Cameras, film & technique

A 6 hour in-camera exposure.

In-Camera Cyanotype using the Two-bath Cyanotype

In this experiment Bernd Hutschenreuther explores the two-bath separate solutions process for cyanotype, similar to Sir John Herschel’s first method. A cyanotype image was created using a 6×9 cm folding camera with an extended exposure time due to weak winter sunlight. Writer and photography / Bernd Hutschenreuther Several attempts to make cyanotypes directly in the camera have been made and published here, both successful,  unsuccessful and a negative print cyanotype. … Read more

Cyanoroid camera pan

Making a cyanotype multi-exposure camera

Is it even possible to make a cyanotype camera? Pedro Leal shares how to make a cyanotype camera that takes several instantaneous cyanotypes in one image. Writer and photography / Pedro Leal   I made walking into an aesthetic project, and I register the experiences through drawings, and visualise images accompanied by thoughts, which I write down. But, I wanted to bring together the experience of images and thought and … Read more

The main parts of the paint-can camera.

In-camera Anthotypes – a world first, and perhaps also a last?

If stuck on a desert island, John Marriage chooses to keep himself amused with anthotypes, since plenty of pigments and an abundance of time would be at hand. He shares his experiments with in-camera anthotypes. Writer and photography / John Marriage A week before a July 2017 meeting, I had a phone call asking for a short talk on “What camera would I take if I were stranded on a … Read more

camera obscura pinhole camera image inside a room

Easily create a camera obscura

Nancy Breslin tests a camera obscura lens from the Finnish company called Bonfoton and turns an entire room into a camera obscure, reflecting the outside upside down on her wall and also recorded a video to show us. Writer and photography / Nancy Breslin ONLY FOR OUR READERS! A discount on ALL Bonfoton products from their website.  The code is ALT20 and they will give a -20% discount until the … Read more

Picto’s test of Lightmeasure’s hand-held UV meter PPM2

Members of the Picto Benelux alternative photographic processes group tests the new hand-held UV-meter – the UV meter PPM2 – by Ian Parker at LightMeasure.com. Writer / Jacques Kevers Photography / Images from LightMeasure.com and by René Smets Ian Parker at LightMeasure.com builds and sells a one-of-a-kind UV meter, designed specifically for artists who work with UV-sensitive media. Once established your “target UV dose” for your light source/medium combination of … Read more

Laguna Salinas I

How B&W photographic film works

David Kachel goes into detail to explain how black and white film works, sharing the ins and outs of B&W film. Writer and photography / David Kachel Knowledge is a thing that is easily lost to a society. Worse, it is even more easily discarded. We humans behave a lot like crows in one respect: if we see something shiny, we have to go get it, forgetting whatever it was … Read more

How a pinhole camera works

An excerpt from From pinhole to print – Inspiration, instructions and insights in less than an hour. How a camera without a lens can be used to take pictures.

Polaroid EE100 camera

Wet plate collodion with a Polaroid camera

Got an old Polaroid camera sitting around somewhere? Since the camera film making business is on decline (Polaroid is no more, Fuji film is still around) the camera needs to find other uses. For example; take the film holder and convert it to an excellent wet plate holder. Jalo Porkkala shows you how.

Preserving your film photographs

If you want your grandchildren to see your film photos, there are several factors that you must take into consideration to preserve the original state of your pictures. Here are some tips that could help you preserve your film photographs.

Composition: The Theory and Psychology of Framing Your Image

Today, we’re taking a look at the theory and psychology behind the size, framing, and visual weight of different elements in your photographic composition. You’d be surprised how much there is to learn about this choice, and the impact your decision can have!

Sarah van Keuren

A Non-Silver Manual: Instructions for Copy Cameras

The chapter called “Instructions for Copy Cameras” of Sarah Van Keuren’s book “A Non-Silver Manual: Cyanotype, Vandyke Brown, Palladium & Gum Bichromate with instructions for making light-resists including pinhole photography”, written by Sarah van Keuren, Sandra C. Davis & Stuart Goldstein.

Lomography on surface

Mulberry paper and lomographs

Helen Stead shows us a genius – and surprisingly simple – way to make your Lomographic prints even more beautiful!

Monocles lens testing and designing

Monocles lens: Making and testing

Carlo Ponzoni designs a lens. In the second part of the article he works on assembly and finishing. He also compares the result to other lenses.

Shot by the Cyclops II photographic camera lens.

Cyclops Part II

Part II in how to make lenses do what you want, by Jonathan Brewer.

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