Monday, December 17, 2007

red pears, kumquats


red pears, kumquats
Originally uploaded by valcox
captured, natural light, plus flashlight highlight with Ansco Rediflex viewfinder + Nikon D70 digital.

viewfinder group on flickr

If you have an interest in ttv (through the viewfinder) photography, this is the group to check out on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/throughtheviewfinder/

Here is a smaller group that I organize, and it's just for 'Still Life TTV', now that's a niche! :o) http://www.flickr.com/groups/ttv-still-life/pool/

apples ground glass


apples ground glass
Originally uploaded by valcox
Today I'm playing with an old 4x5 press camera. It has a lovely ground glass back and plenty of potential for
'through the viewfinder' photos. I just need to find the right lens to capture the glass correctly. I'm debating whether to remove these grid lines.

two cats


two cats
Originally uploaded by valcox
The Ansco Rediflex bubble top viewfinder comes standard with a black vignette mask that borders the edge of the viewfinder--because the edge distorion is quite extreme. When you find these cameras, fifty years later, somethings that mask is missing or oddly skewed.

For this contraption, I removed the mask and embraced the distortion that becomes most pronounced when the subject is near the edge, like these pair of cat ears.

cat enters still life


cat enters still life
Originally uploaded by valcox
He doesn't care that I'm working. The still life becomes the hot spot, the place in the sun light, the center of attention, the only place to be. That's where he will settle.

Captured through the viewfinder, Ansco Rediflex + Nikon D70

Monday, December 10, 2007

still life blackberries, kumquats

I like to take an overview reference shot of the set up. In this case I like the overview was better than the actual. Kumquats in the sidelines waiting, just in case they're needed.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

kumquats in red on orange


kumquats in red on orange
Originally uploaded by valcox
textile+dish+food+ single light source (south facing window light, noon)

hot peppers


hot peppers
Originally uploaded by valcox
textile+dish+food+ single light source (flashlight at night)

blueberries on pink


blueberries on pink
Originally uploaded by valcox
these still lifes are painfully difficult somedays, the discipline, textile+dish+food+ single light source, over and over. Like the sit ups I've been doing. But after a couple weeks, doing some each day (still lifes and sit-ups), they are getting easier and faster to complete.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

eggs on gold and blue


eggs on gold and blue
Originally uploaded by valcox

still life set up


still life set up
Originally uploaded by valcox
the snow reflected in a nice blue light today.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

dusk fog


dusk fog
Originally uploaded by valcox
Captured from the viewfinder or an Ansco Rediflex camera.

pink house


pink house
Originally uploaded by valcox
Nice edge distortion captured from the viewfinder or an Ansco Rediflex camera.

Ansco Rediflex



These are great mid-size cameras from the 1940's, the bubble top is large with a nice edge distortion.

blueberries on blue


blueberries on blue
Originally uploaded by valcox
Captured through the viewfinder of an Ansco Rediflex + Nikon D70. Natural window light, north facing, with highlight fill from flashlight

cat enters still life


cat enters still life
Originally uploaded by valcox
Nothing will stop a still life session faster than the cat walking onto the set, looking for a sunbeam.

Props include blueberries in bowl (I ate half already), contasting color fabric, Sure-Shot flashlight for highlight, plant mister for dew drops, north facing light, and a Pennsylvania sky that has been white since I moved here, perfect diffusion!

Captured through the viewfinder of an Ansco Rediflex + Nikon D70.

raspberries


raspberries
Originally uploaded by valcox
Image through the viewfinder (ttv) of an Ansco Rediflex + Nikon D70.

overview--raspberries


Window light studio, bright flashlight used for highlight, same direction as sun.
Overview of set up for raspberry ttv image above.

overview--log cabin on creek


Waiting for the snow to accumulate. The little log cabin on the creek bank, my camera contraption resting on the ledge above, while I take an overall shot.





little log cabin on the creek


little log cabin on the creek
Originally uploaded by valcox
I took the little log cabin to the creek today. It started to snow, I found a tree stump and waited for it to accumulate. My flashlight earned it's keep today by slipping in the front door.

Captured through the viewfinder Ansco Rediflex + Nikon D70.