Good thoughts Gordon. I figured the paper roll would be the easiest
solution for Guy. He could mount the roll. Build a clip-on light tight
box. Build paper guide rails for the top and bottom of the paper to help
with flatness of the material and to combat paper curl. He could then
mount a take up reel with another clip-on light tight box. So could try
to keep everything on a single sheet advancing the paper in a continuous
roll or he could pull and slice each 4x8 sheet. Rolling and tubing the
paper after each exposure. I think the fabric bellows with separate front
and backs would be the best bet. Aesthetics are a different matter. At
least Canada doesn't have the same degree of homeland security paranoia.
I could just imagine what they would say if somebody tried to put a 4x8x4
box painted black in front of a landmark building.....with some wires
coming out for metering....
Can't wait to see pictures of what you build Guy. Good luck. -t
Gordon J. Holtslander wrote:
How about making the camera so that it can be somewhat modular. It could be
made more compact for transport, and more stable for taking pictures.
If you were to make the back so that it can be made light proof and removed
from the bellow and front it may be easier to manage, and to support
independently from the front.
Can the bellows be made of fabric? Perhaps supported by fiberglass tent poles
or something similar. I'm able to buy light proof fabric. Its commonly used
to back draperies to make light blocking draperies.
Have the front made so that it is supported independently of the bellow and
back. It could be made relatively small.
I imagine something where the camera back is put in place. The front put in
place - both set up so they don't move, and then the bellows attached to make
it light proof.
A four foot roll of paper sounds difficult to manage. Would it be easier to
work with a number of 4 by 8 foot film backs?
If the back of the camera was made so that it is very rigid, and the film
backs were attached or inserted into a rigid support structure, it wouldn't
be neccessary for the giant film backs to be very rigid or substantially. -
they would only have to be light tight and made with some sort of dark slide.
Perhaps the dark slide could be made of fabric or some other flexible light
proof material that could be moved - maybe something like a roll-top with
opaque fabric and narrow slats.
If the bellows had a light proof entry of some kind - it wouldn't be necessary
to have an elaborate dark slide or paper rolling system. You could set up
the camera - and then go inside - put the film/paper in place - maybe use a
little 600nm LED as a safelight exit the camera and take the picture.
When the exposure is complete - you would enter the camera and roll up the
paper into a smaller light proof container - and then take the camera apart.
Maybe you could even preview the picture "camera obscura like" with an entry
system.
Hmm - sounds like I'm suggesting making a large light proof tent, with very
rigid but adjustable front and back and a light proof entrance.
Using something like tubeclamps http://www.tubeclamps.co.uk/index.htm would
provide a very rigid frame - but that might be overkill. Maybe wood and
plastic pipe would work.
Hope these suggestions aren't too outrageous. :)
Gord
On Friday 02 May 2008 9:29:38 pm Guy Glorieux wrote:
Hi friends,
I am working on designing and building a 4 x 8 feet pinhole camera
which I will be using in about a month time for a project here in Montreal.
I'd be happy to hear if anybody has experience in this area.
The camera needs to be easy to move around
and its focal length should be adjustable with a bellows system.
It would be nice if it could have uptake and downtake spools
so as to accommodate a 100-feet roll of photographic paper
thereby allowing me to make something like 12 exposures
without having to go back to a base darkroom after each exposure.
As I see it, the design would work something like an old 120 Kodak Bantam
or Kodak Vest Pocket camera.
The basic camera will have 3 main parts: front panel, bellows, back panel.
The front panel would be 4 x 8 feet 1/4inch plywood.
It would have a large opening for a removable pinhole plate to accommodate
different pinhole diameters and off-center positioning.
The pinhole plate would allow for the placement of a 2-stop density
center-fillter (to reduce vignetting) and/or a yellow filter.
The front panel and bellows would be mounted together.
The bellows would be made of two layers of black fabric
with a maximum extension of 48in. since I want the camera to cover a wide
angle-of-view.
The back panel would be similar to the front, made of 4x8 feet 1/4 in
plywood.
It would initially be built for the placement of just a single sheet of
photographic paper (44x92in.)
I still need to design a contraption to accommodate a roll of photographic
paper.
The photographic paper will be loaded under safelight conditions
and the back panel fitted to the rear end of the bellows with a light-tight
fitting.
The camera would then be ready to be moved to location in broad daylight.
On location, the camera bellows would be extended to the appropriate focal
length
The back and front panels will be held together into a box with a series of
rods,
these rods acting also as a support to prevent bellows sagging.
The extended camera will be moved around to its exact final position with a
dolly
and will be held firmly into position on the ground with appropriate
fastening devices.
These are the rough specifications and the individual details need to be
worked out.
I expect to encounter the usual set of problems with the building of the
camera
and any suggestions, advice will be most welcome.
In particular, I would be happy to hear suggestions on the best materials
to use.
Also, I will need to get a bag for storage/transport of the camera.
Suggestions here are welcome.
Regards to all
and congratulations for WPPD 2008 to the organizers and the participants.
A fantastic success,
Guy Glorieux
--
Que la douceur de l'amitié soit faite de rires et de plaisirs partagés.
Khalil Gibran
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