Explore the World of Vintage and Toy

Angela Crews [email protected]/[email protected]/719-331-2235 You may contact me via phone or email, and I do respond to emails within 24-hours.

Course Description

Put down your DSLR and all your modern technology! Here’s a chance to play, get creative, and let your imagination run wild! You’ll explore the process of capturing the world around you on inexpensive plastic toy cameras, or with some of your old vintage beauties. This will be a darkroom course too, so some experience in B&W film processing and printing is a plus. Please see your materials list for items you’ll need and formats we can process in our darkroom at Bemis.

Course Goals

Students who complete this course successfully will be able to:

 Understand camera and film formats popular in vintage and toy cameras.  Process B&W film in a traditional wet darkroom.  Print B&W silver-gelatin prints in a traditional wet darkroom.  Creatively capture unique compositions for fine art photographic prints.  Gain a working knowledge of the traditional silver-gelatin B&W photographic process.  Have an opportunity to nurture their personal creative vision.

Week 1: • Discuss course outline and materials list. • Review the Shooting with Vintage and Toy Cameras PowerPoint. • See the creative results people achieve and look at a selection of great working, vintage cameras and review tips and tricks for getting great photos. • Ensure everyone can load their cameras and understand metering if using a vintage model. • Review darkroom procedures and techniques. Practice loading film onto spools.

Homework: Start shooting! Get creative, and find a subject that speaks to your personality and the spontaneity of the camera you chose. Shoot with the intention of creating a body of work.

Week 2: • Darkroom overview – processing film – loading film and chemistry. • Printing discussion and demonstrations. • Contrast filter discussion and demo. • Process film shot from week 1. • As time allows, begin making contact sheets

Homework: Keep shooting, and work to create a small body of work that tells a story.

Week 3: • 3-hour darkroom print time. Film processing as needed. Individualized instruction.

Week 4: • 3-hour darkroom print time. Film processing as needed. Individualized instruction.

Week 5: • Print time available for the first part of class. • Before class ends, reveal your favorite prints and discuss your inspiration!

Materials & Supplies

Please feel free to contact me before class begins with any questions regarding your camera choices. Plan to bring your camera of choice on the first day. Some options to help you find a camera:

Learn more about : http://microsites.lomography.com/holga/ Buy a Holga: https://www.freestylephoto.biz/144120-Holga-120N-Camera-Black

Or, buy a Diana: http://www.amazon.com/Lomography-Diana-Medium-Format Camera/dp/B001BPEQDK https://www.freestylephoto.biz/95022610-Lomography-Diana+-Without-Flash

Or, you may use a vintage film camera that holds 35mm or 120 format films. For example: Argus C3, a Yashica twin-lens, or an old Nikon S2 rangefinder.

Camera – estimated prices range from $30.00 and up depending on choice of plastic/ versus vintage camera.

Film – Begin with 4 rolls of professional B&W film of your choice. If shooting 35mm, please purchase at least two of the same kind, as our tanks will hold two rolls for processing. Please make sure that you

purchase Professional B&W film. Do not purchase film that requires C-41 processing. Suggest: Ilford FP4, Ilford HP5+, Delta 100 or 400, TMAX or Kodak Tri-X. Estimated costs $7.00-$10.00 per roll.

Paper – One package of 8x10 multi-grade RC paper (25-sheet package is good to begin with.) Choose any surface – glossy, matte, or pearl. Estimated costs 25-sheet pack $26.00; 100 sheet box approximately $90.00. Do not open the paper! The paper will be ruined if exposed to white light. We will discuss proper handling of light sensitive paper.

Additional supplies that you will need to have are: Pen/Notebook for class notes/field notes - $2.00 - $3.00

Old hand towel (important for film processing)

Negative storage sleeves (7 strips/5 frames for 35mm film, or 120 film sheets) Estimated cost for pack of 25 = $7.00 - $9.00

3-ring binder for negatives – $3.00

Canned air - $7.00

Ilford anti-static cloth - $12.00

Disposable latex gloves (no powder/if you have sensitive skin) $7.00

Local camera stores carry most of the photographic items and offer a student discount: Cameraworks – 5030 N. Academy Blvd. (Academy & Union) 594-6966

Mike’s Camera – 5420 N. Academy Blvd. (Academy & Montbello) 597-1575 Recommended Internet/ mail order stores: Freestyle Photographic Supply – www.freestylephoto.biz

Adorama (1-888-805-4900) or www.adorama.com

B & H Photo and Video – www.bhphotovideo.com