1/10/10

Learning About TtV

My first TtV shot. I'm a little late on the TtV (through the viewfinder) train but better late than never! I have determined 2010 to be the year I take time to expand my photography horizon so when I read this post by Hula Seventy I decided this was my next adventure. You'll laugh at me for saying this but I really had NO IDEA how these photos were taken. I thought people bought these old cameras mostly for display but that some lucky souls had found ones that STILL WORKED and used THE RIGHT KIND OF FILM to get these photos! (Don't laugh out loud.) SO, imagine my great surprise when I realized I had the capacity to do this, too!

At the moment I'm working with my Brownie Hawkeye. It belonged to my grandmother and is better shape than any other brownie I've sold from PonyParty. (ahhh...PonyParty...) I loosely rigged up a cardboard box and taped it down at the bottom to my camera using book binding tape and stuck my new Canon T1i down the hole and shot a few. They were pretty bright and I'm using the lens that came with camera, 18-55mm. I got a few tips when I posted these photos on Flickr but if you're experienced with TtV and would like to share your knowledge or some more links in the comment section, I'm sure we'd all appreciate it.

I love being this excited about a new creative challenge! I promise to share my progress for those of you who might also just NEED to get on the train.

xoxo,
Rachel

24 comments:

AshleyAnn said...

I have been wanting to try this for some time, but never get around to it. Something else always distracts me...not now. Thanks for the motivation!

RachelDenbow said...

Ashley, I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Anonymous said...

i've tried it before with very little luck--but, it was also around the time i was due with my second little boy...so i think i ended up moving onto something when he was born. :) distractions, distractions.

tiny twig

Danz said...

Ok, don't laugh, I am still lost? What is it and how do I do it???

RachelDenbow said...

Danz,

Read Hula Seventy's post for some more info.
You need a dual lens camera (the old ones) and a DSLR and a contraption to help with the glare(cardboard tube).

Then you edit them!

Violet said...

I found out about Ttv last year - i've taken 3 pictures but keep collecting the cameras. I have a Yoshica, Kodak Brownie & an Argus 70 with varying degrees of dirt/dust on the lenses. This year, now that i have a DSLR and not trying to use a point & shoot, i've also vowed to use them and not just collect.

Good luck!

Unknown said...

I just started getting serious about tryin this too:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/artsymomma_on_etsy/4263533871/

I am sorta hooked. Too much fun!

jenny said...

been wanting to board that train myself. maybe this will be my year too.

Kristin said...

Rachel!

Have you tried shooting through the viewfinder without the cardboard contraption?

That might be easier for you, since the Brownie viewfinder is significantly smaller than the Duaflex. This way, you can put your rebel on manual focus, find the correct setting, leave it there and move the Brownie in or out of focus, rather than try to continually focus your digital camera while juggling the Brownie, or have the autufocus focus on everything but what you intend.

I haven't found time to print out Russ' template and like the Hula blogger, I try to be a template kind of girl, but I've just been too excited! The results I've received cardboard contraption-less have been pretty great, although there is sometimes a reflection.

I'm excited to see what you come up with!

Anonymous said...
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DeeDee said...

Very cool :)

andrea said...

yay for ttv learning! and thanks for the props, lady.

I've learned so much since I posted that first tutorial of mine (and have since taught a ttv workshop). I should probably post an update. anyway. it looks like your camera may be auto-exposing for the darkness that surrounds the tiny glass viewfinder, hence the overexposed image. I've used all kinds of cameras for ttv but I've not yet used the brownie. from what I understand, the tiny glass viewfinder makes it challenging but it can be done-- though most successfully with a macro lens (or a really good macro setting on a point and shoot). that said, I'd still play around with it to see what you can get. though you'll probably need to figure out what focal distance works best (check russ' tutorial for deets). you can try shooting without a contraption but you're probably still going to get a glare. which may or may not bother you. with your 18-55mm lens, a TLR (twin lens reflex) with a larger viewfinder may work better for you. the kodak duaflex and argus seventy five are tried and true models (and you can still find them at antique shops and fleamarkets).

okay, I should stop now. I could go on and on. I really could. I'll try to post an updated tutorial soon!

RachelDenbow said...

ANdrea! Thanks for all of that help! Now I know where to go from here. I have never seen a Duaflex up close so I didn't realize the viewfinders were bigger. I'll keep looking for one locally. A good excuse to hit the flea markets!

Rubyellen said...

omg! can i totally join you?!! i am gonna work on it today! i am so inspired!! maybe i will have something to post tomorrow! eek!!!

Michelle Sanders said...

So glad you posted this! I have a camera just like this that I played around with an got discouraged. I'm gonna follow your journey and hopefully get inpsired! I guess I should post my first attempt too since you so bravely posted yours! LOL!

Les said...

This is great! I have been thinking of this for awhile and wasn't really sure how to do it. You beat me to the punch! :D

Kristin said...

Also, did you know that you can use film in the Brownie Hawkeye? All you need to do is sand down the spools of 120 film so it fits in the spool holder better and voila!

Also, to ensure you keep your spool and the developer doesn't "lose" it, you can (in the dark) unwind the used film from the spool and roll it in tin foil (it sounds wacky, but I promise it works. My local photo developer taught me the trick!) You can bring the tin foil roll to the developer and he or she will send it out that way.

If you can't find any 120 film near you, I could send you some!

-Kristin ( A long-time blog reader who has only commented twice. This being the second time. And both in this thread. Haha :] )

Kim Smith said...

houndstooth paper will always remind me of you.

Kim Smith said...

p.s. i did some fun ttv stuff, by just holding a piece of card with a hole cut out in front of my digital. it's seriously the easiest way to get natural vignetting.

this is an out-of-focus one;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/killerxkim/4248824123/

maybe i'll post a few more...

Nellie Mae said...

Your hawkeye is super cute!!! You have totally inspired me to try this technique!! Your pictures are sooo cool! I have a hawkeye and a digital camera, I started playing around tonight, but it is pretty dark in my house....So much fun!!

Anonymous said...

I've tried and unsuccessfully taken some Ttv with my dulaflex. I need to reread Hulaseventy's post. She gives directions?

Nellie Mae said...

Thanks for the inspiration!! I figured it out!! Can't wait to see more of your pictures. I posted mine from today.

http://nelliemaeii.blogspot.com/2010/01/everybody-loves-brownies.html

Hausfrau said...

Fun! I've got to get back to trying this--quite a while back, I tried to make a cardboard contraption for my old Yashica, but I couldn't get it to stay on right. Guess I just need to keep tinkering!

Unknown said...

I should totally resume my TTV adventures, the camera setup is actually sitting about two feet away right now!

I'm totally behind on your blog, but wanted to tell you that your new little laddy is just too stinkin' cute!