealers,” I don’t believe there were any dealers. He was short to the point of rudeness with prospective customers who were just looking. …”

You  can  read all of editor Roseborough’s article in the paper copy of 19-4 or the pdf file for 19-4 on the free members-only DVD. Non-members can join today. Read the MEMBERSHIP sub-menu above (Membership 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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Seasons Greetings 2024

Posted on December 25, 2024 by Robert

Have a great holiday and a wonderful 2025

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