Tag Archives: flash

when ‘BC’ meant battery-capacitor

Posted on May 26, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. One of the nagging things affecting the wide use of flash bulbs was the risk of having dying batteries when the old camera and flash were dug out to be used for an event. For a brief period of … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on when ‘BC’ meant battery-capacitor

gilding the lily

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Post WW2, photography literally blossomed with new ideas. Flash bulbs became the rage for solving lighting problem allowing for snaps at night or indoors. Soon all cameras came wth flash synchronized shutters. Many included the soon to be ubiquitous … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on gilding the lily

kalart to the rescue

Posted on March 13, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the mid last century after WW2, flash bulb photography became popular for shooting the very slow media at night or indoors. This avoided using either very slow speeds, or the somewhat intimidating and restraining AC photo flood lamps. … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on kalart to the rescue

blinding me with flash bulbs

Posted on February 7, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the 1800s, efforts to use photography and its very slow media under poor lighting (i.e. less than full sunlight) resulted in the invention of flash powder ignited in a long narrow tray held high(ish) by the photographer. As … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on blinding me with flash bulbs

the dangers of random sparks

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. As a youth, I once took a winter course and stayed at the King Edward in downtown Toronto. My leather soles scraped along the corridor carpets building up a spectacular static discharge when I came close to metal – … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on the dangers of random sparks

the flying Dutchman

Posted on January 1, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. We at the PHSC wish you one and all peace, prosperity, and good health in the coming year of 2023. We associate New Year’s with a party. This one took place over 60 years ago! Back then Bill was … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on the flying Dutchman

self portrait

Posted on December 29, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Self portraits or selfies are simple today with the ubiquitous front facing smart phone camera. Before that, a self timer allowed self portraits with  tripod mounted cameras. But how can you capture something that is over in the blink … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on self portrait

eye of a hawk

Posted on December 26, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Traditionally, the day after Christmas is called boxing day.  It was a day to give gifts to the poor. Later on, the day became known for its wide spread sales. As time passed, many sales on other days were … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on eye of a hawk

just another ad for the Beacon II

Posted on December 18, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. George Dunbar came across this ad in Popular Mechanics for July 1948 and shared it with us. I did a couple of posts on this typical box camera and its predecessor (both dressed up to look like the popular … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on just another ad for the Beacon II

making a brighter day

Posted on December 3, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. In today’s world of smart phone ‘auto everything’ cameras, it is hard to imagine sensors so slow that sharp outdoor action shots are a no-no. But in the late 1940s, colour film was just that. Its sensitivity was abysmally … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on making a brighter day