[pinhole-discussion] Re: camera swap
"Camera swap"? Did someone say "camera swap" maybe an ongoing rotation? That's a GREAT idea! Count me in. I have a bunch of different cameras - that's one of my favorite things about pinhole work, coming up with new cameras. So what do you think...maybe use each camera for two weeks, then send it to the next person on the list? Maybe just set up the list like the one for the recent New Year exchange? Just join the list by a certain date, then everyone mail a camera to the person after you on the list on a certain date, then every two weeks after that? Be easy enough to organise, huh? Man oh man, I'm likin' the sounds of this. hope this doesn't fizzle. Even if just a few people want to do it it could work. Waiting on the edge of my chair - Jim
[pinhole-discussion] 2003-2004 pinhole exchange
Well, December has come and gone, and I guess except for a few late arrivals, I won't be getting many more pinhole cards from you folks. I just wanted to thank all of you who did send. I looked forward to checking the mail and looking at each photo, from Marcy's beautiful day early card to Chris Pergaroy's "Blended Christmas" which was the last that came. Thanks you all very much, it has been inspiring. I am really looking forward to the February exchange. Keep pinholing - Jim
[pinhole-discussion] Spring pinhole swap
Jean - I would like to be included in the swap you are organizing. I am having trouble finding a list on which to post my name, and hope you get this e mail. Thanks Jim Blodgett PO Box 460 Roy, WA 98580 U.S.A.
[pinhole-discussion] Hey! That's dirty pool, Marcy!
It was my understanding the pinhole exchange photos were supposed to arrive in DECEMBER! But SOMEBODY just HAD to jump the gun and I received one from Toke(up)land WA today, and it's still NOVEMBER! Just couldn't wait, could ya? Huh? Huh? That's alright. What comes around goes aroundreap what you sew...stictch in time...rolling stone gathers no mass...or was that Roberto Duran Duran? "Peace" yourself - you gun jumper you! See you (again) at the Museum of Glass last Sunday in April - Jim
[pinhole-discussion] Processing color film question
Hey everyone - been lurking for a year or so, started right after WPPD 2003. I am wondering if anyone out there has a good method for processing their own color film? I like to work with 4x5 film and it's tough to get it processed. Failing any home methods, can anyone recommend a reliable mail order lab that I could try? Thanks - looking forward to the 2004 New Year card exchange - Jim Blodgett, Roy, WA
[pinhole-discussion] Panorama Characteristics?
I'd say a panorama shot is one that represents what a person would normally have to rotate their head to see with their eyes. Just one working man's working definition. Jim Roy, Washington
[pinhole-discussion] tripod attachment
T-nuts work okay for a while, but they can work loose over time. Another way is to use a threaded nut. It looks similar to a t-nut, but doesn't have the flange and the exterior surface is threaded with real aggressive wood threads. They come in various sizes, but for the 1/4-20 interior thread that matches tripod threads, I drill a slightly less (maybe 2, or 3/64ths of an inch less) than 3/8" and thread the nut into the wood. They sell them at virtually any lumber yard or hardware store. They are real common in brass or steel. The steel are harder, so they are easier to thread into a tight hole without braking, but the brass is softer than the threads on most tripods, so if someone cross threads it, the one in the camera will get damaged before the one on the tripod. Jim Roy, Washington
[pinhole-discussion] Brass shim stock
If you know an auto mechanic, they are apt to have a chunk of brass shim stock in their tool box. If all else fails, walk into any machine shop and ask, they are sure to cut you off a chunk. The chunk I have is about 3" (I think that might be 75 some kind of meters for you metric nuts) that I peel paper thin layers off of to make lenses as needed. I must have made a couple dozen lenses off that little square and can't imagine ever using it all...well, maybe if I got one of those WPPD hats and made it into a multiple lensed camera by utilizing the air holes...yeah, I could line the inside of the hat with a black garbage bag...wait...I think that's another thread... Man, oh, man, some of those pictures people are posting are fabulous. You get a load of that one "I Love My Husband"? I think it's on page 24 maybe? Beautiful. Jim Roy, Washington
[pinhole-discussion] enlarging paper negatives
> Hi, just wondered if people ever put paper negatives in the enlarger. If > so, are there any problems with it? > > --shannon Absolutely, positively, Sharon. I have enlarged many paper negatives, b+w and color. No problem, it just takes a lot longer for the light to burn through and onto the paper so you'll have longer exposure times. Strap that paper negative in the negative holder just as if it were a regular negative and have at it. Oh, I almost forgot, if you're working with b+w, open the lense all the way open and use 0 contrast, that will help cut down exposure times. Lot's of people shoot paper negatives in lensed cameras to get a soft focus feel similar to pinhole work. A good friend of mine, probably the most accomplished photographic artist I've worked with, used to make her own strips of color paper negatives and wind them into a Yashica Mat 120 twin lense reflex and use it like a normal camera, she didn't get 12 shots a roll because of the difference in thickness, but I know she got several. Really impressive results because she could gain the same control of depth of field as a regular negative, but have that same soft feel of the paper negative. Sorry to ramble like that. By all means, enlarge paper negatives for larger prints. Jim Roy, Washington
[pinhole-discussion] Re: Jason Russell's question about soft focus
> From: "Jason Russell" So I thought I'd try the Finney and the results were surprisingly soft. Jason, I don't know squat about that Finney cap you're asking about, but I have experimented quite a bit with pinhole cameras and I have to say, some of my lenses take sharper images than others. I've noticed it matters how smooth the area around the aperture is on either side of the hole. If the metal isn't very, very smooth around the aperture, light gets reflected onto the film plane at an odd angle. Maybe you have a defective lense, or the aperture is not uniform in shape or thickness? I'm not certain, but I think the size of the aperture could effect image sharpness too. A very small hole would have to remain open longer, so any movement caused by opening or closing the shutter should have a less dramatic effect on the image...of course, the longer the shutter is open, the more chance there is for ever so slight movement that would slightly blur the image, too. There are quite a few other variables that could be giving you soft focus problems - like camera movement. Are you using a tripod? Are you heavy handed opening the shutter? Are your subjects moving during exposure, like tree branches in a barely perceptable breeze? I'd also echo the comments of others that sometimes I like crisp lenseless shots, sometimes it really doesn't matter, I'm just after the mood, or geometric shape. Jim Roy, Washington
[pinhole-discussion] Re: Pinhole-Discussion digest, Vol 1 #880 - 14 msgs
> Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2003 00:07:19 -0400 > From: Chris Peregoy > I've been able to get good results from color print paper by using three > filters...The one problem with all these is the filter factor makes for long exposures." Chris - do you meter the light through the same filters for exposure times? Jim Roy, Washington
[pinhole-discussion] Re: Pinhole-Discussion digest, Vol 1 #879 - 15 msgs
> Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 15:17:58 -0700 > From: "Chrome Dome" > Can someone tell me the ASA of Fujicolor Crystal Archival Prof Paper Type CD II ? > > I have several calls and emails to their tech support for a week with no response. > > Mike Atwell Mike - I figure a strong 12 ASA for Crystal Archive, closer to 13, then I expose for shadows, even a little longer sometimes. Can't get very true colors if I shoot in daylight with it, though. Get a blue green cast to the print - red/yellow cast to the negatives. Jim Roy, Washington
