Month: May 2006

Inexpensive detector sees infrared in color

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An inexpensive detector developed by a NASA-led team can now see invisible infrared light in a range of "colors", or wavelengths.

The detector, called a Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) array, was the world’s largest (one million-pixel) infrared array when the project was announced in March 2003. It was a low-cost alternative to conventional infrared detector technology for a wide range of scientific and commercial applications. However, at the time it could only detect a narrow range of infrared colors, equivalent to making a conventional photograph in just black and white. The new QWIP array is the same size but can now sense infrared over a broad range.

Continue reading at NASA

Via Digg

High speed Tri-X in Diafine reference, ISO 2000-6400

Nicolai Grossman 1 Comment

High speed Tri-X in Diafine reference by Luke H

Flickr member Luke H tested Kodak Tri-X 400 film (400TX) in Diafine developer at high speed. He shot the frames above at ISOs 2000, 2500, 3200, 4000, 5000, and 6400 with a yellow filter.

Check it out in Luke’s photostream at Flickr

If you’re not familiar with Diafine developer, it’s got several magical properties: it’s a split-bath compensating developer, so it’s difficult to get blocked shadows or blown highlights, one batch can last for well over a year, its temperature range is wide enough (21–30°C / 70–85°F) that you don’t need a thermometer, they recommend you not use a chemical stop bath (just water), film needs to spend at least 3 minutes in each bath (but can spend more), and since the development time is the same for every film, you can develop different emulsions in the same batch at one time. If you’re gentle with the agitation, it’s quite fine-grained. In short: AWESOME.

For more info, see the Diafine group on Flickr, Grant Heffernan, or Sherman Dunnam Photography.

You can buy it from Calumet Photographic, B&H, and Amazon.com in the US, among other places. For the UK, hit Retro Photographic.

Completely homemade folding pinhole camera

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gabriel531 writes:

Here’s my most ambitious pinhole project yet – a 6×6 camera for 120 roll film with a bellows that can be pulled in to 50mm and extended to 90mm. The camera also has two pinholes – a 0.27 mm for the 50mm setting (equals f185) and a 0.36 mm pinhole for 90mm (equals f250).

This camera looks sweet! Unlike most folders, this one is built from scratch, rather than sticking a pinhole on an existing camera body. Great work!

The rest of this blog, Captured Starlight, is full of pinholey goodness. Check it out!

Read plans at Captured Starlight or discussion about it at f295 Pinhole Forum

Thanks to Paul Beard for the heads up!

New cyanotype book from AlternativePhotography.com

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(The book is called Blueprint to cyanotypes: Exploring a historical alternative photographic process and costs US $34.)

Alternative Photography press release:

Malin Fabbri and Gary Fabbri have written a clear and well illustrated step-by-step guide to making cyanotypes. It is easy to follow for the beginner and an inspiration for the more experienced photographer.

The cyanotype is often the first alternative process that people try. Digital photography has given this historical process new life, now you can create negatives in your computer and develop the prints in the sun, combining one of the earliest photographic techniques with the latest. The cyanotype process is a perfect compliment to today’s digital photography, whether you are making creative prints or fine art. It gives experienced photographers and artists a great excuse to take their eyes off the computer screen and get their hands dirty. Blueprint to cyanotypes is all you need to get started with cyanotypes. It is full of information and tips. It is also inspiration to see samples of 19 artists currently working with cyanotypes.

Blueprint to cyanotypes is published by AlternativePhotography.com – a website and information center for alternative photographic processes, dedicated to education and research. The website currently represents over 200 artists and continues to grow.

Information About the Book

Publisher: AlternativePhotography.com (2006)
Printed by: Lulu.com
Format: Paperback, 68 pages, full color
ISBN: 978-1-4116-9838-3
More information: http://www.alternativephotography.com/BlueprintToCyanotypes.html

Blueprint to Cyanotypes is available for purchase at www.lulu.com/alternativephoto, a print on demand service.

About the Authors

Malin Fabbri, from Sweden, has over 8 years of printing experience in cyanotypes and teaching workshops. Blueprint to cyanotypes is a result of a Masters thesis from Central St. Martin’s School of Design in London, in "alternative photography". The research for the thesis involved a lot of work with cyanotypes and also sparked the idea for the book. Malin also started the website, AlternativePhotography.com – an information centre for historic photographic methods in use today. She is still actively managing its expansion as the editor. Gary Fabbri is from Rhode Island, USA. An early interest in writing and drawing led him to pursue both fine art painting and writing. His paintings have been exhibited throughout the east coast. His master’s thesis lead him to find work in the television industry and he moved to London to work as an editor and writer/director. As a director Gary has made numerous shortfilms, television adverts, programmes and documentaries. Gary and Malin moved to Stockholm in 2004 where Gary runs his own company, and continues to write, direct, paint and make cyanotypes.

More info and buy from AlternativePhotography.com

Polaroid emulsion transfer tutorial

Nicolai Grossman

Check out this well-written Polaroid emulsion transfer tutorial, with examples, by Sarah Wichlacz:

Polaroid transfers have a unique visual style that is a little ghostly, a little impressionistic, and often very moody. Needless to say, it’s a fun way to spice up found slides and staged photos. With a few readily-available supplies, we can make a whole bunch of transfer prints.

Continue reading at SarahWichlacz.com

Via MAKE Blog

Pinhole Visions interview: Robert Johnson and Great Picture Project

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The following is a brief interview with Robert Johnson regarding "The Great Picture" project [blogged previously]. The Great Picture project is part of a larger, on-going project to document the closed El Toro Marine Corp Air Station. Project members include photographers Jerry Burchfield, Mark Chamberlain, Jacques Garnier, Rob Johnson, Douglas McCulloh, and Clayton Spada.

PV: How did the idea originate to turn a hangar at El Toro Air Station into a pinhole camera?

RJ: One of our group members (Clayton Spada) has been working/teaching in China. As part of some of the student’s projects there, they were experimenting with making large (roughly 8’X12′) pinhole images…

Read interview at Pinhole Visions

Improvized 35mm film leader retriever

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Improvized 35mm film puller by Flickr member fullframe

Rewind your 35mm film all the way into the canister and need to get the leader out again? Here’s how to do it with a piece of film.

Flickr member fullframe writes:

The arrow is pointing in the direction you’re going to insert this into the canister. The hooks were cut into the sprockets to catch the sprockets of the film leader. This is just an illustration, you should cut more notches.

Once you have enough of this film puller in the canister turn the spindle counterclockwise (if you’re looking at the canister with the spindle pointing towards you) until you feel the hooks catch. Slowly pull the film puller out. If things work it should drag out the film leader. You may have to try more than once.

Based on original instructions by Andrew Davidhazy.

Via fullframe and kellybelly