It took me a couple of weeks to find the time to put this work up. It's just been one assignment after another--busy busy busy. This one was based on using "alternative cameras". This was of course an experiment that forces the photographer to consider what he or she is photographing based on what the camera "sees" or how it functions, quirks and all. God knows I have a plethora of what would be considered alternative cameras because I've been using them extensively for the past few years, but in the spirit of the assignment, I decided to get a new camera--a couple actually. I loaded each one with films of differing speeds because there is no other way of adjusting for changing light. One of the quirks that these cameras have concerns framing problems. It's similar to that of most Diana cameras, where the viewfinder is a little off in relation to what the lens sees. This camera is WAY off, and as a result, there is too much space to the right of and below almost all of what I was framing for. It takes some getting used to. My Holgas don't seem to have this problem, but my Diana does--same thing for a couple of students at school who used a Diana. The thing I liked most about the camera I used this time, was the angle of view--nice and wide. I purposely chose sweeping vistas for most of my shots, but I think the images where the subject is a bit closer work better. With many of these toy cameras, there is a lot of vignetting, although I think it's more a matter of having a blown-out center rather than dark corners. I think there is a difference and this should be taken into consideration when choosing film speed. This camera really plays up this sort of imagery, so that you see a wide view, but you're confined to the space with the boxing in of the corners. It's sort of like trying to capture a huge space in a small box. I had noticed the numerous power lines throughout the greater Philadelphia area and am fascinated by them. I think I'll try photographing them with a toy telephoto lens next time though to make them look even larger in relation to what exists below them. As for what I'll be using this camera for now--it's my new snapping camera. I like to have one with me at all times, and this one is just great fun. It really is good at getting a lot in at a closer range, and the color contrast is just crazy--especially with chrome film which has been cross-processed.
