But wait! There’s more! I just realized that Cline’s method is a huge boon for people who shoot digital. It’s easy and cheap enough to make a pinhole body cap for a DSLR (or you can buy one from holgamods if you’re not the DIY sort), but there is a problem: digital sensors become charged and literally suck in dust like a magnet. Normally it’s a good idea to put some sort of clear filter behind the pinhole to prevent dusty build-up, but this is a cheaper, less complicated, and automatically fixes the problem. No hole to the outside, no dust! Nice!

While zone plates are always made with film of some sort, I’m curious about light transmission loss using film compared to an empty hole for a pinhole. Anyone have info on this?

Read instructions at Cline & Company

Join us for this lively and engaging workshop in which we’ll investigate the artisanal qualities of lensless photography. Participants can expect to discuss the historical and contemporary uses of lensless photography, learn about different camera options and then design and construct a camera to achieve different types of images. Spend time using the camera(s) to make images and developing/printing those images in the darkroom. We’ll also enjoy discussions regarding the counterpoint these "primitive" techniques play in the world of contemporary photography, peer review of participants pinhole work, and how the longer exposures inherent to pinhole work affect both the images and the act of making them.

The workshop runs 8–10 September, 2007 at the Peters Valley Craft Center, 19 Kuhn Rd Layton, NJ, US. It will be run by Tom Persinger, who is an accomplished pinhole camera builder & photographer, runs the f295 Lensless Photography and Alternative and Adapted Process photography fora, is the organiser of the upcoming 2007 Symposium on Lensless, Alternative and Adaptive Photographic Processes, and has written numerous magazine articles on lensless imaging. In short: you’re in good hands!

Skill Levels: Beginner to Advanced
Tuition: $325
Lab Fee: $30

You can register online.

Via Pinhole Visions

If you’ve done all your holiday shopping and are thinking about something for yourself how about one of the many workshops being offered as part of the f295 Symposium on Lensless, Alternative and Adaptive Photographic Processes? The Symposium takes place in Pittsburgh, PA USA 26-29 April 2007.

The workshops that are currently available for registration are filling up quickly. If you’re interested in participating in one (or more) of them I urge you to contact the organization/person listed as the registration contact ASAP.

Complete Symposium information may be found online at www.f295.org/wordpress, but here’s the workshop info:

One Day Daguerreotype Workshop at the Daguerreian Society World Headquarters

Instructor: Mike Robinson

Learn the traditional mercury daguerreotype process in this one day workshop. Mike will first demonstrate the process, then each participant will have the opportunity to create their own daguerreotype. All cameras, equipment and materials will be provided. No prior experience is necessary.

This workshop is limited to 6 students. (ONLY 4 spots remaining!)

Location: The Daguerreian Society, 3043 West Liberty Avenue
Date:Saturday, 28 April 2007
Time: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Cost: $350 Workshop fee plus $50.00 material fee.
Registration: phone: (412) 343-5525 e-mail dagsocpgh@comcast.net

One Day Wet Plate Workshop with CFAAHP

Instructor: The Center for Alternative and Historic Processes

Learn the 19th Century Technique of Wet Plate Collodion in this one day workshop. We will discuss the differences between ambrotypes (glass positives), glass negatives and tintypes (positives on tin). Students will learn ‘hands on’ how to make a wet plate image using a reproduction camera and original brass lens. The history of the process will be covered as well as a brief description of the chemistry used.

All materials (cameras, chemicals and glass/tin) will be supplied. Limited to 10 students. (ONLY 8 spots remaing)

Location: TBA
Date:Saturday, 28 April 2007
Time: TBA
Cost: $250
Registration: patty@cfaahp.org, phone: (917) 406-5638 or check www.cfaahp.org for upcoming details

Gum Printing with Terry King (Gum Rex)

Instructor: Terry King, FRPS

Terry King’s approach gives control of colour and contrast in the gum process comparable to that obtained by the great workers at the time of the Photo Secession. Negatives can be on paper or film from digital or analogue originals. The process can work with both acrylics and watercolour. Rather than the very long exposures used by many people working in gum, exposures using Terry’s process can be as short as a few seconds.

Participants should plan to bring their own large negatives, but there will also be a selection of large negatives on hand for participants to experiment with. Each student will be given a manual to take home.

Location: Pittsburgh Filmmakers
Date: Saturday, 28 April 2007
Time: 10am – 4pm
Cost: $250
Registration: sueabe@pghfilmmakers.org or phone: 412-681-5449 ext. 216

Primitive Photography: Camera and Lens Making

Instructor: Alan Greene

Whether you’ve been considering exploring large-format photography and have been deterred by cost or are a long time large-format photographer looking for ways to expand your craft this workshop is for you! We’ll use optical surplus and materials commonly found in home improvement stores to build a functioning landscape lens and box camera that uses standard, commercially available, 8×10 film holders.

In addition to the steps of construction, basic principles regarding format size and optical image formation will also be discussed. Participants will leave the workshop knowing how to use the skills and knowledge they’ve acquired to arrive at similar camera and lens design configurations for use in other formats (4×5, 5×7, 11×14, 14×17, etc!).

Limited to 12 participants. Sign up early so you don’t miss this great opportunity!

Location: Society for Contemporary Craft
Date: Saturday, 28 April 2007
Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Cost: $90 ($80 SCC members) + fee for materials (approx $40)
Registration: thestudio@contemporarycraft.org or phone (412) 261-7003 ext. 25

Pinhole Camera Workshop

Instructor: Tom Persinger

In this exciting, hands-on workshop participants will build their own large format pinhole camera, drill their own pinholes, expose images using paper negatives and develop them in the darkroom. This is an entry level workshop ideal for someone just getting started in lensless photography.

Location: The Mattress Factory
Date:28 April 2007
Time: 10am-4pm (includes lunch)
Cost: $35 ( $30 for MF members)
Registration: education@mattress.org or phone (412) 231- 3169 ext. 212, 213

The Cyanotype Rex

Instructor: Terry King, FRPS

Terry King will give people the opportunity to practice his cyanotype rex process. The method and the chemistry vary both from the standard approach and some new cyanotype processes. The process is fast enough to use in camera. According to the length of exposure, the strength of the toner and the time in the developer and toner, the process gives a wide range of colors and tones from negatives. of different densities.

Participants should plan to bring their own large negatives, but for those who do not have negatives there will be a selection to experiment with. Each student will be given a manual to take home.

More information about the Cyanotype Rex process is available on his website.

Location: Pittsburgh Filmmakers
Date: Sunday, 29 April 2007
Time: 10am – 4pm
Cost: $250
Registration: sueabe@pghfilmmakers.org or phone: 412-681-5449 ext. 216

Persinger has set up a Web site for the symposium. He writes:

…It’s designed to distribute information about the symposium AND about things to do in/around Pittsburgh. It’s in the preliminary stages, but it has lots of links to restaurants (that i particulary like), hotels/places to stay, museums, galleries, shopping, walking tours, other activites (amusement parks, zoo, etc) and lots of stuff to keep you and your family busy for days and days.

With the birth of son #2 I haven’t been able to check into hotel rates. Please feel free to email or call the hotels directly to check on availability. I’ll do my best to get to this detail in the coming weeks.

I’ll be adding more agenda information, links to register for workshops, and bios for each speaker and topics they’ll be discussing in the coming days & weeks!

The link: www.f295.org/wordpress

Cheers!
Tom

The lineup already looks tasty indeed, a veritable bonanza for the low-fi photographer. This is going to be worth traveling for.