Pinhole Photography

As part of our visual diary of the photographic techniques course, we have to make a pinhole camera and use this (or another method that can take an image without a lens) to study self portraiture.

A pinhole camera is a very simple camera without a lens.  It is a basically a light proof box with a small aperture (or opening).   Light from a scene, then passes through the small aperture and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of the box.  Some light sensitive paper is attached to the opposite side of the box.  Once exposed to light we develop the paper in the usual way - this produces a paper negative, much like in photograms.  We can produce a paper positive, by placing the paper negative (emulsion side down) on top of a new sheet of paper (emulsion side up) and project light onto it and develop again.

Just like in a SLR camera, the size of the aperture and focal length will determine how much time we need to expose the paper to light to get a good well exposed image.   These times and aperture sizes are proportional so relative exposures can be calculated.

I'm excited about the prospect of this and intrigued at how the images will turn out.  Its a part of photography that I've always wondered about, so I'm looking forward to it.  I will be creating my camera out of a shoe box - hopefully I will be able to use both the length and width of the shoe box to have a camera with multiple focal lengths.

The art of pinhole photography seems to be quite a popular one.   I came across an article on Smashing Magazine that had an article The Showcase of Beautiful Pinhole Photography showing some wonderful images created by pinhole cameras.  These images were taken from the smashing magazine website and credit is due to the individual photographers: Scott Speck, Mackeson, Teiko respectively.

http://media.smashingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/images/pinhole-photography/chain-in-space.jpg

http://media.smashingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/images/pinhole-photography/Mackeson2.jpg

http://media.smashingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/images/pinhole-photography/TEIKO.jpg

and so the story continues

I've developed my first black & white film -  successfully I'd like to add! I've managed to print a contact sheet complete with test strips and print my first photograph.  How exciting!?! 

But its not always plain sailing.  I'm starting to experience some of the intricacies which come with darkroom antics.  A tiny miniscule hair on my negative, enlarged and added a scratch-like white line on my print.   A possible scratch / finger-print caused another mark on my final image.  With a dust blower and clean piece of paper I had another attempt, and yet again I have a mark / scratch on my final image.  Back to the dark room to re-print.  

It does go to show how careful you need to be with your negatives and paper (particularly the paper prior to developing).  The emulsion side of the paper is so delicate until it has been fully developed, washed and dried.  Only then is it a more durable surface.

TOTALLYCOOLPIX.com

While searching for an image by Jeff Mitchell, I came across this website - totallycoolpix which has a collection of what is considered the best pictures of the last decade the decade known as the noughties. It is a collection of very political and very moving images that were taken from 2000 - 2010.   To say I liked every image would be a lie,  but I was certainly intrigued and very moved by the collection. I spent the best part of an hour looking through the website,  here is but a small sample - it worth the time to take a look.

A man rinses soot from his face at the scene of a gas pipeline explosion near Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos December 26, 2006.

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman HM1 Richard Barnett, assigned to the 1st Marine Division, holds an Iraqi child in central Iraq in this March 29, 2003 file photo.     

Image Reference for both images: http://totallycoolpix.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/16122010_best_of_the_decade/

Cindy Sherman

As part of our second exercise in Photographic Techniques we are asked to mimic a photograph.   But what do they mean by mimic?  We are not being asked to copy, merely to explore the image in terms of its style rather than trying to literally replicate it, looking at the light, the mood, the composition, the depth, etc.

The question is where to begin.... I've been introduced to many wonderful photographers, but this week in our "Ways of Seeing" module, I was introduced to Cindy Sherman and her series of work entitled "Untitled Film Stills".  While searching out information on Cindy Sherman, I came across this short video:

Cindy Sherman: Untitled Film Stills from Michelle Pacansky-Brock on Vimeo.

Sherman's work is typically displayed in series.  She photographs herself in a range of costumes.  She works alone - and so takes on the position of photographer, make-up artist, wardrobe, director, producer,  model, etc.  The series "Untitled Film Stills" was shot between 1977 and 1980.  The images are reminiscent of some 1940/50s American film noir.  One of her images will be a possible candidate for this mimic exercise.  I've not narrowed down the search entirely but two possibilities are the following:

Untitled Film Still #3

Untitled Film Still #13

Black and White

This term is predominantly about bringing us back to basics - in effect, simplifying the whole procedure and removing any aspect of digital, modern technology and in fact for the most part colour.  What we are left with is using black and white film photography and combining this with developing and printing in the darkroom.

Last week we were given our first roll of B&W film.   To my mind,  this has the potential to go three times as wrong as with a digital camera.   Firstly, the simple use of an "old school camera", second "developing the film" and thirdly "printing".  Fingers crossed it all goes according to plan!  To date, I've shot my B&W film.  It appears to have successfully loaded, 36 exposures taken, film rewound and removed.   Only tomorrow's session in the darkroom will tell if this has been successful.

Me, Myself and I

So before, I delve too much into this blog - I thought it would be appropriate to introduce myself a little.  I've currently taken up a new position in the National College of Ireland as an Associate Lecturer in the School of Computing. One week I became the lecturer and the following week I became the student.  I've also started an evening course, studying for a BA in Photography in Griffith College Dublin.

I am back in the country now for six months, after spending the previous nine months away travelling with my fiance.  We took a couple of small bags, packed full of climbing gear and camera equipment and embarked on wonderful adventure that took us from Dublin to France, Spain and Greece, Thailand and India, Australia and New Zealand and finally home through Canada, hitting some of the top climbing destinations in the world.  Each place had its own unique charm. Our days were either rest days or climbing days.  On my rest days, the camera came out and I had the privilege of photographing friends and acquaintances in some of the most wonderful places I've ever been too.  Our adventure is documented on my travel blog.

Anne Yeagle, Climbing in Grande Grotta, Kalymnos, Greece

Andrew Speer, Albaracin, Spain, Sept 2010

But its not just climbing that tickles my photographic fancy.  I've a few friends in a band, The McGetigans who I've had the pleasure of seeing and taking photographs for.

Barry O'Dwyer and Brendan Lawless playing in Whelans, August 2011

Back to Basics

For the next 12 weeks or so, we are putting our digital cameras aside (well at least for the course assignments) and picking up our old analogue cameras.   I've resurrected my old Pentax K1000 with its 50mm prime lens off a dusty shelf in the back of my wardrobe, dusting it off (quite literally) loaded some colour 100 ISO Fuji film and took her out for a spin.

It was that grey, damp, wet, windy weekend - hmmm - so it wasn't making my life easy.   However, I gave it my best shot and here are some of the results.

Having used a digital camera now for so long - I've gotten used to auto-focus - the sheer tediousness of trying to focus on a object took its toll.  Some worked some didn't.   The whole process slowed me down - I couldn't not click away to my hearts content - I had 36 exposures only.  There's no reviewing my image,  so I had to document it all in a little log book.  Its all very time consuming, but it does make you think about the shot.

And thankfully, my analogue camera appears to be still working after years of no use!!

Welcome to my Photographic Adventures

I've just enrolled on the BA in photographic media in Griffith College Dublin and I thought its might be nice to document the adventures that I embark on throughout the course!! Of course it is also a course requirement ;)

I hope to include the knowledge and techniques that I learn along the way and also document my failures so that you too can learn from my mistakes. 

I'm not entirely new to this blogging lark either.  I've kept a travel blog on and off for the last 5 years.  I tend to only update it when I travel - so unfortunately there are some large gaps.  But its another side of me  - my travel blog !!