Tag Archives: LIFE

phoenix rising

Posted on January 3, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Just over two weeks after touting its IIIf model, in the May 31, 1954 LIFE (p60). Leitz announced its most radical and eventually best selling Leica M3. The camera design began before the war and the prototype was field tested … Continue reading →

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Sarah and George

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. It was spring, 1954 and I was in what would become my last year of formal school for a decade. In its April 26, 1954 issue,  LIFE magazine offered two stimulating articles for photographers and photo-historians. The portrait of … Continue reading →

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speaking of pictures …

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. Decades ago, LIFE magazine published photos and a brief description each issue in a column they called “Speaking of Pictures“. On pages 4 and 5 of its January 11, 1954 issue, Speaking of Pictures printed the shot shown at … Continue reading →

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stereo on a shoestring

Posted on December 1, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. In the early 1950s when the American camera industry was trying to retain the momentum it gained during the war, stereo gained its periodic rise in popularity once again. One company that used the rise in stereo was the … Continue reading →

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light where you need it

Posted on November 27, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. In the days when photographers used flash to create the light needed to take a shot indoors, prints with burned out highlights were common. One company promoted the solution to be the MY-T-MYTE flashbulb – a lower output bulb … Continue reading →

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things we take for granted

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. See a great photo. Out comes the smartphone. Click, click, click, click, and one of the rapidly taken shots is a real winner. Upload to home and friends. Phone into pocket and we continue on. Just a normal sunny … Continue reading →

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A great Kodak

Posted on November 13, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. The August 13, 1953 issue of LIFE magazine (page 87) touted this camera that chose to compete with the pricier Leicas and Zeiss cameras of the day. The Signet 35 has an f/3.5 lens – likely based on the … Continue reading →

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spoofing photographers

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. The old LIFE magazine had a column titled “speaking of pictures”. In its June 22, 1953 edition, LIFE presented would-be photographer George Goodman in this column. Goodman’s claim to fame was the marvellous series of skits he shot portraying … Continue reading →

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Emile Zola… photographer??

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. Emile Zola lived from 1840 to 1902 when he died under curious circumstances. Zola was one of the most famous French authors of his era. He was notorious for his role in the Dreyfus affair. Like many well to … Continue reading →

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a crying shame

Posted on September 29, 2018 by Robert

Toronto.  Mid last century photo studios used lots of ideas to increase traffic as our program director, Yvette Bessels, suggested in  a recent Toronto meeting program. My friend, pro-photographer, and fellow PHSC member, George Dunbar, suggested one great option that … Continue reading →

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