Desert Life, Hanimex 35 Micro Flash, some cheap film?
Friday, May 13, 2011
For The Love Of Polaroid.
For those don't know me (and I'm sure most people reading this are friend and family, but who knows. After all I have just one "Follower". My Mom.... Thanks Mom!) I LOVE Polaroid!!! I just realized that I am up to 8 different Polaroid Cameras and a few backs. I am a bit geeky about it. So, a couple of weeks ago I made sure I went early to a camera swap, hoping to find a few Polaroid things. First I found a couple of packs of film for cheap. Yeah!!! Next I found timed shutter release for my 195. Yeah again!!! I also found a couple packs of cheap Fuji film (fits in the Polaroid 195) Yeah!!! I wont bore you with all the things I didn't find, but a good day.
I know... GEEK!
The first thing was to load some the film. So I grabbed my favorite 680 and went out shooting.
It was a cold and yucky day so my first shot came out with some heavy color shifts, but the film worked.... Yeah!!!
Birds, Polaroid 680, expired Polaroid 779
I know... GEEK!
The first thing was to load some the film. So I grabbed my favorite 680 and went out shooting.
It was a cold and yucky day so my first shot came out with some heavy color shifts, but the film worked.... Yeah!!!
Birds, Polaroid 680, expired Polaroid 779
The next shot I wanted to try shooting with a close-up lens. I have one for a Holga camera but it doesn't fit, so I just held it in front of the lens.
Flowers, Polaroid 680 w/ Holga close-up lens, expired Polaroid 779
Flowers, Polaroid 680 w/ Holga close-up lens, expired Polaroid 779
Finally photography should be about fun and what better way than with Polaroid...
Men, Polaroid 680, expired Polaroid 779
Men, Polaroid 680, expired Polaroid 779
World Pinhole Day
As a photographer, we all go through those time of being uninspired... Unmotivated... Busy...
Sometimes we just need a reason to go out shooting. For me it was World Pinhole Day (April 24). After a few months of being busy at work and uninspired by my own images, I needed something to get me out shooting for an afternoon or just a few hours. So on the 24th I packed up my overly large tripod and my Polaroid/Pinhole camera and set out to shoot something. Anything. Not having much time and no real ideas, I found myself down by the Vancouver Port. After looking at a few spot and subjects, I decided the Port cranes were as good as anything. After setting up and estimating exposure, my first shot was way over exposed but the second was really close. Finally the third shot was good, not great, but good. Well that was it... I was out of time. Not the most exciting day of shooting, but I got out there. Better that not at all.
The one good thing about the day is, it got me thinking about shooting some Pinholes around town. Perhaps a series is in the works. We shall see.
Polaroid/Pinhole Camera, shot with Fuji FP-100B
Sometimes we just need a reason to go out shooting. For me it was World Pinhole Day (April 24). After a few months of being busy at work and uninspired by my own images, I needed something to get me out shooting for an afternoon or just a few hours. So on the 24th I packed up my overly large tripod and my Polaroid/Pinhole camera and set out to shoot something. Anything. Not having much time and no real ideas, I found myself down by the Vancouver Port. After looking at a few spot and subjects, I decided the Port cranes were as good as anything. After setting up and estimating exposure, my first shot was way over exposed but the second was really close. Finally the third shot was good, not great, but good. Well that was it... I was out of time. Not the most exciting day of shooting, but I got out there. Better that not at all.
The one good thing about the day is, it got me thinking about shooting some Pinholes around town. Perhaps a series is in the works. We shall see.
Polaroid/Pinhole Camera, shot with Fuji FP-100B
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Rolling Through the Archives
So, I thought every once and a while, I might post a few an image that I created before the blog.... No long winded explanation, just images.....
Shot with a Polaroid OneStep 600, on expired Polaroid film
If Only I Could Read
I may have had a chance.....
You see, most artists create for themselves, but after some time the want to get there work out there. Some people have flickr sites, some have gallery shows, some put out albums, some have blogs. Besides this little blog and the gallery show that I keep saying I want to have, one way to get things out there is to submit to magazines. One of my favorite is LightLeaks magazine. It is a quality magazine that focuses on "Toy Cameras", right up my alley. Lots of times I miss deadlines due to mulling over ideas or not getting the film developed in time or many other bad excuses. However last issues theme was "secrets' and I had an idea right away. I sketched my idea and built my "prop" and I was off. Shoot went well. I got one shot I was happy with and off I sent it, with plenty of time.
After the deadline had come and gone the publisher mentioned that he had contacted all the people that had been selected.... Not me, but hey, that happens. I have submitted and not been selected before. That is when I noticed, I had submitted a colour version of the image. The guidelines clearly stated B&W images only (for a special "Noir Issue")
I promise to pay more attention next time.....
So here it is, my Secret..... in B&W, as it should be.
You see, most artists create for themselves, but after some time the want to get there work out there. Some people have flickr sites, some have gallery shows, some put out albums, some have blogs. Besides this little blog and the gallery show that I keep saying I want to have, one way to get things out there is to submit to magazines. One of my favorite is LightLeaks magazine. It is a quality magazine that focuses on "Toy Cameras", right up my alley. Lots of times I miss deadlines due to mulling over ideas or not getting the film developed in time or many other bad excuses. However last issues theme was "secrets' and I had an idea right away. I sketched my idea and built my "prop" and I was off. Shoot went well. I got one shot I was happy with and off I sent it, with plenty of time.
After the deadline had come and gone the publisher mentioned that he had contacted all the people that had been selected.... Not me, but hey, that happens. I have submitted and not been selected before. That is when I noticed, I had submitted a colour version of the image. The guidelines clearly stated B&W images only (for a special "Noir Issue")
I promise to pay more attention next time.....
So here it is, my Secret..... in B&W, as it should be.
Secret - shot with a vintage Diana, on Fuji NPH400
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Thrift Store Finds
In this day of the all mighty pixel count, film cameras are viewed as useless. Lucky for me they turn up more frequently in thrift stores, or Op Shops for my Aussie friends. Amongst the bins of crappy cameras there are a few hidden treasures. Often filled with "point & shoots" (even some of those can be gems, if you know what to look for) you can find some great cameras. My latest thrift store find is an Agfa Clack....
This little camera is really basic and simple, as a result is not a much of a collectors item. Built between 1954 and 1965 in Munich, Germany. It only has two shutter speeds, "B" for bulb and "M" for moment. Two apertures, "sunny" and "cloudy". Hey, what else do you need? I won't complain for $8.00.
More thrift store find to come...
This little camera is really basic and simple, as a result is not a much of a collectors item. Built between 1954 and 1965 in Munich, Germany. It only has two shutter speeds, "B" for bulb and "M" for moment. Two apertures, "sunny" and "cloudy". Hey, what else do you need? I won't complain for $8.00.
Shot with a vintage Agfa Clack on Kodak 160VC
Shot on a vintage Agfa Clack on Fuji Acros 100
More thrift store find to come...
Canvas Prints For Sale
I have, for years, been guilty of not promoting myself. The irony is that really not a lot of people really know about this blog yet, but I will claim this as my start.
I have started printing some of my images on canvas. The first two images are printed 8x8, just to test the water and see if anyone is interested. These images are selling for $45.00 each plus shipping. If you close by, I will hand deliver them myself.
Gulls, Shot with a vintage Diana Clone.
Tree, Shot with a vintage Diana Clone.
I have started printing some of my images on canvas. The first two images are printed 8x8, just to test the water and see if anyone is interested. These images are selling for $45.00 each plus shipping. If you close by, I will hand deliver them myself.
Gulls, Shot with a vintage Diana Clone.
Tree, Shot with a vintage Diana Clone.
If your interested email me at: popflashphoto [at] yahoo.ca
Keep your eye out for new pieces!!
Keep your eye out for new pieces!!
Friday, March 4, 2011
I Dream In Half Frames....
For about a year I searched high and low for my dream camera (well, one of a list of 10 dream cameras). The Olympus Pen FT..... Sure they can be found on that evil internet auction site for around $500 -$700, but I was unwilling to spend that kind of money without first looking through her viewfinder.
I will be the first to admit I have a problem. I search the "photo & video" section of craigslist often, sometime 3-4 time a day. In this case it payed off. I found a Pen a mere 5-6 hour drive away, and luckily only a half hour drive from my Dad. So without so much as a thought I contacted the seller asked him to hold it, and told my Dad that he needed to jump on the old Harley and go for a ride. Within hours my Dad had within his possession my dream camera, and the cost..... 45 bucks!! A deal!!
I held my breath, hoping it worked, and it did.
Why??? Well this is a strange and beautiful little camera. When it was first introduced in 1963 it was the smallest 35mm slr in the world. That is not all, she is also a half frame camera! What??? That means that you get two 18x24 frames within the traditional 36x24 negative size. For most people that simple means that you could get 72 frames from a roll of 36. I just dreamt of shooting diptychs. Oh, and her beauty..... she is a sexy little camera.
I will be the first to admit I have a problem. I search the "photo & video" section of craigslist often, sometime 3-4 time a day. In this case it payed off. I found a Pen a mere 5-6 hour drive away, and luckily only a half hour drive from my Dad. So without so much as a thought I contacted the seller asked him to hold it, and told my Dad that he needed to jump on the old Harley and go for a ride. Within hours my Dad had within his possession my dream camera, and the cost..... 45 bucks!! A deal!!
I held my breath, hoping it worked, and it did.
Why??? Well this is a strange and beautiful little camera. When it was first introduced in 1963 it was the smallest 35mm slr in the world. That is not all, she is also a half frame camera! What??? That means that you get two 18x24 frames within the traditional 36x24 negative size. For most people that simple means that you could get 72 frames from a roll of 36. I just dreamt of shooting diptychs. Oh, and her beauty..... she is a sexy little camera.
Concrete Detail
Tree on the edge of the Olympic Village
Rail line on the edge of Gastown
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Looking Back......
One part of photography that I love is looking back at "old technology". Really, before we had the instant gratification of digital photography, we had Polaroid. Oh, and how I love Polaroid. Simple, take a photo and the camera spits out, or you pull out a photo. After two minutes you have a fully developed photo in your hand. Heck that is one step further than digital. The true remaining stock of Polaroid film is slowly disappearing. So if you have any send it to me, I will love it, shoot it, and even send you a original piece of art back to you. (shot on polaroid film) Sure, we do have Fuji products (which I do like) and The Impossible Project films (I will get back to you later on that), But I love Polaroid film.
I once almost bought an old Polaroid factory jacket for $100.00 (but I thought my wife would kill me, and I couldn't take photos with it)
Even further back is pinhole photography. Simple a box with out a lens. Just a pinhole to focus the light and film..... thats it! The exposures are long and you have no viewfinder to compose your shots.
So I thought I would combine instant photography with slow photography... Here is my Pinhole/polaroid
Shot with a homemade Polaroid/pinhole camera, with outdated Polaroid Chocolate film.Okay..... So..... Hello, Terminal City
So, for the past couple of years, when people ask if I have a site, or a blog, or a place to see my photos, I sheepishly say "No, but I should"
Well time to change that!
So! What will you see here? Well photos for sure. I may perhaps tell you about the cameras I use or I may even tell you why I took a specific photo. That is, if I have a reason beyond "I thought that would make an interesting photo" I don't shoot famous people and I don't do nudes.
So, what do I shoot? Things...... Okay, so lets figure that out together.
Not hooked yet? I will try harder next time....
See you next time....
Well time to change that!
So! What will you see here? Well photos for sure. I may perhaps tell you about the cameras I use or I may even tell you why I took a specific photo. That is, if I have a reason beyond "I thought that would make an interesting photo" I don't shoot famous people and I don't do nudes.
So, what do I shoot? Things...... Okay, so lets figure that out together.
Not hooked yet? I will try harder next time....
Shot with Vintage 1950's Agfa Clack. On Fuji Acros 100 B&W film.
See you next time....
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