IN THE FIELD; KAMRA #2 Fold camera

packed kamra #2 for a field trip down south. A short getaway over the weekend with some friends. Managed to use this kamra in the field for the first time outside the studio. it performed well, has lots of space within, ease of focusing with front movement too.

Although the viewing hole not as clear, and the lens is not best shot at medium or close ups. 100mm does have some distortion, as a full body shot it fairs well. This kamra does not reproduce prints. It is great as a trainer model and had the first apprentice Kar Ling, take a shot and processed. Needs the use positive photo papers. 

 

 

 

 

FIRST ENLARGEMENT PRINT

the first (acceptable) print, its actually the 4th. 8x10" print, not the best exposure, light leaks and peaking, also its really old paper. but we have image! exposure at 770mm /f4 at 30sec partial left dodging

REPAIR WORK

surveyor's tripod fixed! managed to get it back together again :) liquid nail, screw every inch or so, sand down, stronger than before

LIGHT FALL

Reproduction light bulb. using a 23watt cool daylight bulb as part of an experiment. here a shot showing the light fall of the bulb

PROJECTION INSIDES

the window, the energy, & the stage. trinity of elements in the projection of an image. inside kamra #4 pair of reproduction lights, still needs some tweaking, and definitely some non-reflective dark paint

ENLARGEMENT

enlargement 6th try. 150mm Fujinon lense, 500mm f8.3 1sec. lights inside box gets hot fast, turn on when only in use, fogging from stray light and suspected red bicycle light, expired paper needs to be thrifty, do strip test.

SALVAGE FLASH UNIT

salvaged the flash units and one of the shutter mechanism from disposable cameras. some ideas for reproduction

FOMA FILTERS & EXPIRED PAPERS

variant filters for contrast control. thanks @eiffelchong for the idea, reproduction enlargement next experiment. get your foma / Czech Republic from foma Malaysia shop @morpheuse thanks for the support!

very old silver papers, mostly over 10 years old. thanks to @yremawi for the contribution. 1 pack is from the studio's previous stockpile, fresh enough and would give good prints. experiment with doing some enlargements soon. still printable

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Photography Talk; Portraiture 3 Ways

Happening this saturday, I'll be talking about the kanta project, experiences and process. thanks for the invitation Shafina Sheridan / The Photo Bureau

organised by The Photo Bureau, a photography talk in conjunction with the KL International Photoawards Winners and Finalist Exhibition 2015 - featuring 3 photographers’ projects involving portraiture.

 

 

STILL LIFE; Bulb

Kamra #3 Bulb test with daylight. f2 at half a second and full one second. Processed immediately.

PRINT FAILURES

PRINT FAILURE; left these 2 exposed papers undeveloped for a couple of days before processing them. for some reason the exposure is ruin and finger prints very apparent. Must be the salts from my sweat oxidising and reacting with the paper over time. 2nd time a batch of exposed paper react strangely. *NOTE develop exposed papers as soon as possible

MAILING PRINTS

Finally made time to visit the post office. Prints of the last batch of sitters from Art for Grabs, the Royal Belum & Endau Rompin forest expedition.

EXPOSURE TEST #3

carried out some exposure steps for Kamra #3 Bulb. Although the bulb has a focal length of around 100mm, the aperture opening is Ø25mm or /f4.0. 3 test print exposures were done. Rated with light meter at eye level, f2.0, 2.8, 4.0 the most accurate and ideal is between /f2.0-2.8 the bulb does collect alot of light and causes alot of flares and adds diffusion / soft focus

 

 

 

Kamra #3 first print

digitally inverted from the negative print. focal length estimated at 100mm. aperture opening at /f4.0 which is about Ø25mm, strobe light rated at f 4.0 at eye level (power output at 2.5). today all kamras have finally been tested with printed exposures. what a benchmark! project completed!

Kamra #3 Bulb test

Going through some testing, using a spherical aqua lens, first patented by Thomas Sutton in 1859. here using a light bulb filled with water, an estimate of /f4.0 aperture opening.

Kamra #2 Foldie

light meter rated /f 8.0 for the custom combination lense 100mm on -0 shutter ring (which is rated at f 4.5). about 2 stops under to get a well exposed image. (positive image digitally inverted)

TESTING KAMRA #2 FOLDIE

the custom-made combination of lenses & aperture/ shutter ring rates the exposure at double step under. also tested positive papers which are also rated at least double steps under too, ASA 1-2

DISASTER

while preparing kamra #4 woodie for processing, was mixing the chemicals in the box when the front tripod leg started to move and slip. the kamra's mounting came off from the fall and the 12kg box smashed the tripod's leg into pieces :( have to fix this another day. but in the mean time i need to find other surveyor's tripod too. anybody got any?

 

 

PAPER RESTOCK

delivered personally by hand, 400 sheets of glossy resin-coated silver photo paper from Singapore. thanks to Eiffel Chong.

KANTA on wheels

bringing kamra out on the bicycle. mobile field kit becomes even more mobile.