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Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day (WPPD) 2023, Roll 2
Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day (WPPD) 2023, Roll 1
To Paul, who introduced me to this wonderful location
terraPIN ACME Pinhole CameraWPPD2023
As the link above indicates, this is a continuation of the Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day 2023. The same camera, the same film, and the same theme. If you did not read my intro to the day in Roll 1, I picked a theme of water for WPPD 2023. I wanted something in motion to take advantage of the long exposures one usually gets with a pinhole camera. And I have liked playing with different shutter speeds and water for a long time. It's amazing how much a photograph of water can change simply by varying the exposure time.
The one thing that I changed for Roll 2 was the location. Instead of a small creek I headed to a large lake, a Great Lake to be more specific. The shoreline of Lake Erie has a lot of private areas where a normal riffraff can't get, a few town parks limited to residents only, and a few precious public areas where it's possible to stroll along, contemplate, and even take photographs.
I like this specific location because the curve of the beach is made more interesting by the presence of some beautiful big rocks. And that is what I focused Roll 2 on - the interaction of the waves crashing against the shore and the rocks. It's amazing to photograph but it's also a lot of fun just to sit and watch. Yep, I'll trade this for a TV series any day. It seems that no two waves are the same. Different strength, different direction, and also different placement in the sequence of waves all cause the rocks to get submerged differently. And as one never really knows what each wave will bring it's only fitting to photograph it on film as one won't know what the film captured until quite a bit later. It adds to the mystery.
Submerged Rocks of Lake ErieWPPD 2023
Submerged Rocks of Lake Erie
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer
I enjoy how this specific camera renders the sky too. I did not customize the camera to be able to attach a filter and all of these photos are captured without any. I suspect that a horizon placed high in the frame falls in the vignette area of the frame and thus gets darkened preventing it from blowing out. And sure, friendly weather with some clouds in the sky does not hurt either.
In and Out of Water
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer
Scene selection is always fun and a challenge at the same time. In this case, I knew I wanted water and rocks. Thus the rocks had to be at the water's edge to be swallowed by the waves and promptly revealed again. They could not be too far into the lake as I was not ready to get soaked on this chilly morning. At least I was not wearing sneakers, my usual shoes for expeditions around water, but winter boots. Those gave me about 2 inches of water to work in. That's not much when the lake speaks loudly. Spoiler alert! I left with both shoes filled with water!
Big Rock
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer
Sometimes, I try to find angles that will group and arrange several rocks in an interesting formation. Other times I will go for a single rock. In all cases, I try to get very close to my subjects with the very wide angle of view of the terraPIN ACME pinhole camera. However, I do leave an inch or two more space than I used to. In combination with the dark vignette I like to give my subjects a little room to breathe.
Flooded Jagged Gaps
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer
In the past I used to experiment with either including or excluding the horizon from the frame. Over time I grew to like the horizon included either very low or very high in the frame. Since there is no viewfinder on this camera it is a bit of guesswork but there are some helpful tools included on the camera. To get the right vertical angle there are lines on the side of the camera that approximate the angle of view. To get a high horizon I tilt the camera forward (downward) almost to a point that the upward pointing line becomes horizontal. Just the slightest angle up pulls the horizon into the frame.
Gap Revealed
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer
In the two photographs above you can compare how different things can appear based on wave strength and proper timing. How many small waves does one need to count off before a bigger one arrives? How many bigger ones arrive back to back? How many times is all of this so random that one can make no assumptions?
Between Rocks
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer
I tried to get really close and really low for the final photo and it definitely changed the original top down perspective. Sometimes this trickery with distance results in a complete loss of perspective when one can't really tell the real-life size of the objects. Were the rocks just a few centimeters? Or were they large boulders?
Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy
More of my Pinhole Photography ...
Down Smoke CreekPinhole Photography
Two CanoesPinhole Photography
Against the CurrentPinhole Photography
Alabama 2023, Part IV, Mardi Gras
In 2023 we were finally in the right place at the right time to enjoy Mardi Gras activities. After a brief consideration of the nearby options we decided to stay local and enjoy not just one but two parades!
Mardi GrasGulf Shores, Alabama
Mardi Gras, Gulf Shores, Alabama
We started within literally walking distance and walked about a mile to see the parade in Gulf Shores, Alabama, which was in the morning. That was new, different, and fun and we doubled up in Orange Beach, Alabama, in the afternoon.
Mardi GrasGulf Shores, Alabama
Mardi Gras, Gulf Shores, Alabama
Despite the relative proximity (8 miles) we drove, which posed a challenge. While we expected that, we underestimated how little parking there would be available and arrived rather late. Definitely a lesson learned and a confirmation that our choice #1 was a perfect one. No driving definitely makes it easier and more enjoyable.
Mardi GrasGulf Shores, Alabama
Mardi Gras, Gulf Shores, Alabama
And that is it for today's quick visit to the Mardi Gras in Gulf Shores, Alabama in February 2023.
Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy
Alabama 2023 Series: Part I, Houses on Stilts, Part II, Ends of Day, Part III, A Hop to Pensacola, Florida, Part IV, Mardi Gras
Seville QuarterPensacola, Florida
Red StairsPensacola, FL
Office & Palm TreesGulf Shores, Alabama
Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day (WPPD) 2023, Roll 1
terraPIN ACMEPinhole Camera
This year's Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day (WPPD 2023) came at a perfect time for me. I've been on pause not only with pinhole photography but photography in general. I was just thinking about it all, about the purpose, about the end goal, about what's worth it and what's not. I deactivated the sales features on my website back in November 2022 and recently requested the deletion of my Etsy site. I have only done very little limited photography in about half a year.
When the WPPD 2023 weekend arrived, I was ready to grab a pinhole camera and head out into the wild. Ahead of time I knew I wanted to use my 3d-printed terraPIN ACME that only saw three rolls through it and I liked the results. I did not take any notes though and could not remember how I measured and calculated the f-stop. I knew it was not wider than f/144 so I decided to start there for my first roll, adjusting from there. I also knew I wanted to use up my Fuji Acros II 100 film that freshly expired last year.
Green Lake Canoes
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer
terraPIN ACMEPinhole Camera
The original Fuji Acros as well as the new Fuji Acros II land themselves very well to long exposure pinhole photography thanks to their almost non-existent reciprocity failure. As such, using it was a no brainer especially since I had some on hand. I have also been trying to slim down my film stash, especially if expired or on the verge of expiration.
Since I knew the ISO 100 film, f/144, and cloudy weather would result in long exposures I wanted to have some motion in my photographs. I chose water for my WPPD2023 theme and in the end managed to almost stick with it.
Down Smoke Creek
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer
As you can see I selected a nearby Yates Park in Orchard Park, New York. In a small package it manages to feature two beautiful bodies of water: Green Lake, and Smoke Creek. I wanted to focus on the creek. I had photographed it a few times in the past but struggled to reconnect with that area after the town cleaned up the lake a few years ago, which involved deforesting a significant chunk of land around the dam.
Up Smoke Creek
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer
This was my opportunity, and it went very well. I had a blast there with the pinhole camera despite having taken several photographs pretty much from the same spot just rotating around and selecting a different camera height. So many opportunities! I also already decided that I will be heading back soon with a lensed camera and color film. To find the charm of this location I only had to wonder about a little bit and find a new vantage point, the old one gone with the wind.
Against the Current
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer
I really like how the bright glare off the water made the stream look like a flowing melted lead in the above photograph. That takes my mind back to the film, Fuji 100 Acros II. With Fuji's exit from film manufacturing, it is my understanding this successor to the original Acros 100 is made by Ilford based on a Fuji recipe. And it delivers! It's not going to become my all-around film though mostly due to its intense cupping. That makes it really difficult to scan in the flimsy film carriers of flatbed scanners. In fact, I suspect most of the edge blur in these photographs is not due to the pinhole camera used but rather due to the far from flat film during scanning. I like the results, though, and don't want to go through digitizing these with a digital camera. The 3d-printed film carrier for that method would keep the film perfectly flat. Maybe if I am bored on a rainy day, I will try that just for comparison's sake. Probably not.
Rocks of Smoke Creek
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer
Kraken Dungeon
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer
At one spot there is this monster of a structure sticking out of the creek bed. Maybe a storm sewer access point, maybe something else, it totally does not fit the otherwise natural and romantic feel of the place. I wanted to photograph this monster lair, this Kraken Dungeon, but forgot and left my photo perch. When I looked around to survey the location one final time for the day I spotted ti again and had to return. There's no water in the picture but it still fits the water theme, doesn't it?
Two Canoes
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer
As you can see, I closed the first WPPD 2023 roll where I started. I was back at the canoes looking for additional, more close-up and abstract angles. I especially like the above Two Canoes.
One Canoe
terraPIN ACME medium format pinhole camera, Fuji Acros II black and white film, D-23 developer
Finally, One Canoe closes off today's blog post. 8 photographs from a roll of 12, not too bad. All 12 technically came out but I did not like them enough to share. If you like what a simple 3d-printed box with a tiny hole can do, come back soon, I will share my second roll from this year's WPPD. The theme of water will stay, the location will differ.
Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy
More of my Pinhole Photography ...
Mysterious RocksPinhole Photography
Bow Up from WaterPinhole Photography
Five and a Half RocksPinhole Photography
Pinhole Refueling TruckPinhole Photography
Pinhole Lemonade WagonPinhole Photography
More from Rock City Ostaš
Wow, what a crazy break! I posted the first part of this photo story back on October 28, 2021. So in case you don't remember how this story started, feel free to get a refresher at Back for more mystery, Ostaš, Part 1.
The location of the Ostaš Rock City was a site of a terrible tragedy in 1421. The villagers from a nearby village of Police hid here from the army of Sigismund of Luxembourg. However, their location was betrayed and the army massacred the villagers including men, women, and children. Is that why the Mound of Death appeared in the rock wall?
Mound of Death, OstašCzech Republic
Mound of Death, Ostaš, Czech Republic
The above Mound of Death is not the only creatively named rock formation in the Ostaš Rock City. Others include Armed Man, Traitor (related to the story above) and the below Devil's Car. Their look changes from different angles and who knows what they would all be called if someone else did the honors.
Devil's Car, OstašCzech Republic
Devil's Car, Ostaš, Czech Republic
Sometimes it is not about the rock formations towering above the forest floor but about the gaps in the table mountain itself. Sneaking through narrow gaps like the one below provides a reminder about our human size compared to Mother Nature. While usually translated to English as a cave it is more of a deep and narrow notch.
Czech Brothers' Cave, OstašCzech Republic
Czech Brothers' Cave, Ostaš, Czech Republic
In a few places the view opened up and the tall rock formations looked rather magnificent against the blue sky and the bonus white puffy clouds floating by for the perfect backdrop.
Below Cat Rocks, OstašCzech Republic
Below Cat Rocks, Ostaš, Czech Republic
Some of the narrow passages required custom made solutions like the ladder below.
Up the Cat Rocks, OstašCzech Republic
Up the Cat Rocks, Ostaš, Czech Republic
And that's it for today's brief stroll through a beautiful piece of nature in the Czech Republic. And it looks like next time will be a slight change of pace even though we will not leave the rock cities completely. Where are we heading? You will have to check back ...
Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)
Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more landscape photographs from places beyond Western New York? Visit my Landscapes Faraway or Travel Photography galleries and enjoy!
Cat Rocks, OstašCzech Republic
Rock City OstašCzech Republic
In a Fairy TaleCzech Republic
Lakeshore Pinhole Photography at Sturgeon Point
terraPIN ACMEPinhole Camera
Taking a break from the 2023 Alabama Road Trip, let's take a look at some different moody photographs. These were all taken with a 3d-printed pinhole camera at a material cost approaching zero. In fact, the single roll of Kodak T-Max 100 black and white film was more expensive than the camera.
The simplicity of the camera is underpinned by it being a pinhole camera with no lens. Instead of a lens, the camera has a tiny hole. In fact, the name pinhole exaggerates the size as the hole is so small that a pin would not fit through. To complete the simplicity, I did not fit this version of terraPIN ACME with a fancy laser drilled pinhole but instead made my own by solely mechanical means into a sheet of aluminum from a soda can.
Mysterious RocksPinhole Photography
Mysterious Rocks
Photographed with a medium format pinhole camera on Kodak T-Max 100 black and white film, developed in D-23
terraPIN AcmePinhole Camera in Action
I have a few favorite approaches to photographing the Sturgeon Point beach area. While that can lead to repetitive images and a difficulty to challenge myself to find something new, nature usually helps out. It seems that on no two visits does the beach look the same. Finding different submerged rock formations is one of those things I like to do every time, and they never ever look even similar, let alone the same. It seems like the force of the water repositions the rocks. Then, water level determines how submerged they are. Wind will create different waves.
With the tiny pinholes the f-stop of my pinhole cameras is between f/100 and f/200. Combined with a medium speed film at ISO 100, this results in exposures of several seconds, automatically pushing the photographs into the long-exposure territory without the use of any special filters. As the moving water does its thing the photographs are transferred into the mysterious moody territory.
Five and a Half RocksPinhole Photography
Five and a Half Rocks
Photographed with a medium format pinhole camera on Kodak T-Max 100 black and white film, developed in D-23
The camera features a very wide angle of view. The film plane is about 25mm from the pinhole, which would be a wide angle even on a 35mm camera, let alone the 120 medium format. This makes it fun to experiment with extreme close ups. While nothing is really in a sharp focus with a lensless camera the tiny pinhole resulting in a large f-stop creates an almost unlimited depth of field. As a result, things 1cm away will be as in focus as things at infinity. Different photographers prefer different looks but one school of thought with these extreme wide angles is that "if you think you're close enough, get closer". I am not really sure where I'd place myself. I continue experimenting with close and more moderate distances and often prefer the look of stepping just a bit back letting my main subject form a center of the square image and the natural vignetting accenting it. However, here the camera was almost touching the rock's corner.
Bow Up from WaterPinhole Photography
Bow Up from Water
Photographed with a medium format pinhole camera on Kodak T-Max 100 black and white film, developed in D-23
There are quite a few of these dome-shaped rocks along the beach. Some dry far from the water's edge, some close getting splashed over, and some permanently submerged. They're like cannon balls cut in half. They seem unnatural as if from another planet. Sometimes I call them UFO rocks even though they're most certainly not flaying (any more), at least I have never witnessed that. For today's post, I went with a more boring name of a Dome Rock.
Dome Rock
Photographed with a medium format pinhole camera on Kodak T-Max 100 black and white film, developed in D-23
May this serve as a reminder that every last Sunday of April is the annual Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day. This year it falls on Sunday, April 30. I am not yet sure what camera or cameras I will bring but an idea is brewing. Maybe this terraPIN ACME and the Holga Wide Pinhole (WPC), one for black and white and one for color. Check back in May for results.
Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy
More of my Pinhole Photography ...
Pinhole Lemonade WagonPinhole Photography
Pinhole Wagon WheelPinhole Photography
Pinhole Refueling TruckPinhole Photography