Tag Archives: England

studio daze

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. When it took some skill to capture an image for a special event, many folk chose to visit a studio. This image was shot in just such a studio in Southern England around 1917 – over a century ago. … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on studio daze

for want of a board …

Posted on August 19, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. This is the famous English camera called the Lancaster ‘Instantograph’. The camera was made from c1886 to 1910. The name indicates a dry plate camera. The Instantograph used a revolutionary dry plate that was so much faster and neater … Continue reading →

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on for want of a board …

when I grow too old to dream …

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. … I’ll have you to remember. Or so the song says. To try for memory beyond a generation or two, people relied on a photograph – then and now! George, like anyone with a curiosity – and access to … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on when I grow too old to dream …

photographs at a museum

Posted on November 26, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. The Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK has a long and storied history.  The V&A has collected photographs for many decades (since 1852!). The image at left is a photograph of the notorious Christine Keeler taken in 1963 by … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on photographs at a museum

a kokopelli camera

Posted on November 9, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Before science burst the bubble, many gullible souls believed in ghosts, seances, and fairies This past summer, I did the above post linked to ‘fairies’ covering the infamous ‘Cottingley Fairies’ saga. Many well educated folk like Dr Arthur Conan Doyle, … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on a kokopelli camera

a boatload of testosterone

Posted on June 13, 2021 by Robert

Toronto.  Our past president and friend Les Jones sent me this interesting photograph from the Rare Historical Photos website showing American troops arriving home on the Queen Elizabeth. Les is both a sports photographer and an author. I had an … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on a boatload of testosterone

look back in anger

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Many of us come from British roots. We often think about the olden days when thinking about ‘over home’. Sadly, nothing rarely stands still. Like here and elsewhere, many old places give way to the new. Historians are constantly … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on look back in anger

exposure

Posted on October 5, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Mid last century was the golden era of photography. The processes were getting better, cameras were becoming more ergonomic and precise, and technical and coffee table books were offered in wild profusion. Capitalizing on this renaissance was focal press … Continue reading →

Posted in book | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on exposure

rapid rectilinear lens redux

Posted on August 20, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. Turns out the choice of glass plus the lens design makes a rapid rectilinear! Both the two wide angles lenses mentioned the other day predate the release of the Rapid Rectilinear (or Aplanat in Germany). R & J Beck … Continue reading →

Posted in lens | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on rapid rectilinear lens redux

photographer Alan Mungavin takes a shower in 1950

Posted on June 13, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. Well George Dunbar has spotted another funny photo-related essay! In the July 10th, 1950 LIFE magazine issue (6th bullet down in link), British photographer Alan Mungavin set up to take a photo with an old shutterless field camera. As … Continue reading →

Posted in people | Tagged , , | Comments Off on photographer Alan Mungavin takes a shower in 1950