Dry plate negative

Description - what you see
This dry plate negative image was taken on what appears to be a sunny day. In this image we could see various groups of people in different series of moments enjoying time at the beach. The garments they are wearing in this scene could be set in the 1950s – 1960s.

Intention - what you think the photographer intended
I think that the photographer intended to capture a fun day at the beach. By placing his focus on the foreground we could see the happiness expressed by his principal subjects. The framing of this image and the various poses captured all the way to the foreground intensifies the feeling of well being.

Interpretation - your reaction to the photograph
I like this image because of the deep depth of field. You can see distinct people enjoying themselves at the beach from the subjects in the foreground to those in the background.

Evaluation - your assessment of the images success
In general I believe this image is a success. It is well balanced and the composition transmits a warm feeling.

My pinhole camera

PROCESS

For my pinhole camera I used was 8 inches in length and 5 inches wide. The size of the box determined that the pinhole camera would be a wide angle and use a photographic 5 X 7 paper size. The next step was to make sure that the sides of the box were sealed properly so that no light would enter except through the pinhole. I then proceeded to paint the inside of the box and lid completely black and to let them dry. On the lid I made a hole big enough to stick a small piece of brass where the pinhole would be made.

Through different calculations demonstrated in the previous diagrams I was able to establish the focal length (55), the size of the pinhole (0.3), the f/stop (183), and the exposure on a sunny day (f/16 = 32 sec).

Once all the details were finalized I was ready to test my pinhole camera. My first shot was taken on a very cloudy and rainy day. Once I had decided on the composition I wanted for my first test I let my photographic paper exposed for 8 minutes. My paper negative was later developed in the darkroom at school and scanned into a 16 bit image. This image was inverted and turned into a positive. I then changed the image into an 8 bit and was able to save it as a JPEG file.


WHAT WORKED

Through the examples demonstrated in class I was able to see and understand step by step the process. I was than capable to apply that process to build my own pinhole camera which took one class period to achieve. During the next class, I loaded my camera in the dark room with photographic paper. I adjusted my exposure calculation for a cloudy day and took my first shot with my pinhole camera at the college.


WHAT I DISCOVERED

The process is different from what I am use to with my DSLR camera. What I mean is that it is a lot easier with a DSLR to frame and get the composition I am looking for. Therefore, it is always possible to make different adjustments in my menu to obtain the appropriate settings for the different types of light patterns.

Although, working with a pinhole camera made me stop, think, and take my time when it came to framing my composition, I only had one photographic paper inside the camera and therefore one shot.

WHAT I WOULD DO NEXT TIME
I would like to have more photographic paper with me and change it on location without having to go back to the darkroom. Furthermore, I would make myself a light proof pocket that would allow me to change my photographic paper on location and keep the ones already exposed in a safe place.

Tintype

Description - what you see
It’s a tintype photograph by Robb Kendrick of three cowboys in their apparels and habitat. All three men have very relaxed poses and are leaning against what seems to be a metallic wall. In their surroundings we could also see a dog laying at one of the cowboys’ feet and a horse standing nearby.

Intention - what you think the photographer intended
I think the photographer intended to give us a taste of the different facades of a cowboy's life. This feeling is emphasised by the way the composition is balanced. On the left side of the photograph we have stillness (calmness) and on the right side we have movement (agitation).

Interpretation - your reaction to the photograph
I like this photograph very much. From looking at the image, I get the impression that the moment captured could have been taken in a different epoch even though this image was taking recently.

Evaluation - your assessment of the images success
I believe that this image is a very successful one. Kendrick was able to capture the different ingredients and the essence of the cowboy life.

Pinhole Camera (grayscale)

Foot Bridge in the Mist - 4x5 Film Pinhole Photograph

I was able to find the picture of a “Foot Bridge in the Mist” through an image search for a pinhole camera photograph in Google.

This black and white picture was taken with a “4 x 5 film pinhole camera”. It is the view of a suspended bridge on a rainy and foggy day. The rails, fences, cables, and the reflection of the rails give a strong rhythm to this image. The use of a deep depth of field keeps the image in focus and forces us to look far and deep into the image.

I believe the photograph wants us to stop, look, and imagine how far the bridge goes. The foggy weather does not allow us to see the end of the bridge; we can only imagine the rest without certainty.

When I first looked at this picture I thought that the image looked perfectly symmetrical and that I was being shown where to draw the perfect line to find the middle. As my eyes followed that imaginary line and the rails into the back of the picture it created a great vantage point effect.

In my opinion this picture is a successful one. The photographer was able to achieve the vantage point effect he wanted to create by using symmetry and rhythm, thus, producing a visual effect that helped me march to the unseen.

Cyanotype

The solution is obtained by mixing the chemicals ferric ammonium (20%) and potassium ferricyanide (8%) into distillated water.

This solution is applied to the surface of a watercolour paper and is left to dry in a dark room. Once the watercolour paper is completely dry, any type of material can be added on top of the surface.

When exposed to an ultraviolet light like the sun, the watercolour paper will change gradually into a dark grayish colour. An imprint of the material used should be seen on the surface of the watercolour paper.

The print is rinsed with running water until no more solution is washed off and then submerged into hydrogen Peroxide 6% solution of the standard 3% until the print turns into a dark blue colour. The print will be washed for a second time and left to dry.

What worked?

I applied the solution previously mixed on my watercolour paper and let it dry. Once the paper was totally dry I placed a leaf on the surface and set it on the floor directly into the sunlight. Once the watercolour paper turned gray I took it back indoors and made sure that it was not exposed to the indoor lights. I washed my paper with water until I could no longer see color in the water and submerged it into hydrogen peroxide. I washed the print for a second time and hanged it to dry. I could partially see the form of the leaf I used.

What you discovered?

That it is possible to obtain a form of exposure without the use of a camera.

What you would do next time?

I would make sure that my watercolour paper is well exposed into a direct ultraviolet source. It will prevent moving the watercolour paper to a different location during the exposure process.