June Bug

Posted on May 12, 2024 by Robert

Mature June Bug c2019

Toronto. Entomology is the science of bugs. An offshoot of photography is close-up shots of bugs and bug parts for books, magazines, education, study, etc.

Each spring we experience white grubs just below the surface. Skunks consider them delicacies and prowl over lawns at night digging random holes as they pursue this tasty treat. In May the mature adults begin to emerge and crash against outdoor lights, house windows, etc. in the evening.

Professionals can skilfully photograph these little beetles and offer up their fascinating details to the eye. Have a look this coming June and see if you can spot and snap these little beasties. As a photo collector, keep an eye out for old photos of these and other bugs. You may find such photos at our Fair this month.

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wild blue yonder

Posted on May 11, 2024 by Robert

Wild Blue Yonder – sky above construction in west end Montreal (1960s/1970s)

Toronto. Even before airplanes, photographers took aerial shots. Hot air balloons were the basis for the first aerial shots. Perhaps Nadar was the most famous hot air balloon photographer, taking photos shortly after the art was invented.

When airplanes began (around 1900) photographers snapped them: experimental, military, commercial  or private, etc. Once aircraft became popular, they replaced the balloons for aerial shots of earthbound objects.

In the mid 1900s, pros would take aerial shots of farms and farmland to sell prints to the owners. A few decades ago, professional photographers would join pilots in small aircraft to photograph buildings and potential locations.

One professional, George Hunter, spoke to the PHSC in January, 2003. George was famous for his aerial shots of industrial facilities, images at dusk for magazines, etc.  In 2003, like most professionals, George used film. But unlike most, he scanned his best shots and adjusted them in Photoshop. A visionary and a daring photographer working in the wild blue yonder…

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smoke and mirrors …

Posted on May 10, 2024 by Robert

accessory to create in camera double/triple exposures

Toronto. The Young-Helmholtz  theory of colour with three different wavelengths of rays in various combinations became the standard means to create colour images – even today in the digital world.

Different camera designs were touted to place the three unique colour images on three different monochrome plates. A scheme to expose all three plates at once offered a way to capture colour photos of something in motion.

A novel accessory using a similar idea was this 1956 gadget that combined two or three subjects on one film frame – still or movie. This way, a photographer could super impose one image on another in camera rather than in the darkroom.

The idea probably didn’t catch on, since it had limited use, and disappeared from view. In the 1950s, photographers fussed over added lenses, better resolution, higher sensitivity, colour, flash, etc. far more than any niche idea.

Thanks to my good friend George Dunbar for sourcing this piece of photo history in a filler article from the  May, 1956 issue of Popular Mechanics. A clever idea that seemed to be of little practical value.

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fair is fair, my friend …

Posted on May 9, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. … so come on down to the Trident Hall on Sunday, May 26, 2024. Free parking, modest admission (students free), and good food. Plus  you can meet and greet old friends while you add to your collection/user gear!

What better way to spend a balmy Sunday? Questions? Drop a line to Mark at  fair@phsc.ca. (The fair has been ongoing for half a century now.) See the poster below (links are not active) for details.

PHSC Spring Fair – May 26, 2024

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Executive Meeting No 47 via ZOOM

Posted on May 8, 2024 by Robert
Posted on April 10, 2024 by Robert

PHSC President
Clint Hryhorijiw

Toronto. Our May meeting was held via ZOOM last week..

PHSC newsletter editor Katrin Faridani  plans to issue the next newsletter in May. If you didn’t get your copy for April, drop me an email at news@phsc.ca to be added to MailChimp.

Membership Secretary Lilianne Schneider sent two reports; Members not renewed and Members renewed. If you are on the ‘not renewed’ list, RENEW NOW to ensure you are notified when the next issue of Photographic Canadiana  is ready. See the MEMBERSHIP menu above and/or our PayPal button at right.

Lilianne also suggested some promotional ideas such as using  a QR code to contain our information for new/renewed memberships. This is now being investigated. Contact Lilianne via info@phsc.ca if you have any suggestions or questions.

To recap, our journal is in ‘pdf format only’ now with the latest issue available after a MailChimp notification. If  you have UNSUBSCRIBED, you will not receive notification nor Photographic Canadiana nor other info. MailChimp does not permit me to reinstate that specific email address. Renewal by me of such addresses is possible via a form, not yet on our site. If you change email addresses, please tell us as MailChimp flags such old addresses as CLEANED (they cannot add your new address automatically).

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

There will be NO Toronto meeting in May as we hosted the May 5th auction and will host the May 26 fair.

Co-editor David Bridge and partner Louise Freyburger  are presently writing issue 50-1 of the PHSC journal which is scheduled for release around late June, 2024. As usual, we notify all members via MailChimp of the release. If you are a member but HAVE NOT seen any notification for Photographic Canadiana since you registered/renewed, please email me at info@phsc.ca.

Finally, as a non-profit society, we always need volunteers. If you feel you can help in any capacity, email me at info@phsc.ca and I will advise our president.

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not waiting for Godot …

Posted on May 7, 2024 by Robert

not waiting for Godot …

Toronto. … but waiting for the PHSC Spring Fair. With apologies to Sam Beckett. Now our Spring Auction is over you have another chance to add to your personal collection/user gear (or both).

Collectors and users alike are welcome at our annual spring fair with open arms. Like the auction, there is free parking and good food. Unlike the auction, there is a small entrance fee (students excepted).

Come on down to the “pierogi palace” on Sunday, May 26th and join in on the fun and excitement. Lots of tables and exhibitors with cameras, lenses, accessories, darkroom, studio, photos books, and more (both film and digital stuff).

 

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… with fries

Posted on May 6, 2024 by Robert

1956 advertisement for an accessory selenium light meter for a Leica camera.

Toronto.  … Add-ons are always a way to increase sales/profits. In film photography add-ons or accessories, as they are often called, helped the photographer create better/different photos.

In the mid 1950s built-in meters were uncommon yet an exposure meter was often necessary for the casual photographer to obtain decent results. The meters usually worked okay outdoors in sunlight but were woefully ineffective indoors or at night when exposure help was really needed.

In the case of Leica, like many others, the meter was slipped into the accessory shoe (later called a hot shoe when its use became primarily for a flash and the hot contact eliminated any need for an added flash sync cord). This add-on meter for screw mount Leicas featured a selenium cell meter for reflective or incident light. Later meters connected to the shutter speed control and even later used the CdS cell and a battery to offer far greater sensitivity.

The above ad appeared in the May 1956 issue of Popular Mechanics. Today’s photographers have cameras with built-in metering and auto-everything significantly reducing the risk of photographer induced errors – given enough light and a steady hand!

Our thanks to good friend George Dunbar who sourced this piece of nostalgia and shared with us. Well done, George!

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out, damned spot!

Posted on May 5, 2024 by Robert

early 1950s snap shot showing effects of dust and hairs

Toronto. … with apologies to Bill and his Lady Macbeth. Bill was born long before photography was announced. When the minicam became prominent in the mid 1930s, negatives were enlarged out of necessity. And the nightmare began.

To darkroom photographers, tiny hairs and dust specks, were the nightmare. Static electricity charged the film strip of negatives and attracted tiny pieces of hair and dust. Special brushes, some even slightly radioactive, were sold to carefully ‘dust’ a negative in hopes of removing all these specks. Unfortunately some slipped through and dust showed up as tiny white disks in darker parts of the print marring the result.

Fortunately, today’s digital photographer isn’t affected by dust or tiny hairs. Brush anyone!

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easil for you to say

Posted on May 4, 2024 by Robert

an Auction lot in this Sunday May 5th Auction

Toronto. Get ready for this Sunday! It’s the PHSC spring Auction. Get ready for some great lots to fill the holes in your collection and user gear! The attached post here gives both information and a slide show of lots.

Come on down and see old friends while you savour our offerings! Remember there is food, free parking and free admission! The current forecast is rain in the morning – keep out of the rain and visit the legion hall 101 and our auction instead.

With over 200 lots we will have something for everyone! The usual gang of enthusiasts will be on hand, plus some new faces.

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seeing stars

Posted on May 3, 2024 by Robert

A cheap means to view the heavens with good resolution

Toronto. My good friend and fellow PHSC member suggested this article, “Electronically Assisted Astronomy on the Cheap”. on the IEEE Spectrum web site.

Photography of the heavens has been a valid branch of the art for many years. With the age of digital photography upon us, even amateur photographers with a thirst for astronomy can afford decent gear that will give good results.

Have a read and think of the benefits from digital technology as well as the down side.

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