Tag Archives: portrait

sitting pretty

Posted on July 19, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. In the summer of 2005, late editor Bob Lansdale was still busy researching the Chromotype and similar carbon process B&W prints that purported to eliminate the nefarious fading issue that plagued photographs in the mid 1800s. Shown at left … Continue reading →

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soft subject, soft lighting

Posted on July 6, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. An unidentified writer (our editor?) said in a prelude to the article “Wither Soft Light of the 1930s …” “I’ve been perplexed for years by certain lighting of nudes during the pictorial period. I don’t make any great study … Continue reading →

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the mystery of Frankie D

Posted on June 30, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The next step after the Daguerrotype was the use of glass plates. Initially glass plates used a wet solution (wet-plate) and years later a dry solution (dry-plate). To make the sensitized emulsion ‘hold’ to the glass, a sticky mixture … Continue reading →

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doing it right with sweat and tears

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The slow speed of dry plate emulsions in the 1890s   resulted in two situations: The plates were very contrasty and very slow. Unless a very soft light was used (carefully, highlights would be burnt out (no detail) or … Continue reading →

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corny but collectible

Posted on June 14, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Image collectors lust after all kinds of images. The farm couple at left while a bit homely to current tastes, hold some unusual items. Collectors might have included this image in their collections for many reasons (process, symbolism, subjects, … Continue reading →

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out in the sticks

Posted on June 8, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. This cover photograph for issue 34-1 (summer, 2008) of the journal is courtesy of the late Dr Robert Wilson. The child’s portrait is taken while the baby sits precariously on a stick furniture high chair, To describe the photograph, … Continue reading →

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old time quality

Posted on May 26, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. When you visit the PHSC spring fair today, you may be lucky enough to discover an old photo done in a process that defies time like the portrait you see at left. The actual photograph was upscaled using Topaz … Continue reading →

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powder … POOF!

Posted on May 15, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The early light sensitive media were far too insensitive for dusk, night or  indoor shots (studios used long exposures, a means to hold the subject very still,  and large windows, ideally facing north, to let in copious amounts of … Continue reading →

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room with a view

Posted on April 6, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. In the days of Daguerreotype portraits, photographers opened studios illuminated by daylight. Given the slowness of the media and equipment of the day, many studios chose northern lighting. Sunlight from the north had softer shadows and a more pleasing … Continue reading →

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ambrosia

Posted on February 29, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The “next big thing” in photography, after its announcement,  was the wet plate process developed by Frederick Scott Archer of the UK in 1851. Interestingly, the new process did not ‘catch on’ with all Daguerreotypists immediately. A few years … Continue reading →

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