ya feelin’ a bit bookish, matey?

Posted on November 4, 2024 by Robert

Lot 151 – Kisselbach’s 1st edition (English) with an M3 illustrating the dust cover,

Toronto. Our fall estate(s) auction is coming up fast – Nov 24, 2024 – with many nifty things for your collection and user gear. Details are shown here in this post and poster.

Some lots feature books such as this English edition of Theo Kisselbach’s “The Leica Book” (lot 151). Originally published in German as “Das Leica Buch”, this edition is the first edition as shown by the M3 illustrated on the dust cover (I have the German 1st Edition 1955 (M3) and the English 2nd edition 1971 with an M4 illustrated on the dust cover).

Being the transition period (from screw mount to M-Series cameras) both the latest screw mount cameras (f series) functions and the M3 functions are shown within the book. Also included are the lenses of the time and the most popular accessories. (The book may also include info on the IIIg camera).

Come on out and enjoy the day at the Legion Hall down in the south-west corner of the city. Free admission. Free parking. Chance to by something for yourself or as a gift (Christmas is coming).

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anthotype? what is that?

Posted on November 3, 2024 by Robert

a sample Anthotype image

Toronto. The PHSNE has a zoom meeting tonight featuring Jesseca Ferguson, ‘JESSECA FERGUSON’S ANTHOTYPES: NEW WORK IN “GREEN PHOTOGRAPHY” – NOVEMBER 3 @ 7:30 PM’.

Until I saw the email from the PHSNE Saturday, I was unaware of the Anthotype images. Checking the internet, I found a wealth of information about the images and even how to make them.

Check out here for the PHSNE and how to sign up for this zoom session tonight and hear in person from an expert who has investigated and used this novel process.

The PHSNE introduce the process as, “The anthotype (ancient Greek for “flower image”) is considered an artistic process today, but the technique was invented in 1842 by the multi-talented British astronomer and chemist Sir John Herschel.

“Like many artists today, Jesseca Ferguson is deeply concerned about the ecological impact of her studio/darkroom. Since summer 2019, she has experimented with the anthotype, an early photographic method which uses only plants and the sun to produce images on artist’s paper.

“Ephemeral and very time-consuming, this process was quickly abandoned after its invention but is currently experiencing a worldwide renaissance with artists seeking “green” ways to make images.”

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hunt for the Nikon in darkest Toronto

Posted on November 2, 2024 by Robert

Fred discovers a rangefinder Nikon – photos courtesy late Robert McMann

Toronto. The late Fred Hunt was a professional photographer, a college teacher, a member of the PHSC, and a good friend of one of our co-founders, Larry Boccioletti.

In issue 17-5 Fred wrote an interesting article titled, “On an expedition into the wilds of midtown Toronto – Explorer Fred Hunt Discovers Nikon in Canada”. The article is illustrated by the late Bob McMann, once our Nikon authority; and Nikons from his collection. We lost Bob around the time our website was first established. Bob was technically skilled and encouraged the formation of our web site when few were aware of the internet and its power.

Fred begins his article, “I was a single-lens reflex (SLR) chauvinist!

“Pity my poor students at Centennial College who showed up in class with some obscure point-and-shoot or old folder camera! They would approach me at coffee break, offering their camera and remark: ‘This was my father’s camera. He suggested I take a course and learn how to use it.’ And then those fateful words: ‘How does it work?’

“I looked down at some strange beasty and felt like retorting: ‘Well, don’t ask me!’

“It was clear that if I wanted to be effective at Centennial College I would have to realize there was more to photography than SLR cameras. To this end, I would keep an eye open for non SLR cameras that caught my fancy.

“One Saturday in 1974 my friend Bill and I found ourselves on the second floor of the Toronto Camera Exchange. I was absorbed with something at the counter when Bill, several feet further along called: ‘Look, Fred, a Nikon rangefinder!”

Members read the entire story and more of issue 17-5 in the original hard copy. More recent members read the issue 17-5 pdf file on the PHSC members only DVD. It’s easy to join – see above or at right. Questions? Email Lilianne, our membership secretary at member@phsc.ca.

And if you hanker for a Nikon goodie, visit our fall auction this November 24th. Heck, come on down anyway! This post gives details and will be updated as more lots are photographed.

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d…d…d…double t…t…t…take

Posted on November 1, 2024 by Robert

Montgomery’s Inn c1913 was built in 1830 and stands today at the same corner as an historic site

Toronto.  Shades of George Dunbar and Mike Filey! These gentlemen too shot areas of Toronto matching archival photos for ‘then’ and ‘now’ images of the city as it grew.

In issue 17-5, Randall Reid wrote an illustrated article about his talks and slide shows at Montgomery’s Inn on the south-east corner of Dundas and Bloor in Etobicoke township (now the west end of Toronto).

Randall begins, “‘Double Take, Photographs of Etobicoke Then and Now’ is a slide presentation which I recently assembled at Montgomery’s Inn in co-operation with the local Etobicoke Historical Society. Montgomery’s Inn itself is an historic house museum located at the corner of Dundas Street West and Islington Avenue in Etobicoke.

“The appearance of Etobicoke has changed from a rural landscape of farms, market gardens and cross-roads communities to an industrial and residential urban centre. With that rapid change has come an increase in population from 44,000 in 1951 to in excess of 300,000 today [early 1992]. It is difficult for newer residents to visualize and orientate themselves today with old photographs of Etobicoke.

“As a staff member of Montgomery’s Inn, I have been giving historic slide presentations since 1975. After presenting these shows, I would frequently hear such comments as ‘Where was that? I can’t place it.’ Such comments. therefore, inspired me to prepare a slide presentation in which an historic picture is shown simultaneously beside a modern view of the same location. With this technique, the viewer quickly identifies with the site and develops a sense of the change which has occurred.”

Members read the full article and more in the original journal issue or more recently its pdf version on the members-only DVD. Joining is both easy and inexpensive. See above and/or at right. Questions? Drop Lilianne an email at member@phsc.ca.

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you could shoot a can(n)on down main street …

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Robert

lot 107 – Canon EF body

Toronto. … at midnight and not hit a soul. This was a common expression when I was a kid. It was used to describe a sleepy little town or village. And speaking of Canons, we will have some great bodies and lenses at our fall auction next month on November 24th.

This is the last special event for 2024. Goodies galore will be offered up for your chance to augment that collection of photographic stuff (or your user gear). Given the date, you should even consider Christmas gifting!

This post and poster give you the details! See you there. Free admission and free parking as usual! The above link will give you a slide show of the lots as lot photos are received and posted.

PS. Don ‘t forget, its Halloween tonight … spooky goings on …

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way before ‘flash’ gordon …

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Robert

Studio arrangement showing Slingsby’s Flash-Light Stand with four lamps ready to be used. Note the India rubber ball with the tubing on the floor, and the reflecting screen.

Toronto. … in fact many decades before. NB. For those born after say 1990, here is the article on Mr Gordon. Meantime back  in the late 1800s, some enterprising folk came up with ways to compensate for the abysmally slow media of the time allowing studio portraits to be made with a more natural subject positioning. All photos used here were sharpened with TopazPhoto AI 3 using the program’s latest sharpening tool.

In the spring of 1992, Bob Wilson wrote an illustrated article on an 1890 book by Robert Slingsby titled, ” A Treatise on Magnesium Flash – Light Photography For Various Subjects”, published by Marion & Co., London.

The portrait shown here used four of Slingsby’s  lamps plus reflecting screens.  Part of Bob’s article  uses his own words along with quotes on how the portrait at left was taken. “Slingsby’s first attempts at using the very bright [and dangerous] magnesium powder resulted in photographs with very strong [high]lights and black shadows. To overcome this, he began to use more than one lamp, and mounted the lamps on a tall Flash-Light Stand which he developed.

“This stand is illustrated in one of the photographs in the book. It shows a studio arrangement for the portrait of a young girl. High on the stand Slingsby has mounted four Flash Lamps, two against the wall, and two extending into the room. Attached t0 each of the lamps is a long tube and these are attached to a three inch India rubber ball.

“This ball is shown in the [enlarged] photograph. To use the lamps to take a photograph, the magnesium powder is placed in the lamp by the end of the tube and the spirit in the lamp is lit. Slingsby used two to five grains of magnesium powder in each lamp, an amount that gives more perfect combustion and less smoke and fumes in the room than when more powder is used.

“When the lens of the camera has been uncovered to take the photograph, the magnesium is forced into the flame of the lamp by squeezing the rubber ball.”

Of course members could read the full article in hard copy, or more recently in the issue 17-5 pdf file on our members-only DVD. Not a member? Join today and get a personal copy of the DVD featuring the first 40 volumes of the journal. See the menu item above or the article at right. Questions? Drop Lilianne an email at member@phsc.ca.

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doing the things we had to do …

Posted on October 29, 2024 by Robert

One of a series. “Life on the Farm” commissioned by RB&W. Owen Sound. Photo by John Crawford

Toronto. In issue 17-4, Ev wrote an article about a Toronto photographer, John Crawford, and his boss Nelson Hutchinson (Hitch).

In part Ev writes, “Digressing for a moment, John related a humorous occurrence during his time with Hitch. Previously mentioned was his employer’s fondness for ‘a drop’ which he enjoyed sharing with his friends. These included a number of members of ‘Toronto’s finest’ who found solace in the warm studio during police duties on freezing days. Hitch’s car was known by sight.

“One day John was driving a client near the Flatiron building at Wellington and Church Sts. when a traffic jam developed. One of ‘the finest’ who was directing traffic, waved John through a red light, past all the others. ‘Gosh’, said the client, ‘how do you rate that?’ to which the driver replied, ‘I’m not sure,’ and mumbled something about Hitch having something to do with the Police Department.”

Members read the entire story and more in a pdf file for issue 17-4 recorded on the member-only DVD. Membership is both inexpensive and easy. See the menu item ‘MEMBERSHIP’ above or the “Membership – Join or Renew!” article at the far right. Questions? Email Lilianne, our Membership Secretary, at member@phsc.ca.

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daddy, daddy, come and see …

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Robert

lot 116 is a Goerz Dogmar 15cm f/4.5 lens in a Compur shutter mounted on a lens board

Toronto. … lots and lots of lots for you and me (apologies to Hellerman and Minkof). I first heard this song in the mid 1960s sung hauntingly by Harry Belafonte.

Next month, November 24th, we will host our fall Estates auction. Come on out and join in the excitement.

The attached post featuring John Morden’s fabulous poster gives the details. Free parking, free admission, and a great chance to meeting friends once again (and add to your collection/user gear too)!

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just zoomin’ along

Posted on October 27, 2024 by Robert

Lot 105 – an 80-200 f/4 FD Canon zoom lens

Toronto. In the late 1950s, when I bought my Exakta, ZOOM lenses for 35mm cameras were rather short on focal length range, slower than prime lenses,  heavier, had serious distortion, and were far more expensive.

In 1959, Kilfitt in Germany produced a 35mm zoom lens with the Exakta mount. A Wikipedia article states, “Kilfitt was one of the best and most innovative German lens makers of the 1950s and 1960s. The Münich factory started to produce the first production zoom lens in 1959 for 35mm still photography, the famous 36-82/2.8 Zoomar.[7][8] It was originally made in Voigtländer Bessamatic and Exakta mount.

Photography has come a long way since as shown by the lovely Canon zoom lens (lot 105) It can shoot from 80mm to 200mm at F/4 or higher (smaller aperture). When zoom lenses became standard fodder for film and later digital cameras, we became lazy, adjusting the zoom focal length to fill the frame rather than changing the prime lenses and moving back and forth. …

By the way, lot 105 refers to a lot in our fall estates auction. Drop in and see the goodies – an item is sure to fit your collection or user gear!

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shoot wide … wider … wider

Posted on October 26, 2024 by Robert

A 20 mm focal length Canon wide-angle lens

Toronto. These days through the magic of technology, 35mm SLR/DSLR cameras can use wide angle lenses of focal lengths unheard of a century ago.

For example, this Canon lens (lot 101) is an amazingly wide 20mm lens! It is just one of the lots in this year’s fall estate(s) auction on November 24, 2024.

Come on down to the Legion Hall in Long Branch (far south-west corner of Toronto). Admission is free, fun to see and fun to bid. Lots of film and digital gear to consider. See the post here for details.

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