So here's a find, analogue post for #sepiasaturday. It could also possibly be slipped into the Cinnamon Coffee community. You'll see how. I'm hitting on all bases with this one! And that's even a funnier statement knowing that this post is baseball inspired.
Last week I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a Philadelphia Phillies game in a suite. The luxury suites are a great way to watch a baseball game if you've ever the opportunity; they're private, warm, private bathroom, and a great view. I'm hoping to get another opportunity.
I took the opportunity to stuff this little/not-so-little camera into a pocket to try my hand at some "old fashioned" photography for an "old fashioned" sport. It even took some work to get this camera into the stadium; it set off the metal detector on the way inside!
The mighty little Ansco Clipper:
There is almost nothing fancy about this camera at all. Like, nothing. It can hold film, advance it, and has a shutter release. That is all. No focus. No shutter speed. Nothing. It is as point and click as possible.
It also takes an old type of 616 film. 616 film isn't readily available anymore. The filmphotographystore (https://filmphotographystore.com/collections/all/616-film) has some for "diy rolling," but the price tag makes it prohibitive for my purposes. Luckily there are adapters to allow the camera to take 120 film, which I do have, so I stuffed a couple adapters inside and off I went.
First of all, the suite was nice.
Second, the game was good in the fact that the Phillies had a really good game (it's nice when the home team wins).
Third, I had no idea what to expect from this camera.
I have been wanting to start developing my own film at home for some time, and I felt that this was a good roll to try a new developing technique. I had come across an instant-coffee based developer that uses no chemicals at all for developing (coffee, water, vitamin-c, and washing soda), though a chemical fixer is still needed to make the image permanent (since then I have found recipes for DIY fixers which I want to try as well). I knew going in that if this did work, it would leave the film with a sepia coating on it, which is actually what I wanted from these pictures to begin.
Lessons learned:
- Caffenol is a fun way to develop film, and I'm looking forward to doing it again.
- In order for the "sepia" to be seen in the scan, the film must be scanned as a colour film, not black and white
- The camera produces portrait oriented images, not landscape, which is really what I would have preferred. I will know for next time.
- This camera needs bright daylight. A cloudy evening wasn't quite enough.
My other film cameras:
- Kodak Duaflex II
- Kodak Tourist
- Agfa B2 Cadet
- Agfa Pioneer
- Brownie Special Six-16
- Kodak Flashmite 20
- Exakta VX
- Graflex 22
- Kodak Retina II
(c) All images and photographs, unless otherwise specified, are created and owned by me.
(c) Victor Wiebe
About Me
Sometimes photographer. Wannabe author. Game designer. Nerd.
General all around problem-solver and creative type.
Creator of What I Learned Today Hive community: https://peakd.com/c/hive-131257/created
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Hey Victor
you got some nice results with this old and looking absolutely strange camera.
as well - your caffeine result is working!
Thanks! Now that I know what I'm doing with this one I think I'd like to try it again. I think I could have a lot of fun with it.
💚💚💚
💚💚
!LUV
interesting to get this made at home fixer recipe !
@victorbz(1/1) gave you LUV.
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I like the results, especially the first one. What actually causes the sepia effect? I’ve never mixed caffenol myself.
I've always liked the look of old cameras as they seem so much more interesting than the new ones. I suppose things move on though, and features and profits become more desirable than quality and looks. I wonder how many of today's cameras will be around and operational in 50 years.
Becca 💗
Interestingly, I also happen to have a number of "old/vintage" digital cameras, including one that writes it's pictures to floppy disks. I actually had to get a USB/floppy reader for that one!