pictures don’t lie … yeah, right

Posted on April 23, 2024 by Robert

Drake Album cover April 2016 taken by Caitlin Cronenberg

Toronto. When I was a kid, my mother, looking at a  newspaper photo often said, “cameras don’t lie”.  Once I grew up and learned photography seriously, I realized ‘double’ exposures in a camera or darkroom with some skill could indeed show something or someone where they had never been.

When digital technology became common, the computer with Photoshop and its kin made such obfuscation even easier – layers, masks, and feathering merged part of one image into another seamlessly – if the operator was at all skilled and careful.

Ghosts, people, articles, even events, could be shown elsewhere with manipulated photos. The controversy over a photo of Lee Harvey Oswald – real or fake – was in some cases based on shadows projected by the sun. In movies, faces of the actors were placed on wedding portraits of others to validate a back story.

In 2016, when Drake’s latest album came out, it showed him sitting atop the bulge in the CN tower in a shot taken by Ms Caitlin Cronenberg. She was supposedly suspended by helicopter to take the shot. It turned out to be a telephoto shot of the tower that she took and merged by computer with her studio shot of a sitting Drake.

While the article shown is uncredited (couldn’t find the source), Alex Bozikovic published an article in the Globe after Drake’s  album was released.

My thanks to my good friend, George Dunbar, once again for sharing the article with us and bringing back memories of ‘fake’ photos created by myself and many others since photography began in the 1800s. After all, pictures don’t lie …

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snap shot or tech shot?

Posted on April 22, 2024 by Robert

My SB100 transistor on a breadboard experimental setup

Toronto. In the early days of transistors, the tiny marvels couldn’t operate very far beyond audio frequencies. In the late 1950s, Philco managed to create a transistor usable at radio freqencies. The SB100 transistor, as it was named, was offered to experimenters.

Shown here is a breadboard assembly acting as a radio receiver with a CK722 transistor as an audio amplifier also on a breadboard.

While the photo at left is a snapshot, a branch of photography focussed on capturing images of technical products – for advertisements, catalogues, manuals, etc.

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fond memories

Posted on April 21, 2024 by Robert

1956 and big news from Kodak as their films continued to be improved

Toronto. George Dunbar recently sent me an email regarding this Kodak ad in the April, 1956 issue of Popular Mechanics. It brought back many memories. I used all the films noted at one time or another.

As far as I know, Verichome was one of the first B&W films to have two emulsion layers; one ‘fast’ and the other ‘slow’. The idea was to ensure more printable photos from negatives exposed in box cameras and cheap folders with their f/16 or f/22 lenses.

Kodachome and Ektachome gave different colour renditions of a scene. The type F Kodachome was a nod to indoor shots with flash. No filter or coloured flash bulbs needed. I first used Kodachrome at around ASA 10. The results were very high contrast and to my eye rather gloomy colours. I didn’t realize at the time that strong but muted sunlight was necessary for good exposure.

Various Kodak B&W films offered different speeds and contrast. Tri-X at what is now a puny ASA (ISO) 400 was a big deal at the time. My Exakta set to f/1.9 at 1/25th second gave decent results under commercial florescent lighting. Earlier fast Kodak B&W film which I also used was rated around ASA 160/200. Tri-X at 400 could be ‘pushed’ to ASA 600 or so with longer development.

Ahhh, those were the days of film and carefully framed and exposed shots (to keep costs down). A big thank you to my good friend George for finding this ad and sharing it with us.

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modern day macro photography

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Robert

close-up shot of a spider – courtesy of How-to Geek

Toronto. In the days of film and film cameras, lenses rarely focussed on subjects closer than a metre. Newer lenses would focus down to a half metre or some times a few inches closer.

Macro shots were initially taken with the normal lens using some means to bring subjects, too close for the lens adjustment, into focus – usually a bellows, extension tubes, or a copy stand. Sometimes, if the normal lens design was asymmetrical, the lens could be turned around before being used. In some cases a positive diopter lenses (+1, +2, or +3) was bought and screwed into the lens instead of a filter.

Later, a special macro lens, corrected for a close subjects could be purchased and used instead of the normal lens.

When digital cameras (especially on smart phones) became common place, they often had a built-in macro capability or a special add-on lens unit could be bought to allow a close-up focus. Sharp images are possible with a bit of practice (and a decent  light setup necessary even for film).

One of my favourite blogs/newsletters, How-to Geek, posted a detailed article called, “What Is Macro Photography?” much of which is also applicable to old film cameras. Have a read – and try close-ups! Are you into film but missing that special close-up stuff? Check out one of our events like the May 5th auction!

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remembering DuPont photo products

Posted on April 19, 2024 by Robert

Dolphin book cover using Dupont photo products

Toronto. We all remember Kodak products and most will recall Ansco and Ilford photo products. But do you remember the other products like those made by DuPont – both film and paper? I did a post on Dupont the summer of 2022.

Recently Malcolm Brenner, a writer/photographer based in Florida, sent me a note on DuPont. He mentions the company’s adventure in B&W photo paper producing the first  variable contrast paper, “BTW, I seem to remember reading somewhere that Dupont originated the whole idea of “variable-contrast enlarging paper,” using high-contrast blue-sensitive emulsions and more even-toned green-sensitive emulsions to make it work, years before Kodak.

“Considering that, remember that the Great Yellow Father invented the electronic still camera prototype in 1976, paid the inventor for his efforts, and exiled it to that warehouse where the Arc of the Covenant disappeared at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark! ”

I used the Ilford version myself and still have the filter set which fit my Durst M35 Color Enlarger.

Malcolm mentions his introduction to Dupont products too, “In my sophomore year of college, 1970-71, I attended the University of South Florida in Tampa for a semester, taking courses in photography and film. The head of the Photography-as-Art Dept. gave me a couple of boxes of Dupont variable-contrast fiber-based enlarging paper to experiment with, said he was switching to the Kodak product.

“I guess Dupont was getting out of the consumer photo market at about that time. I fooled around with that paper, had great fun experimenting with solarization and negative contact prints, and made some significant prints on it. But other than that, and the ads I saw in old issues of American Cinematographer I found lying around a film office, I haven’t had any contact with Dupont photo products.”

Wikipedia has an article on Malcolm as a writer and lists his accomplishments. You may want to think again about dolphins after you read his books (and Douglas Adams and his series “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy”, especially “So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish”.

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fantastic machine

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Robert

a preview of a movie on the history of photography – courtesy of Strand Releasing

Toronto. At 90, my good friend George Dunbar still manages to scour the web for interesting photographic items. Recently George discovered a preview of the Swedish/Danish film  called “fantastic machine” on the Strand Releasing site.

George writes, ‘”Fantastic Machine” from the invention of photography to 45 billion cameras worldwide. Looks like this film could be quite interesting.’

Have a peek and see why George was delighted to see the preview. Our thanks to George for the image and link.

And speaking of scouring for interesting photographic items, be sure to visit our auction on May 5th. There will be lots of “interesting photographic items” for consideration and bidding.

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a rare wet plate camera in good condition

Posted on April 17, 2024 by Robert

A rare wet plate camera
by W W Rouch of London, UK.

Toronto. In June of 1998 this rare wet plate camera (sans lens) resided with member Bill Kantymir. Bill Belier in his “treasure” column traces it from its manufacture in England to an Ontario collection with stops a long the way both in Europe, and North America.

To a collector unaware of the process, a wet plate camera is just another 1800s artifact. But to the knowledgeable collector it is indeed rare. By the very nature of the process, using a wet plate camera commercially led to its demolished state. Plates were coated with the sticky emulsion, mounted in camera, exposed and processed all the while remaining wet to preserve the plate’s sensitivity. The silver nitrate oozing from the hastily prepared plate, destroyed the camera’s wood over time.

An Ivory label identifies this camera as one manufactured by W W Rouch of London , England c1875-8, near the end of the wet plate era. Read Bill Belier’s article in Photographic Canadiana issue 24-1. As a PHSC member you have a DVD of the first 40 years of our journal including the above issue. Not a member? Sign up and receive this DVD plus  four of the current journals in pdf format.

Visit our coming auction on May 5th for additions to your collection (or user gear). You may even spot a rarity like this refugee from the wet plate era!

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the satisfaction of volunteering

Posted on April 16, 2024 by Robert

Mar 2017 Auction – all efforts shown, except printing the journal, are performed by PHSC volunteers

Toronto. When I reviewed issue 30-3 of our journal I was reminded that we lost the first of our founders that summer/fall of 2004 (Larry Boccioletti). Bob Lansdale posted a notice on page three asking potential volunteers to contact the late Bob Wilson.

Well, two decades later, we still need volunteers and if you can help, email me at info@phsc.ca and I will pass you on to Clint.  We are always in need and can pop you into any appropriate task/position.

For example, I joined the society in 1975, just after the Charter Member offering closed.  On volunteering a year later, My first task was auditing our first year’s expenses. I later moved to the executive where I held various positions.

My most recent position is that of 2nd Vice President – and Webmaster. I created the web site and it was up April 17, 1996 when few people had personal computers or even knew of the world wide web. Since then, I have done a few major revisions, most recently changing to WordPress to make editing and uploading images and files a much easier process, especially for anyone with no commercial web editor nor any in depth technical experience.

Some of our volunteers hold down day jobs as well, while others are retired and free to contribute their energy and resources. As a not-for-profit society, we rarely pay for the services of our volunteers (speakers are offered a small stipend).

Want to see us in action? Come out to the May 5th auction (you may even find a piece for your collection)!

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a treasure from my collection

Posted on April 15, 2024 by Robert

A Medalist II as featured in our Journal

Toronto. At some point when the late Bill Belier became editor of Photographic Canadian, he started this column. In issue 30-3 dated November/December 2004, under editor the late Bob Lansdale, Bill has written, “A Short Survey of Some Earlier Medium Format Cameras“.

Included in Bill’s survey is the late Stan White’s  Kodak Medalist II. Stan wrote about the Medalist II, “The Medalist (6×9) is a beautifully constructed camera but somewhat over-designed. In consequence, many have not survived in perfect working condition. But the lens is exceptional, a Heliar type, five elements, designed for Kodak by F.E. Altman, and since Kodak were heavily into rare earth glasses at the time, it is arguably the equivalent of the Apo- Lanthar.”

As I recall, Bill was less enthusiastic about Medalist cameras in general since they looked robust but were very heavy and rather delicate in operation (contrary to Ken Rockwell’s enthusiastic opinion). The original Medalist was marketed in 1941 as an alternative to cameras from Germany. It survived into the 1950s, but never replaced German or other international medium format cameras.

I have spotted the odd Medalist in movies, on TV, and at some of our events. If you relish this or another camera for your own collection visit one of our events this spring – like the auction on May 5th.

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carbon without the tax

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Robert

An amazingly excellent photograph more than a century old

Toronto.  Image collectors browsing the fairs and shows noticed many mid to late 1800s carded photos were faded and had poor contrast while the odd one was bright and crisp, seemingly printed just recently, belying its century plus age.

Our late journal editor, Bob Lansdale, began collecting these fine prints and researching the process as noted here in Photographic Canadiana 30-3 (November/December 2004) under the title, “The Stigma of Instability – The Carbon Process and Commercial Photography in Britain, 1864 to 1880” written by Audrey Linkman, Visual Resources Manager, The Open University, UK.

Editor Lansdale in his introduction says, “This lengthy thesis was previously published in Photographica World, issue #91, Winter 1999/2000. Its 19 pages of text, 5 pages of notes and single page of “Licensees of the Lambert Patent” has been broken into two parts to fit our publication limitations.

“We heartily suggest accessing a complete copy of the issue through the Photographic Collectors Club of Great Britain to whom we are indebted for permission to reproduce the article as are we equally indebted to the author for permission and assistance.”

The amazing process was licensed and given various names – keep an eye out for these beautiful photographs at our auctions, fairs, and other events. Members will receive/received a DVD with this issue of the journal and other issues (Vol 1 through Vol 40) with part two of this article plus further details of the carbon process. Not a member? Sign up today (see MEMBERSHIP in menu bar above).

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