2017-04-29

Art Market; Kg. Attap, KL

"it's just a thing" small art market at Kg. Attap organised by chitoo. 29 & 30 April weekend. debuting a working prototype of the latest build. #6 Sphere Camera #spherecam a.k.a Gantua, pushing the concept of a camera, using a landscape lighting ball filled with water as a lens. A scaled up concept Spherical Aqua Lens after prototype #3 Bulb.

Fundraising for the next phase of project, traveling to East Malaysia #KantaBorneo #KantaBoxKamra at "It's Just a Thing" art gather/ market, come 29 & 30 April weekend

Prototype #1 Interchange, featuring interchange-able lens, smallest & most versatile, box kamra built. This mobile camera has been into the far jungles of Northern Belum, Central Pahang, Southern Endau Rompin, overseas to river mangroves of Sabah, to halfway round the world São Paulo, on land (car, bus, bicycle), on boat and in the air. (need to change the outer shell steel can and make some upgrades, but still going strong). 

Prototype #4 Woodie, the biggest Kamra Box built featuring dual format; horizontal/ vertical, limited changeable lens, easiest to operate, a stationary 'plaza-camera' (not the most mobile), also built to be reverse-able as an image projector. 

Prototype #5 Element Camera #elecamm the biggest camera format I've built. still going through it's trial run. Featuring a thrash bag as it's bellows, this build still holds true to the philosophy of using found and used materials & parts as it's make up while trying to be versatile and adaptive (although more specialised parts are used). It features some camera parts that are over a century old and using only the basic elements to projecting an image. It takes at a 10x12" format, vertical/ horizontal, a different build concept from the box series, this is the new range of cameras that #instudio25/build will be exploring with. Still processing instantly on-site, via a darktent, this camera will probably be making its trip to East Malaysia as a Mobile Studio Setup. (although not as mobile).

Debuting Prototype #6 Sphere Camera #spherecamm/ Gantua. The entire series of the new builds were based on this camera concept, utilising a Spherical Aqua Lens (much like prototype #3 Bulb). Made possible with the kind donation of the surveyor's tripod, aptly called 'Julia Stand' after the 'patron Nurzuliana Abd Aziz' and a few more edition and assistance, Magic Arm on loan from Helios Loo, making of the rear element frame with tools & guidance from Gan Siong King, "buy/token" of rear element window from Kb Wong/ @hsien from @Arcadia, and gift of wooden plate holder from K Azril Ismail. this 'camera' features a 6.5x8.5" format, which is a strange size, vertical only. Will be attempting portraits selectively through demonstrations only.

art market space
transport package
Prototype #1 Interchange, trusty camera
Prototype #6 #SphereCamm, #5 #EleCamm
Master Chan makes an appearance with Mahen


#5 Element Camera
#1 interchange

#4 Woodie
#6 Sphere Camera/ Gantua

2017-04-28

BUILD #6 Gantua, a conceptual prototype

Making of a new build #6 Gantua. Although nothing new, this concept camera is based on prototype #3 Bulb, or the use of a Spherical Aqua Lens, one of the first patented lenses, and an interesting approach to using water in a bowl to refract light.

The major component of this build was actually the initial trigger/ inspiration to the new range of large format build concept. More updates soon

26 April– Dry run, with lens filled with water
mid April– building base mount
at market, as a display
setup with darkbox
first print made
- purchase 2x2" (measures 1.5"), rear element frame, build gan, mount rear element view frame. purchase tee nut. bolt & nut imperial threads. 

- prepared mounting on tripod leg. prepare plateholder with rattan shim, spacers (chopstick). bought acrylic sheets as plate holder spacers. 

- measure rear ground glass with plate holder length. difference in 2mm more for plate holder. +2mm to offset plate holder.

26 Apr- Front element, packaging fold solution with waste cardboard. spherical aqua lens rated at 274 to 300mm. Aperture size calculated to /f4 at 300/4=ø75mm. reinforce base with weaved hemp rope. fill with water, 4 rounds with yellow bucket with large funnel. use hand pump to remove water from lens. tripod stabilised with added weight.

Dry test run with imagery achieved, at 900mm from front lens/ aperture board, for 6.5x8.5" projection. lighting is fair, bright, focus is soft, hard to achieve sharp focus, suggest /f8 or 11 to achieve a degree of projectile sharpness. only a print exposure with flash lighting assistance to determine. top coat/ dark cloth not long enough for close focus. light leaks numerous.

2017-04-27

Drama of the Light meter

light meter took a tumble, showed only error on reading. contacted engine tong, local sekonic distributor, located warranty card 2 year (Nov 2015), purchased new replacement while broken one gets sent back to manufacturer in Japan. RM 833, a RM200+ increase in 2 years

 old one E.u

Master chan visit

presenting portrait prints to Master Chan. Mahen purchases a Nagoya 4x5. 'inherit'/ bought' couple of Packard shutters, and a rotary backing, rear element 4x5. got Master Chan to agree to make an appearance at Market this weekend



Market Booth, Desapark

a short stint with a new market, in dog central part of town. First ever dog portrait. broke my light meter here.

 

2017-04-17

April Blue Cyanotype Exhibition

April Blue Cyanotype Exhibition at 仲夏夜 / Midsummer Night by travelling HK Textile Artist @laigarling. love the #cyaness deep blue hues photographic print. 交流 “exchange knowledge”

  

2017-04-15

Nic Emma night

#KantaBoxKamra Nic & Emma's last do in KL, had to take their portraits with the camera. always supportive of the project. was unable to ever get an exhibition up when they were here. Thanks for a great night ;) (pic from @d.t6n #pinjampic)

setting up reproduction, red & the inside of kamra
mini exhibit
Nic & Emma

Portrait

2017-04-13

Master Chan visit

Portrait of my Master Chan, with #elecamm, thrash bag camera. Slowly sinking in, the idea of my build, for my master. He has warmed up to it and my quirkiness. #ChanSifu a camera rebuilder, photography guru, and a close friend #kantaboxkamra #instudio25 #adaptreuse #instudio25build

Visiting Master Chan, from south pole straight to camera master, Mahen Bala prodigal son returns! 




Mahen acquiring a 4x5
setting up elecamm, portrait of my master