Sleepless in Seattle

I haven't been getting enough sleep. I've been working on processing my film (2 latenighters, ending at 4am, Sunday and Monday). So far, I have 21 rolls done, and 2 left to do. Most all from the San Francisco trip from a couple of weeks ago. Last night, I was finally going to get some sleep, but then I was very excited about seeing some results, so I thought, I could spend an hour or two scanning a few frames. I was up until 4am, again!! I still have lots of film to scan, but tonight, I am going to bed early!

Photo: Doggie Diner Head, San Francisco, 2008

Camera: Diana+

Film: Tri-X, processed in D-76.

A Fistful of Film

I took a trip to San Francisco last weekend. I took a few toys with me, a Diana+ camera, Holga 120N camera , a Holga 120s, a vintage Diana, and a Jamcam. I shot a few rolls. I hope there is something worth printing after I process all this film!

Sun, Sand and a Holga camera

These photos were taken a week ago with a Holga 120N camera, on Fomapan 100.

Foundry Art Centre

If you are able to get to the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, MO, they currently have a plastic and toy camera show up:

Unrefined Light: Image-Making with Plastic Cameras and their Friends

It will be on display until May 9th, 2008.
http://foundryartcentre.org/

Kai has a couple of photos in that show.

Taking your first picture with a Diana Camera.

The Diana camera is easy to use, once you get past the fact that you will need to make a few decisions when taking photographs.  

Film: Pick a film and load the camera. Start out with ISO 400. This refers to the “speed” of the film or how sensitive it is to light. 

Color or Black&White? Your choice. Color is probably easier to start with, since you can have a lab process the film, but the downside is that it will probably be more expensive the more you shoot. I love the traditional look of B&W film. If you process your own film (very easy to do), you can cut the cost per roll down, and really indulge in your new photo addiction.

The controls:

Shutter: N- about 1/100 of a second, B-Bulb stop, shutter will stay open as long as you hold down the shutter.   

Aperture: Sunny, sorta sunny, cloudy, P (pinhole)

Focus: 1-2m or 3-6 feet, 2-4m or 6-12 feet, 4m-infinity or 12 feet to infinity. 

How to take your first photo.  

Pick a subject

Judge the approx distance to your subject and set your focus accordingly.

Take a look around you and judge how bright it is. Is it sunny, sorta sunny or cloudy?Set your aperture.

Make sure the Shutter selector is on N.

 Look through the viewfinder and frame the photo (don’t worry about it too much, the viewfinder isn’t accurate).

Trip the shutter. Advance the film to the next frame.

Repeat as necessary.