island in the chilly sun …

Posted on May 25, 2026 by Robert

Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron c1865

Toronto. For the cover shot of issue 27-5, editor Lansdale searched his own collection for this stereograph of Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron taken by Mr J W Love about 1865.

Bob explains, “Our cover illustration is taken from a stereograph by J. W. Love, of Portage City, Wisconsin – one of the founders of The American Photographic Exchange Club in 1861.

“He travelled extensively in Canada and was among the first tourists to visit Muskoka. In flowing hand script on the verso of the card is: ‘View near the foot of South Bay Manitoulin Island, C.W. [Canada West, about 2.5x the area of Texas, now the province of Ontario]’ In the photo three men pose stiffly on a shore of precambrian rock with pine trees as a backdrop.

“The February 1867 Philadelphia Photographer acknowledged receipt of other Canadian stereo views: “…

“‘Victoria Bridge’; ‘Wolf’s (sic) Monument, and New Gaol, near Quebec’; …‘The Citadel of Quebec’; and a number of winter Niagara views, which are very beautiful.’

“The artist suggested forming a stereoscopic exchange club offering his views in exchange for others. As was his custom, Love marked his photo by scratching his name into the image near the bottom of the right hand photo. ?”

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on island in the chilly sun …

double play …

Posted on May 24, 2026 by Robert

issue 26-3 for May 2026

Toronto. … as they say in baseball when two runners are eliminated at once. In our case, we have two events at once!  Our famous Spring Fair opens at noon today, and issue 26-3 of our newsletter was released on last Friday. If you missed it, you can download a copy here.

Well, spring may be here, rainy for otherwise. Nevertheless, editor Gunn has produced another issue to delight the eye – all 18 pages.  This issue is the May 2026 issue.

Issue 26-3 articles and posters cover: Notman’s photo of the Chateau Frontenac, i n Quebec City, QC; the poster for today’s fair; a brief summary of this month’s May 3rd auction; Industry news; Equipment reviews; the  Canadian CdV of the month; and upcoming events, etc.

Click on the cover icon at left to see a copy (this is our third 2026 issue).We are an all volunteer operation, relying on volunteers, and their talents!

You can also click here for a copy of 26-3 or visit NEWSLETTER above for this and all other issues. If  you prefer a release notice sent directly to your in-box, email news@phsc.ca and your email address will be added to our MailChimp list.

Posted in newsletter | Tagged , , | Comments Off on double play …

nearly here …

Posted on May 23, 2026 by Robert

an item shown at the Spring Fair over two decades ago – photo courtesy Bob Lansdale

Toronto. Well, our Spring Fair on May 24th is almost here! See you tomorrow afternoon!

At left is a movie projector from Montreal in our 2005 Spring Fair. The photo was taken by the late Bob Lansdale. While we can’t say there will be one tomorrow, you never know. The vendors will load their tables with oodles of photographica  stuff for you to consider adding to your collection or user gear.

As shown in the above poster, we are once again using the Trident Hall venue. Free parking;  friendly folk; great food; and inexpensive admission. A wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

While Mark is no longer able to drive, he was busy with the background work. Meantime, Clint will be on site along with some other members and volunteers.

Posted in fair | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on nearly here …

can you hear it?

Posted on May 22, 2026 by Robert

dem plates, dem plates, dem dry plates ….

Toronto. It’s coming! It’s coming. The famous PHSC Spring Fair on May 24th is almost here. It will be like Christmas in July with all kinds of photographic goodies on display.

Come down to the Trident Hall and enjoy the afternoon. And expand your collection/user gear.

Free parking; friends; good food; cheap admission; and easy access too! What a great way to spend an afternoon!

Posted in fair | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on can you hear it?

okay gang, let’s go to the fair

Posted on May 21, 2026 by Robert

thinking about treasures from past fairs …

Toronto. Lordy, Lordy, it’s that time again! In just a few more days (on the 24th), the PHSC will host its 51st spring fair. An extravaganza of photographica ephemera for those who collect old cameras and accessories, or old photos, or just love the art and are curious about its origins.

Over the years, we have moved from place to place to find a good spot with easy access, a reasonable fee, and lots of parking. When we were up at the soccer centre (near Martin Grove and highway 7) we even offered a free bus from Kipling subway to the fair and back.

For the last while, we have been at Trident Hall on Evans and Islington with easy access and free parking. Good food; friendly folk; and  a great way to spend an afternoon!

Posted in fair | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on okay gang, let’s go to the fair

spring time, fair time …

Posted on May 20, 2026 by Robert

what will we find at the fair on the 24th of May

Toronto. For 51 years now, the PHSC has featured its Spring Fair. The fair tables are filled with photographica of one style or another. Visitors can rapidly expand the size and interest of their collection with a sharp and thoughtful eye.

This spring our fair will open in a few days on Sunday, May 24th – rain or shine; chilly or warm. Admission is inexpensive; parking is free; those who choose public transit will find it is easy; food is tasty; and the folks – members or not – are friendly and sociable.

Drop in and spend a pleasant afternoon seeking bargains on the exhibitor tables. It’s always exciting to discover something ‘new’ but very old …

Posted in fair | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on spring time, fair time …

… now divide by 16, and …

Posted on May 19, 2026 by Robert

matching light and media over a century ago.

Toronto. For over 30 years now, light values have been of little interest, especially to those brought up on digital technology.

Built-in metering and very fast sensitive media automatically compensate for light levels allowing the ‘photographer’ to concentrate on framing and holding  the camera/smartphone steady while shooting. Poor framing? blurry shot? Results are immediate and ready to go again to reach perfection.

In the early days, right up to a few decades before film and analogue became a niche technology, cameras and lenses were slow and media far slower again.  Many tables, mechanical gadgets, and primitive light meters evolved to assist the neophyte.

The more professional solution was experience and shooting outdoors, or with bright studios. Many decades later as technology progressed, professionals used electric studio lighting, while those in doors and on the go – professional and amateur alike – used flash powder, then bulbs, and finally electronic flash; first external then internal.

For a while smaller flash units found a use as fill-in flash to soften the H&D curve and thereby lessen the impact of shadows (or the use of lighting from back of the subject – a familiar newbie error).

The digital era brought automatic adjustment of camera/smartphone to match the far faster media speed with ambient lighting.  Delegating external lighting to professional use,  giving dimension or mystery to each image.

Our 2026 Events are well underway. Next Sunday (May 24th) is our famous Spring Fair (continuous for over a half century). Collectors will find tables full of interesting items to extend their collections or add to their user gear – perhaps even a strange old calculator gizmo or a weird looking light meter. Free parking; low admission fee; good food; and friendly people beckon for all to come and enjoy browsing our Spring Fair!

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on … now divide by 16, and …

the autochrome and the diascope

Posted on May 18, 2026 by Robert

a cased colour portrait

Toronto. The early colour processes were usually additive and as such incredibly slow. In to the mid last century the alternative was to take a good B&W portrait and colour it with special dyes.

In issue 27-4, Editor Bob Lansdale discusses the early colour processes and efforts to view the result. Bob begins his tale, “At the turn of the century (1900) a number of colour processes were being promoted, causing the public to expect true colour portraits soon to be provided by their local studio.

“Colour illustrations appearing in magazines stirred the desires but the photo processes were too complicated to become readily available at a reasonable price. The Autochrome transparency process invented in 1904 by the Lumière Brothers took until 1907 to work out manufacturing problems.

“But portrait photographers faced the challenge of how to market the easily processed colour plate. The public was used to the traditional paper print in a folder or frame while coloured prints from such a transparency were prohibitive.

“I wondered how a commercial portrait studio might put this early colour system to viable use. In the April 1908 issue of The St. Louis and Canadian Photographer, it is reported that “some excellent samples of color photography were exhibited, the work of Mr. J. Kennedy” of Toronto.

“The Autochrome process was later demonstrated by portrait photographer John Kennedy when the Lumière representative failed to appear at the 1908 convention of the Photographic Association of Canada. No clues were given as to how the finished picture was to be presented – just its novelty.” …

Members enjoyed all of editor Lansdale’s research in the issue 27-4 pdf file on the free member-only DVD/Thumb Drive. Join or renew by following ‘Membership’ above and at right. Email questions to member@phsc.ca.

Our 2026 Events are moving along smartly. Next is the Spring Fair on May 24th. Join us and find more interesting items for your collection – perhaps even an Autochrome or a Diascope!

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on the autochrome and the diascope

attention all film users!

Posted on May 17, 2026 by Robert

new Lomography film camera sold here in C$

Toronto. Chloe Fuller of Lomography in the Big Apple sent us a note the other day that Lomography is “NOW SHIPPING DIRECTLY FROM WITHIN CANADA — making it faster, easier, and more affordable than ever for our Canadian community to get creative with Lomography!”.

This ties in with a recent comment by one of our executive about a recently opened Lomography store nearby.

Whether or not the “Simple Use Reloadable Film Camera LomoChrome Classicolor” shown at left is an opening special, the price is only $2 more Canadian than the US dollar price in NYC.

The store opening here may reflect an option to Mr Trump’s reviled American import duties. Years ago American firms like Kodak moved partially assembled products and some components here to avoid or reduce Canadian import duties.

Our 2026 Events are well underway. Next up on the 24th of May is the Spring Fair at the nearby “Pierogi Palace”. Come on out and see what is offered – you can easily augment your collection and user gear. The admission fee is low; parking is free; the people are friendly; and there is good food. A super way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Posted in fair | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on attention all film users!

a red influence

Posted on May 16, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Editor Lansdale kept his “A Second Look… ” column running. In issue 27-4, he responds to the Russian influence on many camera designs. He begins this column, “After  a recent issue of Photographic Canadiana, Ev Roseborough [previous journal editor and studio owner] brought forth from his prodigious archives an interesting article by Morris G. Moses printed in shutterbug ads PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS of July 1985.

not your usual roll film design

“Mr. Morris [Moses] offered evidence that Russia had a great influence on the development of early photography, in particular of equipment. He outlined the development of roll film and of the roll film camera by Leon Warnerke (Varnerke) – a Russian living in England.

“In PC Vol 27-1 our sources for the Warnerke story described him as an ‘Austrian gentleman.'” …

Bob goes on in his column to discuss tri-plate colour camera designs, origins of ‘catadioptic lens’ designs, and the John Turner story expanded.

Members read all of Bob’s column in the issue 27-4 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. See ‘Membership’ above and at right to join or renew. Email membership questions to member@phsc.ca.

Meanwhile, our 2026 Events are moving along smartly. Next is our Spring Fair on May 24th at the Trident Hall. You may find a Russian camera – or other interesting item to add to your collection. Admission is very reasonable; parking is free; people are friendly, and the food is tasty.

Posted in fair | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on a red influence