October 2008 Feature

Pinhole portait of Michael Hensdill

ForeverSouls

Michael & J Hensdill

Featured Pinhole
Photographers

Guesstonia, NC
USA

Foreversouls on Flickr

As a photojournalist I spend my time looking for fractions of seconds
that when combined with the right light and the correct framing tell a story
and capture the essence of a moment in someone’s life. Everything is digital. Everything is quick. Photography has become computerized and negatives have been replaced by pixels. The darkroom replaced by the laptop.

Working with the pinhole blender camera is like being inside that refrigerator box once again. The images I make with the blender surprise me and allow the wonder of photography to return. The camera requires light to paint upon the film’s surface for seconds or even minutes which seems to melt the moments into a single frame. There is little to no precision required as the camera inverts and bends the subject matters, weaving color and shapes back into themselves, creating the essence of the scene instead of its exact reproduction.

All the blender images here were made with Chris Peregoy’s
Original 120 Pinhole Blender camera"

CK → I always admired how this photographic couple celebrated their life together through photography. They both would create and post images to a Flickr photostream called Foreversouls. They just didn't post pinhole images, but other photos that documented their lives as husband, wife, parent and professional. About a year ago I remember seeing some of Micheal's pinhole blender shots and thinking they were quite unique. I liked how many of Micheal's pinscapes would tell a story as one image blended into another.

All photos © 2008 Michael & J Hensdill and Reproduced by Permission

September 2008 Feature

1999 self portrait of Claudia Wornum made with pinhole zone plate camera.

Claudia Wornum

Featured Pinhole
Photographer

California
United States

www.claudiawornum.com

"The first time I saw pinhole imagery was in an alternative photography class. I was amazed that you could use the long exposure times to 'ghost' figures in and out of the final picture. There is a wonderful series by Julie Schachter in The Visionary Pinhole by Lauren Smith. These photos were so inspirational, so innovative to me, I'd never seen anything like them. I mulled over the possibilities but didn't begin in earnest till about a year later when I was completely bored of my current batch of lens photos. I decided to shamelessly imitate Ms. Schachter's ideas. After a lot of challenges: working out how to get any image, much less and interesting one, I learned I wanted an entirely different outcome. I had started backpacking and was far more drawn to landscape. I also wanted to use the open ended possibilities of the home made pinhole camera to make a foundation for experimental processes. I could cut a full roll of 120 mm film in half and create a continuous panorama. I could use 8 in. x 10 in. Ortho Litho films, placed side by side in giant aluminum cans to get an extra wide angle, detail rich large format image.

I particularly liked to solarize the Litho in the darkroom. The huge surface area of the negatives provides a lot of information to explore. I develop my own color negatives so I can tweak the process at any point. I use black and white film and print chemistry on color films and vary the temperatures and timing on everything. Expired films seem to work best for me, they carry their own surprising quirks and I feel less precious about the investment, consequently I'm even more inclined to break the rules and take risks. It's a long way from my inspiration but I still plan to adapt Ms. Schachter's 'Bathers Series' into a subjective vision, possibly involving alternative processes, certainly using a pinhole camera."

CK → As we all head into the Fall season, I am happy to announce this next pinhole photographer feature. Claudia's pinhole solarizations of nature inspired me the first time I saw them. Being a nature lover myself, I enjoyed how her solarized pinhole C prints gave me a unique perspective into back country landscapes she traveled through.

All photos © 2008 Claudia Wornum and Reproduced by Permission

August 2008 Feature

2007 pinhole self portrait of FX Lantrua
(FX for François-Xavier) created with a homemade 6x9 120 film format camera.
titled autoportait

FX Lantrua

(François-Xavier)

Featured Pinhole
Photographer

Marseille, France

François-Xavier on Flickr

You can also find his work here
at sinlab.com

"I began shooting with a pinhole cameras because I wanted to simplify my photography approach as much as possible. I wanted to go back to the simple source, to the basis of the photographic image creation. A box, a hole and a piece of photo sensible material.

This statement created needs of experimentation, of technical improvements and of diversification of my shooting systems, giving them different results and distortion of my environment."

CK → I was pleased to have accidentally run across this talented French photographer and pinhole camera maker. I was especially impressed with François' homemade Omniscope images. They really give a unique perspective of the classic and modern architecture that you find around France.

All photos © 2008 FX Lantrua - (Francois-Xavier) and Reproduced by Permission

July 2008 Feature

2008 pinhole self portrait of Peter Wiklund
titled The awakening

Peter Wiklund

Featured Pinhole
Photographer

Stockholm, Sweden

www.peterpinhole.com

"I started taking pinhole photographs in the early 1990s, after having seen some image (don't remember which one any longer) with an extremely tempting expression. Yep, that was how I saw the world as well! I discovered the wonderful magazine "Pinhole Journal" (R.I.P.) and started taking my first steps into this mysterious and oh so appealing new world of imagery. Since then, I have mostly worked with 120-film in an old bellows camera turned into a very wide-angled pinhole camera. But lately I started using other cameras as well; film canister cameras and some commercial pinhole cameras such as the amazing anamorph Abelson Scope camera.

The pinhole camera is a tool that allows me to create images that I can imagine - but not always see. But most of the time it is a tool that helps me a lot in the image-creating, since it involves a great deal of chance. I seldom know exactly what the images will look like - which quite often make them a lot better than they had been if I had worked mainly from my own plans. I also really just love opening the camera, seeing the light flowing into it, creating a unique image - an image that can never be repeated... (I just hope the exposure is somewhat correct! ;-)) "

CK →Looking at Peter's photos is liking going on some psychedelic trip. I really enjoy the unique perspectives he explores with his pinhole photography. BTW, I plan on adding a number of Peter's image with this text in the near future, so please check back.

All photos © 2008 Peter Wiklund and Reproduced by Permission

June 2008 Feature

2008 Holga self portrait of Seán Duggan
titled World Traveler

Seán Duggan

Featured Pinhole
Photographer

www.seanduggan.com

"Pinhole photography is magic. With a small box that slowly collects time and light you can make the most amazing images. This slower and more contemplative form of photography is a welcome detour from the megapixels and digital imaging technology of my "day job" simply because it it so wonderfully non-tech. The process is a throwback to the way photographers first made images back in the mid 1800s and I  appreciate this connection to the early history of photography. Intellectually, I also love the fact that this image-making "technology" was written about back in the time of Aristotle, and even earlier (they just didn't have the ability to record the images back then). For me, photographing with a pinhole camera is as much about the experience of making the image as it is about the finished photograph. My memories of venturing into the world to create pinhole photos are as cherished as the actual images that I collect in that amazing magic box."

CK → I like how Seán mixes up his film pinhole and toy camera work with his digital photography.
After looking through Seán's gallery of Zero Image 6x9 pinhole images titled "Artifacts of an uncertain origin", I felt even stronger about how I believe one practice helps the other. It's not about film and it's not about digital, it's about how the final image effects the viewer. I also like how Seán is no stranger to helping others learn how to make their own photos better. Check out he's up to on his website seanduggan.com (Sean Duggan: Digital Photography & Photoshop Workshops). Thanks Seán for sharing yours words and images with us. Keep up the great work! -Chris

All photos © 2008 Seán Duggan and Reproduced by Permission

May 2008 Feature

2008 Pinhole self portrait of Jon Krummel titled Bike Path 01

Jon Krummel

Featured Pinhole
Photographer

www.jonkrummel3d.com

"Pinhole photography is so much fun! My brother Brian taught me the process nine months ago and I was immediately hooked. It gets my creative gears going because everything in the process is a variable and open to creative exploration.  You can play with the shape of the camera, orientation of the picture plane, type of paper or film, length of exposure, alternative processing, and on and on. I love thinking up ways to make new cameras, it really appeals to my puzzle solving nature. Watching an image materialize out of the developing ether is absolute magic and I love the dark spooky atmosphere you get with black and white paper negatives. What started out as a cool way to keep in touch with my brother across the country, has developed into a real passion for me, and my brother and I have never been closer."

CK → In October of 2007 I featured Brian Krummel's pinhole photos on this page. As time passed I discovered some photos created by photographer by the name of Jon Krummel. I thought, "hmmmm, could these two people be related?" I soon realized that they were related and thought, how perfect it would be to have them both featured here together. Having a brother myself, I can relate to the relationship that Jon and Brian must have. I also think it's great how the process of creating pinhole photography has brought these brothers together.

Title: Getty Stairs
Homemade Pinhole Camera

Title: Angel Moulin Rouge
Homemade Pinhole Camera

Title: Motorcycle 02
Homemade Pinhole Camera

Title: Chinese Garden
Homemade Pinhole Camera

Title: Old Tractor Chestnut Tea
Homemade Pinhole Camera

All photos © 2008 Jon Krummel and Reproduced by Permission

April 2008 Feature

Noriko Ohba

Featured Pinhole
Photographer

Japan

Noriko Ohba on the web:
- www.tea-room.net
- Flickr photostream (Tearoom)

"The reason why I like pinhole photography is that my curiosity is always stimulated. I always find the process of making the photo exciting. The time spent creating pinhole photos heals me. When I am looking at subject with my camera, I learn the sense that I am talking with myself. I think more so, when I'm taking flower and the plant pictures."

CK → I like the connection that this Japanese pinhole photographer has with her Zeroimage pinhole camera. Her photos are just what you'd expect to see when using that beautiful wood pinhole camera.
It is my pleasure to feature this artist as this April's pinhole photographer.

Title: Dream Colors
Taken at Osaka Park Japan // Zeroimage 2000 // 35mm Pinhole Image

Title: Medicine Of My Smile
Zeroimage 2000 35mm Pinhole Image

Title: I wanted to meet you this year
Pinhole Blender // Pinscape

Title: Yasaka collage
Pinhole Blender // Pinscape

Title: Blue and Blue
Zeroimage // Zero2000 Pinhole Image

Title: Like Fireworks
Zeroimage // Zero2000 Pinhole Image

Title:Waveswinger
Black and White 6x9 Holga Pinhole // Okayama

Title:Collage
Pinhole Panorama // Pinscape // Osaka

Title:Spring Beautiful Scene
Zeroimage// Zero2000 Pinhole image

Title: Hill of Flowers
Zeroimage // Zero2000 Pinhole image

Title: Breath
e100vs Zeroimage// Zero2000 Pinhole image // Roppongi Hills

Title: Little Mermaid
Velvia RVP Zeroimage// Zero2000 Pinhole image // Osaka

All photos © 2008 Noriko Ohba and Reproduced by Permission

March 2008 Feature

Drawing by Andreas Wolkerstorfer. You can see more of his Andreas' drawings here

Andreas Wolkerstorfer

Featured Pinhole
Photographer

Austria

Andreas Wolkerstorfer on the web:
- www.wolkerstorfer.at
- Flickr photostream

Click here to see Andreas' camera
collection and photo galleries

"I can get very close to a basic process of picture making if I use a homemade pinhole camera. It is something special that the photographic film or paper is not separated by a lens or any other technical material from the surrounding. Light directly writes down on paper what can be seen through the very small hole in the can or the box."

CK → I remember years ago when I first saw Andreas' photos, I thought "wow" this guy is passionate about photography. I think after you take a closer look at his amazing collection of drawings, photos and movies... you'll feel the same way.

All photos © 2008 Andreas Wolkerstorfer Reproduced by Permission

February 2008 Feature

Photo of pinhole camera maker and photographer, Michael C. Pastur
in his home shop.

Michael C. Pastur

Featured Pinhole
Photographer

Denver Colorado
USA

Michael Pastur's
Flickr photostream

Michael Pastur's YouTube videos

Polaroid Super Shooter Pinhole
Camera Conversion (part 1)

Polaroid Super Shooter Pinhole
Camera Conversion (part 2)

"I'm always drawn to pinhole imagery. With it's simplistic capture of light and shadow. The ability to record a span of time, turning a busy sidewalk or any action into a translucent wave of motion. It's inherently illustrative and ethereal image quality. Like a minds eye glance where, not all the information is there yet, it is all there... all we need.

Be it an altered 35mm film canister, altoids tin, a store bought production or highly over-engineered ABS plastic prototype (with rise and fall), every pinhole camera has it's own voice. And I view in appreciation and wonderment of how image makers combine that voice with their own."

CK → Michael's home built pinhole cameras are a lot like a performance motorcycle... uniquely designed, precision engineered and built with a mindful eye for how it is to be used. His cameras are as beautiful as the photos he creates with them. Thanks Michael for sharing that vision with all of us.

All photos © 2008 Michael C. Pastur Reproduced by Permission

January 2008 Feature

Self portrait, taken with Zero Image pinhole camera along Waterfront Park, Portland Oregon. March 2007.

Danielle Hughson

Featured Pinhole
Photographer

Portland Oregon,
United States

Danielle Hughson's (manyfires)
photos on Flickr

"There are many things that pinhole photography has taught me: to be still, to be watchful, to wait without expectation, to appreciate the passage of time in the form of light and movement. From the moment a very wise friend put a pinhole camera into my hands, I've been exploring the world in ways I never knew were possible. And to this day, I never quite know how an image will turn out... for pinhole photography (at least to me) is far from being an exact science. It forces me to do more than think about a final image - it forces me to dream about the many possibilities of that final image. In that way, this type of photography tells a story... to be read later at one's leisure, written not with letters but with words of light and motion."

CK → After discovering Danielle's pinhole photos via Zeb Andrews Flickr photostream, I soon realized that she had her own an eye for seeing the world through a pinhole. I enjoyed the fact that Zeb and Danielle were friends that help inspire each other to create pinhole photographs. I was impressed how Danielle poetically captured the magic of life with her own creative flare.

All photos © 2008 Danielle Hughson reproduced by permission

December 2007 Feature

Photo of Zeb Andrews at Cannon Beach Oregon with haystack rock in the distance. Holga Image taken by Danielle Hughson