Thursday, June 15, 2006

Photography large and small

Two photography stories on the web today that describe two total extremes.

First of all from Wired, six photographers in California have unveiled the worlds biggest camera, an aircraft hanger. Using the process of camera obscura the photographers have blacked out the interior of the hanger, put a tiny hole in one wall and will hang a light sensitive fabric on at the other end, then the fabric will be developed in tubs made from swimming pool sidings full of developer and fixer. Developer and fixer is pretty nasty stuff so I wouldn't like to be responsible for mixing and disposing of swimming pools full of the stuff. The figures are:
  • 1 aircraft hanger
  • 10 days exposure
  • 20 gallons of light-sensitive emulsion
  • 31-by-111-foot piece of white fabric
  • 200 gallons of developer
  • 600 gallons of fixer

At the other end of the scale is this simple little idea. Need a wide angle lens for your digital compact? Just pick up a peephole viewer. You know, the ones you put in a door. Instructables has the details, though it pretty much amounts to hold the peephole flush with the lens of your digital compact, take the photo and then crop.

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