TtV 101by

Elaine Mesker-Garcia

aka cybertoadwww.emgimages.com

TtV photography is defined as taking a picture of any subject through the viewfinder of any camera with another camera.

“Through the Viewfinder” Defined

“Through the Viewfinder” photography or TtV is defined as taking a picture of any subject through the viewfinder of a camera (typically a vintage camera) with another camera (typically a modern digital SLR camera). The resulting digital image shows the scratches, dust and inherent lens distortion resulting from the vintage lens. Typically the effects are NOT produced in PhotoShop although color saturation and contrast are often enhanced. Some actions/presets can also be used.

As a result of these distortions, scratches and dust, the images produced evoke a sense of nostalgia that is not often seen in current digital photography. It takes a different approach to the subject to capture an effective TtV image and is a fun & challenging new way to look “through the viewfinder”…

What Makes TtV Special?

■ A “Bottom” Camera – various types

available

■ A “Contraption”

■ A “Top” camera (point & shoot or DSLR)

■ Macro capabilities – Macro setting, Macro

lens, close up ring set

■ Photo Editing Software

that can crop & straighten

at the very minimum.

What’s Needed?

■ Bottom CameraThe camera used for its viewfinder, generally a TLR camera.

■ BubbleThe type of viewfinder glass found on the top of theKodak Duaflex, Kodak Brownie Starflex and Argus 75, among others.

■ ContraptionA channel construction made of whatever materials are readily available. Construction paper, household plumbing materials, cigar boxes and breakfast cereal boxes are commonly used.

■ Dirt (also know as Grime)The stuff that one usually finds on the viewfinder lenses and mirrors of vintage cameras used for TtV photography.

■ FlipReversing the image so that text is readable, accomplished with graphics editing software. Through the Viewfinder pictures are backwards because of the 45 degree mirror between the top glass and the front glass of the viewfinder on TLR cameras, which makes everything backwards.

GLOSSARY

GhostingA faint repeat of the image, usually transparent and slightly separated from the original subject. The phenomenon is specific to the Kodak Duaflex camera.

TLRAcronym for Twin Lens Reflex.

Top CameraThe camera used to take the picture, pointed through the contraption, at the viewfinder.

Twin Lens ReflexThe type of camera most commonly used for TtV

photography. TLRs have two lenses of the same focal length. One lens is used for taking the picture while the other is used in a waist-level viewfinder system that gives a close approximation of what will appear on film.

cc 2006-2008 Russ Morrisrussmorris.com flickr.com/photos/russmorris

GLOSSARY

■ Real TLRA Twin Lens Reflex where the upper lens is coupled with the main one (such as the Rolleiflex or the Yahsicamat).

■ Pseudo TLRAn imitation TLR where the top lens is just large (brilllant) viewfinder (such as the Kodak Duaflex and the Ensign ful-vue). The viewfinder is usually fixed focus.

■ Folding camera A bellows cameras (film or plate) where the lens folds back behind a door .

■ Box camera Self explanatory.

■ Rangefinder cameraA camera where viewfinder and lens are separate (such as a Leica and 35mm cameras with fixed lenses).

■ SLRA single lens reflex where the viewfinder shows exactly what the lens sees (cameras usually have interchangeable lenses).

Types of “Bottom” Cameras

Text from Dirk Spennemann’s TtV Survey

■

■ garage sales

■ the attic – yours, your parent’s attic, your

grandparent’s

■ flea markets

■ Craigslist

■ camera shows

■ local camera stores

■ on-line forums

Finding a Camera

■ Kodak Brownie StarflexAn inexpensive fixed-focus medium-format camera made from 1957-1964. It used 127 format film. ■ Duaflex II, III, IVThe Kodak Duaflex is the most commonly used camera for TtV. Produced from 1947 to 1950, it used 620 format film. Depending on the model, they have a 72mm or 75mm fixed lens. Favored by TtV photographers because of the large bubble glass on top of the camera.■ Ansco Anscoflex IIMade around 1954, this camera has a unique lens cover which slides up to form the viewfinder hood.■ Argus Seventy-FiveMade from 1949-1958 with a 75mm fixed focus lens. Used 620 format film.■ Kodak Brownie Hawkeye FlashMade from 1949 to 1961. Used 620 format film.

Common “Bottom” Cameras

Real TLRsAgfa FlexiletteAiglon ReflexAlsaphot Bioflex DréflexAltiflexAmplion ReflexArgus Argoflex EArgus Argoflex EFArgus Argoflex EMAtoms TLRBlackbird Fly 135Bradac CompagnionChelicoflexCiro-FlexCosmoflexDelicaflexDorisflexElizaflexEmbirflexFlexaretFlexoFlexoraFodor BFodorcordFoth-flexFujicaflexGeltoflexGraflex 22

Halina A1Hollywood ReflexIkoflexKinaflexKodak Reflex IIKomsomoletsKoniflexKoni-OmegaflexLeadaflexLubitel 166Lubitel 2Mamiya C-1, -2, -3Mamiya C220Mamiya C330MamiyaflexMentorettMinolta AutocordMinolta MiniflexMontiflexMPP MicrocordMPP MicroflexMudan 120OfunaflexOlympus EyeOlympus FlexOntoflexOptima Reflex

Pearl RiverPeerflektaPetriflexPhotina ReflexPilot ReflexPlascaflexPrimo JuniorPrince FlexReflectaReflektaRicaflexRicoh Auto 66Ricoh DiaRicoh DiamondRicohflexRicohflex SuperRicohmaticRocca Super ReflexRodaflexRollei MagicRolleicordRolleiflexRolleiflex BabyRollopRorter RefRuvinalflexSeagull

Seagull 48SeagullSeagull 4BSemflexSoligor Semi-AutoSputnikStart (TLR)Sunscope (Crystar)Toyoca 44TrioflexTrumpfreflexTubasaflexTubasaflex JuniorUniflexUS Camera Corp Auto-FiftyVeriflexVitaflexVoigtländer SuperbWelmyflexWelta SuperfektaWelta WeltaflexWirgin ReflexxKamarad IIYashica TLRYashicamatZeiss Ikon ContaflexZeiss Ikon Ikoflex

Pseudo TLRsAiglonAlma Baby RefAlsaphot Dauphin IAlsaphot Dauphin IIAlsaphot Dauphin IIIAlsaphot Dauphin IVAnsco Cadet ReflexAnsco PandaAnsco RediflexAnsco Sure-Shot JrAnscoflexAnscoflex IIArgus 40Argus 75Argus Argoflex 40Argus Argoflex 75Argus Argoflex Super 75Baby FlexBaby RefBaby Roll RefBedfordflexBedfordflexBilora BonitaBolsey-FlexCaptaflexChukon RefClix-o-flexClover Baby Ref

CometflexDox New SixElliotteEnsign Ful-VueEnsign Ful-Vue IIEnsign Ful-Vue SuperFerrania ElioflexFerrania RondineFlex-O-CordGemflexGnome Pixie FlexHalina PrefectHalina ViceroyHansa Rollette RefHerlightHonestflexIlfoflexIlford CraftsmanImperial Reflex 620Kodak Brownie Hawkeye FlashKodak Brownie ReflexKodak Brownie StarflexKodak Brownie Twin-20Kodak Duaflex (I)Kodak Duaflex IIKodak Duaflex IIIKodak Duaflex IVKoniken

Mario RefMaruso CameraMetroflexMikono Flex CMycroflexOlbia 6x6Olbia EikonOmega EikonOplen JuniorPalma BrilliantPeace Baby FlexPho Tak Refllex IPilot RefPrince Baby RefPuckyRionflexRoll Light RefRosko BrilliantSpartus Full-VueTopflexTougodo box-shaped camerasTravellerUnibox AUnion RefVesterflexVoigtländer BrilliantWhitehouse Beacon ReflexYoungflex

Contraptions

■ cardboard

■ from a template

■ tubes – plastic, cardboard (Pringles can, similarly shaped

cans)

■ Neoprene sleeve (wine bottle holder or koozies taped together)

■ packaging boxes for wine/liquor or other skinny

rectangular packaging

■ Be creative!

& lots of duct tape or electrical tape to hold it all together!

Contraptions

Con

traptio

ns

Tips & Techniques

■ Angles, angles, angles!■ Get close!■ Get low, get high & don’t be afraid

to go over your head!■ Leave enough space so that there

is a black edge around the image after you crop.

■ Be careful of over-exposure.■ Lens too clean? Some people use dryer lint to add some dirt.■ Experiment with all types of subjects – you’ll always be surprised by the results.■ Don’t be shy – you’ll get looks. Answer questions, show people & educate.

TtV Image Before Editing

Straighten

Crop

Argus 75 Examples

Dirt & Scratch Visible Softer Focus

Argus 75 Examples

Colors & Contrast Enhanced Sepia

Starflex Examples

Online Resources■ Through the Viewfinder: http://flickr.com/groups/throughtheviewfinder/TtV Whores: http://flickr.com/groups/TtVwhores/TtV Still Life: http://flickr.com/groups/TtV-still-life/Street TtV: http://flickr.com/groups/street_TtV/TtVs + Rust = Perfect Combo!: http://flickr.com/groups/rustyTtV/TtV Pets: http://www.flickr.com/groups/ttv_pets/

■ Through the Viewfinder Tutorial by Russ Morris:http://www.russmorris.com/ttv/

■ Articles:JPG Magazine, “Going Through the Viewfinder” by Russ Morrishttp://www.jpgmag.com/stories/3526

“Through the Viewfinder Photography” by Jenny Cisney, Kodakhttp://jennycisney.1000words.kodak.com/default.asp?item=273519

PhotoJojo, “Resurrect Your Vintage Camera, Digital Style” http://photojojo.com/content/photojojo-original/through-the-viewfinder/

JPG Magazine, “TTV in Architecture” by Dirk Spennemann http://www.jpgmag.com/stories/10405