Freelensing

Freelensing is a simple and costless technique (of sorts) for taking photos with a distorted focus. Basically it involves taking photos with the lens detached and held in front of the camera. It is a cheap way of getting an amazing macro-like effect, if you don't mind the risk of getting dust inside the camera. This tutorial goes into more detail.

Freelensing images by Adam Harris.

 

                                                                         ©Adam Harris

To Buy or Not To Buy... Second Hand...

The lens on my Pentax MZ-5 seems to have packed it in (my poor baby! 7 years we've spent together!). To tide me over until I can get something better, I've been considering buying a second hand lens for one of the old cameras I was given, a Nikon f801 which goes up to an incredible shutter speed of 1/8000. Here's a helpful article I found.

Venezia

Venice is one of those places that it's hard to take a bad photo. We went in January when it's freezing cold but free from tourists, which made it even easier to photograph. Anyway, here are a couple of my typical tourist-y photographs.

 

 ©Rosie Fay

Michel Gondry

While my main interest is in photography, there are certain filmmakers (see this post) whom I look to for inspiration. I've been looking at a lot of surreal imagery lately and wanted to share a quick post about one of my old favourites.

Michel Gondry is a French screen writer and director, who's work includes the movie Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind, and music videos for Bjork, the White Stripes, the Chemical Brothers, and even Kylie Minogue. His often surreal videos are created from a child-like imagination that seems to see no boundaries to filmmaking. He takes the approach that he can create pretty much anything he can envision.
A couple of his videos you may remember:

Aline Smithson

Aline Smithson is another photographer I came across during my research. She uses medium format or plastic cameras to create images that are at once familiar, yet intriguing and unexpected. The images have a timeless, dream-like quality which she uses to create the impression that we are seeing the world through her eyes, allowing the viewer to engage with what appear to be simple images. My favourite image is probably the first one, and is probably the best example of how she draws the viewer into the picture using familiar moments.

©Aline Smithson

Pinhole Egg Camera ... (Pinhegg!)

We've been making pinhole cameras in college. I haven't quite got the hang of mine yet, but I thought I'd share this tutorial I came across. The author made a pinhole camera from an egg using liquid emulsion, with interesting results!

                                                                    ©Francesco Capponi

Tyler Shields

Tyler Shields is one of the photographers I came across during my research. This contemporary photographer is best known for his controversial images of celebrities, particularly of Lindsay Lohan. With no formal training, he befriends celebrities and gets them to pose for impromptu photo shoots, often at night in public places. Whether or not you follow celeb culture, some of his images are amazing and he is definitely worth checking out!

                                                                   ©Tyler Shields