The Camera Obscura!
Today we have started looking at Camera Obscuras, a camera obscura essentially transforms a room into a large camera, by controlling the amount of light entering the room, by covering the windows with black bags or other sheets!
for my first project I am going to look at building a camera obscura at home, and documenting the results with my camera.
To photograph the camera obscura, you will need a long shutter speed with a medium aperture, for example, the shutter speed could be set at 10 seconds…. and your aperture could be around F11, make sure the digital camera is steady, either on a tripod or on a table, to keep the image sharp, long exposures blur.
Here is a link to a PowerPoint we have that shows you how to set up your camera obscura!
This week!
- Build a working camera obscura at home
- photograph the camera working and edit the results in photoshop
Light study
Using the PowerPoint as a guide, I want you to look at and capture with your camera the varying lighting types listed…
- An example of incident light
- An example of reflective light
- An example of Low key Lighting
- An example of High Key lighting
35mm Photography
This is for next week, however, if you are bored you could start doing a bit of research into this!
Light study
Using the PowerPoint as a guide, I want you to look at and capture with your camera the varying lighting types listed…
- An example of incident light
- An example of reflective light
- An example of Low key Lighting
- An example of High Key lighting
Camera Obscura results!
I have recently completed a successful camera obscura experiment, I have photographed the results, I did this camera obscura in my bedroom, I found it quite difficult to photograph the results, but with a bit of editing in photoshop I have managed to create a clear image!
Camera Obscura image 1
Camera Obscura image 2
35mm Photography
35mm photography is the most accepted and understood form of analogue photography, it involves the use of a 35mm camera, and 35mm film!
35mm Camera
35mm Film
35mm film varies from digital photography as it does not result give immediate results, and what we need to do following the photo taking process is to develop the film! (You have done this before) however! There are several ways to develop a roll of film and the one we are going to look at this week, is caffenol! Caffenol is a home-made film developer recipe! It doesn’t just develop film! It also develops the photographic itself when transferred onto photographic paper!
Image developed with Caffenol!
What do I need to male caffenol developer?
Instructions!
- In one container, mix 12 oz of tap water (room temp), ¾ tsps vitamin C powder (1000mg or 1 tablet), 5 tsps instant coffee crystals (cannot be decaf), 3.5 tsps washing soda.
- Stir until all powder and crystals dissolve.
- Pour into sealed developing tank (Or into a tray) and agitate the paper slowly for one minute, then agitate 3 time per minute for the following 11 minutes. Pour out Caffenol mix.
- Place paper under running water for 1 minute to stop developing process. Have the water as close to room temp as possible.
- In another container, mix 2 oz of fixer with 6 oz of water. Pour this mix into tank and agitate slowly 3 times per minute for seven minutes.
- In another container, mix water with a few drops of dish soap. Mix slowly to limit bubbles formed. Fill tank with this wash mix and agitate 3 times. Pour out wash and repeat process agitating 6 times. Pour out wash and repeat process agitating 12 times. Pour out and open tank.
****Homework.****
This week, I want you to shoot a roll of 35mm Black and white film and to then mix a batch of Caffenol, then you need to use the Caffenol to develop a roll of film, if you get stuck drop me an email, and I will help you, remember, that the roll of film needs to be develop in complete darkness and that it needs to be full submerged into the Caffenol. You will need to develop your film in the mixture for around about 10 ***minutes. ***
justaddhoney 