- Article published at:
- Article tag: Biografical
Our current Object of the Month is dedicated to Barbara Buffa, who passed away on April 4, 2026, at the age of 100.
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OBJECT OF THE MONTH DECEMBER 2025
In December, we chose a Christmas card from 1985 as our object of the month. It was sent to customers and friends of PPS. PPS. was founded in 1971 by F.C. Gundlach as a service company for photographers, offering black and white and color labs, a rental service, studio space, and its own specialist bookstore. The image on the Christmas card is simple yet evocative: a deep blue night sky, dotted with fine snow flurries, with the snow-covered PPS logo below. The accompanying greeting reads: "We'll be working hard for you in '86 too."
We even found the initial sketches for the map in the archives. They contain handwritten notes such as "possibly without the star" or "more gradient." Step by step, the design was simplified: stars and orange accents disappeared, and the focus shifted entirely to color and typography.
We take this wonderful find as an opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and peaceful holidays!
MORE OBJECTS OF THE MONTH
- Article published at:
- Article tag: Photo technology
Our latest archive find is an elegant embossing pliers that can press the letters "HL" into paper. This article explains what the initials mean and how the tool, coated with hammered-finish paint, ended up in our archive.
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- Article published at:
- Article tag: Photo technology
The "Photo Angle Finder" from the Japanese manufacturer Horseman is a precise measuring instrument from the analog era of professional and large-format photography. It was used to accurately determine tilt and inclination angles – an essential prerequisite for controlling perspective, horizon, and focus.
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