slice and dice

Posted on June 15, 2024 by Robert

the slice and dice kid – c2011

Toronto. Dr Edgerton experimented with high speed flash in the 1930s. He analysed motion by triggering the flash rapidly as the the subject moved. It was a precursor to electronic flash which was also called strobe light in the mid last century. Strobe was also known as speed light for its short duration. Even books were written about it like, “Strobe – The Lively Light“, which I bought back in the late 1950s. You can even ‘borrow’ the current edition on line.

With modern smart phones, one can experiment with various actions and settings without resorting to the built-in electronic flash. For example, as shown here, the smartphone camera (or digital camera in this case) can be set to ‘PANO’ and the subject tracked as they run past the camera. Not exactly how the PANO setting was intended to be used. You get the idea – change speed, subjects, background, etc. to create a suitable photograph.

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corny but collectible

Posted on June 14, 2024 by Robert

A daguerreotype of a farm couple courtesy of Kevin Kunz

Toronto. Image collectors lust after all kinds of images. The farm couple at left while a bit homely to current tastes, hold some unusual items. Collectors might have included this image in their collections for many reasons (process, symbolism, subjects, etc.).

The daguerreotype icon of the couple is courtesy of the Daguerreian Society and Kevin Kunz. Our late editor, Bob Lansdale used it as a cover photograph on issue 34-4 of Photographic Canadiana. (Feb-April 2009). Bob titled the photograph, “A DAGUERREIAN PORTRAIT WITH A MYSTERY”.

He introduces the image as follows, “It seems one thing leads to another as we relate on page 8 of this issue the continued story from our previous issue of Photographic Canadiana.

“In Volume 34-2 [actually in 34-3] we explained the story of “Murdered by Her Lover” where in the year 1882 Michael Lee of Napanee, Ontario murdered Maggie Howie due to his unrequited love for her.

“The phrase “come up with the corn” was used in the newspaper report which has led us to this daguerrotype image showing a man holding a bouquet of weeds and a cob of corn. We are looking for assistance to interpret the meaning of this symbolism.”

Members eagerly read the issues of volume 34. More recently, members received a DVD of the first 40 volumes and they too could read the sad tale of mystery in the Victorian photographs of  Michael Lee and Maggie Howie. Of course, you can easily become a member and read all the journal articles now on DVD. Just follow the instructions to the right.

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a gaggle of cameras

Posted on June 13, 2024 by Robert

a gaggle of cameras sold at the fall 2008 fair

Toronto. The cameras at left were photographed by our late editor Bob Lansdale at the fall fair in 2008. Bob’s collage made the cover of our journal (issue 34-3).

Bob write’s “The selection of interesting cameras arrayed on our cover are but a few that could be found at the recent PHSC Fall Fair in Woodbridge, Ontario [ now at Trident Hall, Etobicoke]. Our coverage of this annual event can be reviewed on pages 8 and 9 of this issue.

“Images include: a no-name folding camera from “The Newest Company,” a Duplex Super 120 stereo, a Mandel PDQ model H street camera, and a Contessa-Nettel Deckrullo bellows plate camera overshadowing a miniature Ensign Midget.”

While the spring fair was held last month, there is time to catch the trunk show this July and the fall fair in October of this year (details are in the works).

Attendance at the Trunk Show is free while there is a modest charge for admission to our fall fair.

PS. Join the PHSC and receive a pdf of volumes 1 through 40 of Photographic Canadiana. See the right sidebar for details.

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who the heck is Todd Webb?

Posted on June 12, 2024 by Robert

Todd Webb, “Between Lovelock and Fernley, NV,” 1956. (Todd Webb Archive)

Toronto. Years ago, I was busy devouring large photograph ‘coffee table books’ including Frank photographs in the book he co-authored called “The Americans“.  The Washington Post on the 5th of this June had an interesting article/review titled. “Two photographers traveled America. One became a star. The other vanished.“, by Sebastian Smee. The ‘star’ is Robert Frank.

Frank’s contemporary, the ‘vanished’ Todd Webb, sunk into oblivion as Smee’s tale tells. Their work is on show in “a superb exhibition at the Addison Gallery of American Art in Andover, Mass. … organized by Lisa Volpe.”

Read Smee’s review/article and the books he references. While the photographs are of America, they have strong sense that can easily be envisioned here. Image collectors (serious ones) have or should begin to collect these fine photographs from the mid last century, not just earlier photographs.

My thanks to PHSC past president, sports photographer Les Jones, for the link and suggestion. An excellent idea from one of our most innovative presidents and programme directors.

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pretty as a picture

Posted on June 11, 2024 by Robert

1893 portrait of child by Alfred Pittaway, Ottawa

Toronto. In fact this is a picture from the Toronto Reference Library of a little girl photographed by Alfred Pittaway in 1893. Image collectors may have eclectic tastes, or focus on one aspect such as: Clarity, process, studio or subject. The subject can be famous, beautiful/handsome, or homely.

This pretty little girl graced the cover of our journal (issue 34-2) back in the fall of 2008 to highlight the lead article, “Photography in Ottawa”, written by member Thomas Ritchie.

Editor Bob Lansdale introduces the article and portrait this way, “Our lead article deals with “Photography in Ottawa: The First Half-Century, 1850- 1900.” In fact, author Thomas Ritchie has reached back a further five years to uncover who were the first itinerant photographers to hawk their daguerreian wares to the Bytown public.

“Our cover photograph is a child study by Alfred G. Pittaway (1858-1930) whose studio was located at 58 Sparks Street. This photograph was used as a tip-in frontispiece in the Canadian Photographic Journal, Vol. 2, No. 1 of February 1893.”

Members could read Mr Ritchie’s lead article in either the hard copy version, or more recently the PDF version on the DVD sent to members. Not a member? What’s keeping you? Go to the right-hand sidebar of this page and choose a one or three year membership, pay by your PayPal account (blue bar) or use your credit card (black bar) and the DVD will be sent to you.

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Graflex Historic Quarterly 1-24 (Graflex Journal)

Posted on June 10, 2024 by Robert

1949 Herald-Express radio-flash-car – Herald Examiner Collection

Toronto. My friend Ken Metcalf down in North Carolina sent me a note saying the first edition of the GHQ for 2024 is out. Earlier issues are on the GHQ web site. You can also link to the organization’s website here.

The first issue of 2024 will be up on the website later this year. Its nine pages are full of information for Graflex and Graphic camera collectors. Please send any articles or article ideas along to Ken Metcalf at km3260@gmail.com. And drop Ken a note if you have any questions.

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give a little, take a little …

Posted on June 9, 2024 by Robert

the improved Physiographe monocular camera c1900

Toronto.  In a recent post, I described an unusual binocular that could be reversed to become a camera.

By using one side as a camera, and the other as a monocular, this French gadget just a few years later let the casual by-stander ‘see’ it used as a ‘binocular’ while the owner snapped a photo at right angles!

The full story titled,  “THE MONOCULAR CAMERA REVISITED”‘  by Eaton S. Lothrop, Jr. is carried in issue 34-2 of our journal. Eaton writes in the précis to his article, “In Bill Belier’s column, “A Treasure From My Collection,” in the November/December issue of Photographic Canadiana, Ron Anger’s 1924 ”Argus” monocular camera was showcased. A brief follow-up, in the March/April 2001 issue, carried Larry Gubas’ mention of the 1912 Nettel “Spectax” and also mentioned the Zeiss Ikon “Ergo” camera. The article and follow-up, however, only scratched the surface of the story of these interesting little monocular cameras.”

All recent members received a DVD which included this issue in full. You can get the DVD too as a member! Just go to the right of this page; choose a one or three year membership; then choose to pay by your PayPal account (blue bar) or with a debit/credit card (black bar) and Lilianne will shoot off a DVD to you.

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out in the sticks

Posted on June 8, 2024 by Robert

Portrait of a 1 1/2 year old child c1889

Toronto. This cover photograph for issue 34-1 (summer, 2008) of the journal is courtesy of the late Dr Robert Wilson. The child’s portrait is taken while the baby sits precariously on a stick furniture high chair,

To describe the photograph, our late editor, Bob Lansdale writes, “This quite charming portrait, seen on our cover, is of Charles Wm. McLaughlin, aged 1 year and 5 months.

“It was taken by photographer W. J. Willits (Willetts) of Clifford, Ontario. The date would be about 1888-1890 when stick furniture was in style spurred on by the vogue of vacationing in the wilds of Ontario.

“Photographer Willits may have chosen to create this high chair for his young clients since he is also listed on the verso of his CDV as a “Barber” – so it must be a junior barber chair!”

Members could read the articles in this issue in either the hard copy version, or more recently the PDF version on the DVD sent to all members. Haven’t joined yet? What’s keeping you? Just go to the right side bar of this page and choose a one or three year membership, then pay by a PayPal account (blue bar) or use a credit card (black bar) and the DVD will be sent to your mailing address.

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c’est magnifique

Posted on June 7, 2024 by Robert

APPPQ Executive 1908-09 courtesy of Clint Hryhorijiw 2008

Toronto. In the spring of 2008, president Clint Hryhorijiw shared the photograph at left with our journal editor, Bob Lansdale. It became the cover illustration for issue 33-4 (Feb-April 2008). The photo shows the executive of the ‘Professional Photographers of Quebec 1908-09’.

Bob introduces this photograph with these words, “Our PHSC President Clint Hryhorijiw recounts on page 6 a misadventure when he acquired a large 30×36 inch framed compos- ite in Montreal and was in the stages of getting it home to Toronto.

“Here we show the detail of the crest for the fledgling Association of the Professional Photographers of the Province of Quebec (APPPQ) which was founded February 18, 1905.

“Research has yet to discover how long the association lasted. In 1951 another similar association was founded by another generation of photographers.”

You can see these photos (courtesy of Clint) and read the story in the PDF version of issue 33-4 on the DVD sent to all members. Not a member? Just go to the right hand sidebar and sign up for one or three years. You can pay with a PayPal account (blue bar) or use a debit to credit card (black bar). A DVD will be on its way to you.

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octagon and octopus

Posted on June 6, 2024 by Robert

Cover shot of a Kodak Six-20 sitting on a Six-16. Note the Octagonal shutter plate

Toronto. One of the Art Deco features Kodak used was an octagonal shutter plate at the front of some cameras. This included the Kodak Brownie Six-20 folder my dad bought in the late 30s and used until he gave it to me.

A follow-up article (by Rick Soloway and Ralph London) on the Art Deco trend at Kodak was published in issue 33-3 of our journal. The photo at left is the cover shot of that issue dated Dec 2007/Jan 2008 (photo courtesy of Mr Soloway).

Inside the journal, editor Bob Lansdale wrote, “In this issue look to pages five through seven for a revealing story on the chase for octagons in-and-on Kodak cameras.

“Researchers Rick Soloway and Ralph London previously provided in Photographic Canadiana, Vol. 32-3 of December 2006 the interesting tome on camera designer Walter Dorwin Teague.

“Their new story is a carry-on when they suddenly realized the proliferation of octagon shapes and symbols in the Teague era cameras. A number of collectors also joined in on the search for hidden and minuscule shapings.”

Check out the details in the PDF version of this issue on the DVD sent to all members. Not a member yet? No sweat! See the right hand  sidebar and choose a one or three year membership, then pay with your PayPal account (blue bar) or use your debit/credit card (black bar). A copy of the DVD will be sent to you by snail mail!

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