u/disfigured_shithole

The paper I am using is slightly fogged, left over from the early 2000s - but hey it was free. This explains the flat, lack of highlights. Having a wonderful time with this homemade 5x7. Subject is a 40 ton, 7.5m tall local sculpture, 2 minute exposure, 65 second reversal shot at 9am. Plenty of blue sky which blows out everything above the horizon sadly, but such is paper. Next experiment is to filter out said blue light to try get more repeatable results.

I have graduated from endless beer can cameras into something a bit bigger! Homemade 5x7 pinhole camera. Made from a PVC electrical enclosure, I made it with a magnetic clip in 'negative' holder so it can be reloaded in a dark bag, and the back plate is simply bolted on. I use a power screwdriver to zip the two bolts on and off quite quickly. Not a fan of Imperial thread systems, so tapping it to bolt a tripod foot on was out of the question. Instead I milled a dovetail and made my own foot!

0.55mm pinhole, 163mm focal length, f.328.

Initially had a heap of trouble before I realized the original gasket was actually translucent, and letting in the biggest leak I had ever seen. I could not work out for ages why all my shots were totally blown out until I finally underexposed one enough to see the accidental vignette caused by the shutter assembly, which had areas outside the circle blown out as well. Bingo.

Ever since I threw the gasket away - the lid mating surface has a wonderful light labyrinth anyway - and rebuild the shutter to a falling plate assembly to eliminate the vignette its been so much fun.

I shoot exclusively paper, and reverse the 'negative' in the darkroom, so the ability to enlarge is out of the question. Shooting 5x7 is a heap of fun, and I get a lot of enjoyment out of a totally analog process right the way from start to finish. No pixels, screens, apps, or even power(apart from the darkroom bulb?) needed.

Included is the first test shot after the new shutter assembly. I have a bunch more frames drying in the darkroom now, will post more later.

Time to resume my studies into spectral shift of paper under natural light conditions! Who needs a fixed ISO anyway...