Camera Obscura part 2

Last week in class, we looked at different formats and types of cameras.
We also looked at the earliest type of camera: the camera obscura.

One of the reasons I think camera obscuras are so cool is because they are so simple.

It's really just the action of light.

And, you can even make one at home just using a cardboard box.

Before you grab your boxes, watch a short animation showing how a camera obscura works…

Pretty simple, right?
But what if you don't have a box big enough to get inside?
Well, there's a simple fix.

1. Simply cut a large section from the back of the box.
2. Tape a piece of vellum or tracing paper over the new opening.
3. The vellum will act as a focusing screen (just like those large format cameras).
4. You will also need to shield any extra light to see the image.

Image from: Edinburgh's Camera Obscura
http://camera-obscura.co.uk/camera_obscura/camera_make.asp

Aside from just being cool, camera obscuras are still used by lots of artists.
Abelardo Morell is one of the most well known artists who utilizes the obscura phenomenon.

Please visit his website to check out some more!
http://www.abelardomorell.net/posts/camera-obscura/w.abelardomorell.net/posts/camera-obscura/



Also check out this interesting local artist, Chris Fraser.  Unlike Morell, who photographs the interior of a camera obscura, Fraser often uses the camera obscura phenomena as a projection device.  Fraser's work is simultaneously about photography and the experience of the viewer discovering photography.  Please look at some of his different installations.

http://chrisfraserstudio.com/portfolio.php?pid=31


Sometimes, you might notice an accidental camera obscura.  It's pretty exciting when you do.  A while ago I had some dark curtains in a room of my house.  One day, I noticed that the curtains had parted just slightly to allow some light to come in.  It created a projection on the ceiling that showed the rooftop of the building next door.  Pretty cool.

Try this at home!

Here's a video that walks you through the process.

View How to Transform a Room into a Camera Obscura on Howcast

camera obscura part 1

My newest video is up and running!

Choosing a camera for class

Students in my B&W class need to have a manual 35mm film camera with a standard lens.

That means your camera must have:

• A camera body
• A standard lens that fits the body
• Working light meter
• Manual focus control
• Manual aperture control 
• Manual shutter control
• A lens cap and strap

I know that it sounds confusing now, but soon you'll find it really isn't that hard to understand.

Lets start with the camera body and lens.

If you buy a camera as a "kit" then it should come complete and ready to use. Sometimes you will want to buy the camera body separately from the lens. If that's the case, you need to make sure the lens will work on that body. Each brand has a specific way of fitting lenses. Doing a little research can help, but it's best to ask a salesperson to help you.

The camera body may be sold separately from the lens.

When you choose a lens make sure you get a normal, or standard, lens. That means, the lens gives an average, or normal, angle of view that is similar to human vision. This is usually a 50mm size lens or something close. Anything from 45-55 would be pretty normal.

The lens size is often printed on the front.  This one is 50mm.

What you don't want is to be stuck with a super wide angle of view for all your pictures, nor do you want to be stuck with a long telephoto lens for all your pictures. A wide angle lens has a smaller number, a telephoto has a very large number.



Those lenses can be fun, but you want to have a normal option too.  You can actually enjoy all those lenses in one if you choose a zoom lens, such as a 28-75mm. Since 50mm is within the range of 28-75, you'll still be able to create a normal angle of view.

This lens is a 28mm.

Okay, so what about those other things?

A light meter is very important.  Without it, you will not be able to accurately expose your film.  It is very rare to see a 35mm camera that doesn't have one (unless its a really old camera).  Just make sure that it's still working and that the batteries are new (ask a salesperson for help finding the right battery).

"Manual focus control" simply means that you can control where the picture is focused.  That's usually a ring on the lens that turns and changes the focus distance.  Sometimes, a switch on the lens changes the focus from automatic to manual control.

"Manual aperture control" is a little more complicated, but we'll talk about it in class during week 2.  Basically, this control changes the brightness of light that enters the camera lens.  Most older cameras have this control on the lens, in a ring marked with small numbers like: 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22.  Newer cameras often show these numbers in a data panel.  

Take note of these numbers, you'll need to remember them.

"Manual shutter control" means that you have a way to control how long it takes to record an image.  This control is usually on the camera body or data panel and shows fractions of seconds.  We'll talk more about this in week 2.

Also regarding these controls, you need to be able to choose the exposure manually.  That means you will not be using aperture priority, or shutter priority functions (these are not manual settings, they are semi-automatic settings).  You will only be using fully manual settings where you select the camera settings yourself.

This data panel shows "M" mode for manual.

Can I borrow a camera?

The school has a very limited number of cameras to loan out.  Sometimes there are not enough to go around, so please try to get a camera on your own.

Borrowing from a family member can be a great option. You'd be surprised at how many parents and grandparents have old cameras tucked away in attics. I bet they'd love to spend some time with you talking about photography.  They might even show you some cool photographs they made in college.

While borrowing is great, do not try to share a camera with another person.  I've seen students attempt this and it simply didn't work.

Where can I buy a camera?

For a list of recommended places to shop, check out my other blog post: resources & rental labs

Can you recommend a camera?

No, I don't usually recommend a single camera.  There's lots of cameras that will work.

It doesn't need to be complicated or have lots of special functions.  Simple is often better!

It also doesn't need to be new or expensive.   There are many basic models out there and lots of very good used ones. Just make sure it works properly and has all the functions listed above.

Below are some options recommended by myself and my colleagues. I've added some links so you can see what the camera is like, but that doesn't mean that it's the best price.  I did not shop around!

New Cameras

• Nikon FM10
• Nikon F80
• Nikon N80
• Canon EOS Rebel K2
• Canon EOS Rebel

Used Cameras

• Pentax K1000
• Nikon FM series
• Nikon FE series
• Nikon FG series
• Canon AE-1
• Contax 167 MT

My trusty Pentax K1000.
 I bought it new more than 20 years ago and it still works perfectly.

There's really too many to mention that will work just fine … hundreds … thousands!

When in doubt, just bring your supply list to the store, and ask a salesperson to help you figure out if it has all the options you need.

My final piece of advice: simple is better.  

It's easier to learn on a basic model than one that has 100 new functions to figure out.  

You also don't need to buy the most expensive camera because (if you're anything like me) you will want another camera, and another camera, and another…

Pretty soon, you'll have dozens of cameras, so you can choose the best one for each job.

I like old cameras too.  Here's a small number from my collection.

Supplies

Required course supplies & materials 

In order to complete assignments and participate in lab activities, you'll need to get some supplies.  These should be obtainable at the Fremont bookstore, or any of the resources listed in my other blog post: resources & rental labs.

Students usually spend $150-200 on supplies, not including camera or textbook.  Students can save cash by planning ahead and shopping around for the best deal.  They can also save by teaming up with classmates to buy bulk quantities.  Student discounts are offered at some stores.

Students can also save a lot of money by using good methods in class.  By paying attention, concentrating and coming prepared students can avoid wasted supplies (i.e. doing the reading, taking notes, not rushing).  Students who take these steps can do all the classwork and more without having to buy an excess of film and paper.

Below is the supply list from class.  I've created some links to examples.  I am not promoting one supplier over another and these may not be the best prices.  It is your job to shop around.  

1. Camera

see my post on selecting a camera for class

2. Film

You will need a minimum of 14 rolls of film.  

Take care not to purchase c-41 process film (that's color film - examples).

• 12 rolls will be 35mm film with 36 exposures 
• 2 rolls will be 120mm, medium format film. 

Three reliable brands of film are:

1. Kodak Tri-X 400 ISO - examples
2. Ilford HP5 Plus 400 ISO - examples
3. Arista EDU Ultra 400 ISO - examples

3. Photographic paper

The photographic paper is sensitive to light.  Don't open it until you are in the darkroom under special lights.  If you open it in regular light it will be ruined.  

Here's the basics on paper (example):

• 100 sheets, many students use more 
• 8x10 inch size 
• Ilford brand (do not buy Arista) 
• Variable contrast (AKA: Multi-grade, MG or VC) 
• Resin coated (AKA: RC, not FB). 
• Pearl surface is recommended. 
• 133B students encouraged to try multi-grade fiber (FB) paper in glossy surface 

And here's the explanation of photo paper...

Quantity

Most students use at least 100 sheets of paper in the semester.  Some previous students say that 125-150 is about what they used.  A few students (those who do careful work) said they used about 80-90 sheets of paper.  You'll need photo paper in the first week.  If you are planning to order online, you might need to buy a small pack from the bookstore or borrow some from a classmate.  

Size

Most assignments require that prints be 8x10 inches or larger.  You are welcome to buy smaller paper for your own personal use.  You can also cut 8x10 inch paper to size.  

Brand

There's lots of brands of photo paper, but I am recommending Ilford brand because it is very reliable and I've never had any problem with it.  This will also ensure a consistency of workflow in the darkroom.  

Variable contrast

When paper says variable contrast, it simply means that you can use different colored light to change change the contrast (the contrast is variable).  Another way to say that is "multi-grade," meaning the paper is able to render multiple grades of contrast.  VC, or MG, paper is the most common type these days, but some paper has only the capacity for one grade of contrast (it will be called "graded").

Resin Coated (RC)

There are two main types of paper backing available today.  One is "fiber" or FB, and the other is "resin coated" or RC.  RC paper is the type we'll use in class.  It has a resin coating on front and back, which makes it slightly waterproof.  It has faster processing times and shorter wash times.  

Fiber paper (FB) - examples

133B students are encouraged to transition to fiber paper.  Fiber paper has a heavier weight and a more organic feel to it.  Historically, fiber paper has been regarded as the standard for galleries and museums due to it's superior quality and silver content.  Wether that still rings true is now questionable.  It is now more common to see RC paper in these settings, but I think it is well worth your time to learn how to use it.  It does cost a bit more and takes longer to process.  Wash times are considerably longer (with more steps) so you need to be efficient and manage your time well at end of lab.  This product will not be available in the bookstore but will be available from any other supplier on the list.

Surface for RC paper
There's lots of different surfaces for RC paper.  For RC, I recommend "pearl" surface.  It's not quite glossy and not quite matte.  It's easy to work with and doesn't show finger smudges as much.  It's easier to "spot" than glossy.  However, if you are set on getting glossy surface paper, it's fine with me.

Surface for fiber paper
For fiber paper, the only I recommend is glossy (at this time in your learning process).  The glossy fiber paper is not the same as glossy RC.  It has a nice smooth sheen and is easy to work with.  Other surfaces, like matte, are really hard to work with, so I do not recommend it until you have some experience with fiber papers in general.  

4. Negative storage pages 

Negative storage pages are plastic sheets that protect and organize your film.  There are several types out there, and my favorite is CP-7HB.   It costs a little more, but has an extra pocket to keep your contact sheet together with the negatives.  For your 35mm film, it's best to get the ones that fit negatives 5 across and 7 down because it will fit in a standard binder.  You will need one sleeve for each roll of film.  The bookstore will sell single sleeves to fit 120 film.  

5. Binder or binder box for negatives

Dust is the photographers enemy, especially on your negatives.  One of the best things you can do to avoid dust on your negatives is to store your negative sleeves in a binder separate from your regular notebook.  I also like to use a "binder box" because it seals the edges of the binder.  You can achieve a similar level of protection with a clean plastic bag around your binder, or just be careful to keep it clean.  

6. Large paper folder, envelope or bag to turn in projects.

All your photographic projects need to be turned in using some kind of portfolio package, like an appropriately fitted bag, folder or envelope.  This helps to keep your work clean, organized (so your prints don't get mixed up or lost) and to make it easy for me to move them around.  The envelope is a requirement of the assignments.  You can make your own by purchasing some heavy paper in the bookstore and taping the sides.  If you want a professional style presentation box, here's an example from Freestyle.

7. At least 2, 8x10” sheets of cardboard or thick black card stock

You need to get this cardboard during week 1 for the lab activity on Thursday.  YOU NEED THIS.  Please don't blow it off.  It's so easy to grab an old box from the recycling.  

8. A towel to donate to the darkroom

We use towels in the darkroom to dry equipment at the end of the day.  Each student brings one to leave in the darkroom.  It won't be usable at home anymore, so I recommend just bringing an old one.  Please make sure it's clean though.  

9. Basic school supplies

You'll need basic school supplies for taking notes.  You need to bring these every day.  You'll also need a Sharpie marker for one lab and to write your name on your stuff.  

10. Gloves

Gloves are mandatory for film processing.  Anyone caught without gloves is in violation of safety rules and will be required to leave immediately (even if you are in the middle of film processing).  Nitrile gloves provide the highest level of protection and are recommended.  They can be found at most drugstores.  Example at Walgreens.

11. A small, thick walled cardboard box or tin for an assignment.

One of our labs will involve making your own camera out of a box.  It's best that it be small, like less than 5-10 inches.  They can be very small, like 2 inches if you want.  It needs to have thick walls to block out light, or be painted black.  Look around and try to find some interesting boxes to use.  A mint tin will work, also try cell phone boxes, or shoe boxes.  You can build a box if you want.  See the schedule for the due date on this item.  

12. Presentation supplies

Most of the photographic assignments will be matted.  To do that, you'll need the following supplies.

• 20 sheets of 11x14 inch size mat board - examples
• a pack of at least 80 photo corners - examples
• linen tape, minimum of 5 feet total - examples
• Pencil

13. Optional Supplies

The following supplies are optional, but can be fun and useful.

• Apron - to keep your clothing clean.
• Anti-static cloth or canned air - to clean dust off negatives/camera
• Gray Card - useful for metering and getting accurate exposures
• “Artist’s” tape or masking tape good for everything, sealing photo paper.  
• A yellow or red lens filter - helps to darken sky
• UV/Skylight filter - protects your lens
• Cable release and tripod - for long exposures, night photography
• Bulk loading supplies - to roll your own film
• artists tape or masking tape
• reusable film cartridges (3-20)
• bulk film (in rolls of 100 foot)

Have more questions about these supplies?  Post a comment below.

Resources & rental labs

Resources & labs 

It’s pretty easy for you to find everything you need at the bookstore.  However, shopping around is a good way to get the best price and find a broader selection. 

I am not promoting any one source over another, as there are reasons to choose each one.  For my own work, I buy supplies from several different sources.  Sometimes I buy locally, sometimes from several different online sources. 

If you miss class, or you want more darkroom time, you may also want to visit a rental lab. Those are listed toward the end.  If you visit a rental darkroom, please remember that the rules might be different there.  Be respectful and ask for help getting oriented.  

Always ask for a student discount, even if you think you won't get it.  Bring your syllabus, supply list and student ID, just in case they ask for it.

Here’s a few places I recommend to you:

B&H Photography

B&H is a large supply house geared toward the professional.  They have a vast selection of photography supplies, cameras and gear.  They also carry audio/visual, computers, lighting equipment, etc.  The website is fairly easy to navigate and search for most supplies.  Use your supply list to search for key words. 

B&H is pretty consistent about delivering within 5 days, but they are closed for Jewish holidays so plan ahead.  Here’s the address:  http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

Freestyle Photography

Freestyle Photography is geared more toward education and individual artists.  They have a lot of options for lower cost products, how-to pages, and allow instructors to post supply lists. 

The website can be a little difficult to navigate if you don’t know the right search terms.  While I'm not suggesting you should choose Freestyle over other sources, I did post a supply page for recommended products.  This can make your shopping a little easier.  Simply go to the “Students & Educators” page and search for the supply list. 

Deliveries from usually L.A. take 2-3 days.  Be sure to estimate delivery time if you are on a deadline. Here’s the web address: http://www.freestylephoto.biz/

Keeble and Shuchat

Keeble and Shuchat is a local store where you can find everything you need.  There are two stores in Palo Alto, on either side of the same street.

On one side, you’ll find the used camera department.  It can be a good place to find a deal, but you should be prepared with a clear idea of what you want and need.

On the other side of the street, you’ll find a large selection of new cameras, camera bags, tripods and the darkroom supply section.  Darkroom stuff is upstairs and they are helpful about getting you everything you need.  Bring your supply list and ask someone to help you find stuff.  They will know what to do.

Here’s the address: 261 South California Ave., Palo Alto, (2 stores)
- http://kspphoto.com/

Bear Images

I’ve not had the pleasure to go to Bear Images but my other teaching buddies tell me they are great.  417 Lambert Avenue, Palo Alto, 650-321-2327 - http://www.bearimages.com/

KEH

Keh.com is a great place to look for used gear.  They have a pretty straight-forward rating system and good prices.  Unlike other used camera options (like ebay) you get a guarantee that the camera will be as rated.  I’ve had good experiences with all my purchases.  However, you do need to know what you are looking for.

I recommend you contact customer service for help if you have any uncertainties and make your first purchase over the phone: http://www.keh.com/

Looking Glass

Looking Glass is a local place for supplies and a rental lab.  I haven’t printed there because I have my own darkroom, but I’ve heard great things from my students. The price is great at only $6 per hour. 

You need to have a strong knowledge of working in the darkroom and being respectful of darkroom etiquette to go to any rental lab.  Don’t show up and expect them to help you like you are in class.  Also be prepared to figure out new equipment because the enlargers are not the same models as we have.

Looking Glass: 1045 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley CA, 510-548-6888.
Monday-Friday 9-8, Saturday 10-6, Sunday 10-4
http://www.lookingglassphoto.com/

PhotoCentral

PhotoCentral is the closest rental lab to campus.  Students have told me it’s a great place to go and that they are friendly to students.  The pictures of the darkroom are really beautiful. 

However, it’s only open Mondays 5-10pm.  If your assignment is due on a Tuesday, I don’t recommend waiting until Monday night to start working on it! 

Photo Central: 
1099 E Street, Hayward, California 94541 http://www.photocentral.org/facility.html

Rayko Photo Center

This is one of my favorite spots in SF.  If you are ever in San Francisco, Rayko Photo Center is a must see destination (a short walk from Bart).

They have a huge gallery and sales room hosting local artists.  They also have rental darkrooms, classes, digital labs and stuff to buy.  Gallery receptions are always fun and well attended.  The website often features opportunities for shows.

Like other labs, you are expected to know what you are doing and be respectful.  The practices might be different from how we work in our lab.  I recommend asking for an orientation to avoid any problems. 

Rayko Photo Center: 428 3rd Street, San Francisco, http://raykophoto.com/

Do you know about other rental labs in the bay area? 

Let me know and I'll see about adding to the list in future semesters.

How to be successful in class

Photo courtesy of Wikicommons, attribution:
Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-L0611-0004 / CC-BY-SA

Welcome back!

It’s almost time for a new semester at the college.  It’ll be pretty exciting to come back to campus and see all those familiar faces.

Coming back can also be hard.  Getting back into a regular schedule … and all that homework!

But, it's also a time to make a fresh start.

Each new semester is a chance to improve your learning skills, and your chances of success.

Okay … so you are probably thinking that just means hitting the books.  And, you might think getting good grades is just about being smart.

But, none of that is true!

How do students succeed?

They have good learning skills & behaviors.

What does that mean?

It means developing habits that help you learn more efficiently.

It also means you have change your behaviors.

If that sounds intimidating, don’t worry. I am going to help you this semester!

Here’s my beginner’s guide to success in any class:

• Show up to every class and be on time.
• Always take notes on every lecture and activity.
• Come prepared.
• Get your supplies right away. 
• Schedule time to study and do assignments.
• Finish reading assignments on schedule and take notes.
• Make an effort to find answers before you ask for help.  
• Turn in your assignments on time.
• Do not use your cell phone during class.
• Keep an open mind.  
• Make friends in class. 
• Believe you can learn.

Sounds pretty easy, right?

When students do these simple things, they usually find learning is a lot easier.
But, if you want to do things the hard way…

Here’s my guide to failure in any class with sarcastic commentary:

(that means this part is just a joke and I don't really want you to these things)

• Miss class. (Assume you can figure it out later.)

• Be late. (Assume you will not miss something important or disrupt the class when you come in.)

• Don’t take notes. (Just believe you can remember every single word you hear. When it comes time for a test or homework assignment, simply ask the instructor to repeat everything that has been covered up to that date.)

• Don’t come prepared. (Assume you can somehow do the activity without necessary supplies.)

• Procrastinate on getting supplies. (Assume that you can get by without them - see above.)

• Don’t create a schedule. (Simply wait to feel inspired to do your homework and hope that’ll happen before the due date, test, or whatever.)

• Don’t ever try to solve problems or look things up on your own. (Tell yourself that problem-solving skills are not important and won’t help you after you graduate.)

• Cheat. (Convince yourself you can still learn when you cheat.  Also, that it’s not a big deal and won’t change the way people think about you, and won't affect your future.)

• Assume art takes inspiration. (Don’t bother to get started unless you feel inspired.)

• Don’t turn in assignments on time. (Convince yourself it won't affect your final grade.)

• Use your cell phone during class. (Convince yourself it isn’t rude, and that everyone else around you is not irritated and distracted by it. Convince yourself that you can still concentrate on class when you are texting.)

• Don’t make friends in class. (Believe a friend could not help you with a problem or share their notes. Believe that social skills are not an important part of your college experience.)

• Believe you can't learn.  (I can't even be sarcastic about this because it's so detrimental to your learning that I hope students never do this.)

Make a choice!

It sounds pretty ridiculous to choose not to succeed.
But, sadly, every year students choose these poor learning behaviors. 

So here’s where you make a choice
Choose to develop good learning skills and behaviors!
I'll be here to support that choice all semester.  

Welcome to my blog!

This is my first blog post ever!

I started this blog to serve my photography students at the college.
The public is welcome too.

I'll be posting here each week starting in late August.
Mostly, I'll write about photography class, art, history and college life.

Please subscribe to stay up to date and check out my Youtube channel: Photo Teacher Blog