All Through a Lens: A Podcast About Film Photography

Episode 14: Hang That Camera About My Neck

It’s March! So that means – among other thing – Girl Scout Cookies! We’ve got a deep dive into the history of the Girl Scouts and photography! We’ll also give a call to Kate Miller Wilson (you might know her from her static electricity photos). There’s some news, some zine reviews!
But first, we check in with what we’ve been up to over the past week or so (give or take). While Vania was sick again and moaned about a crappy surf-winter, Eric did some shooting up at an abandoned dairy farm that used to be run by the Northern State Mental Hospital.
After a mention of the Reveni light meter, we move swiftly to this episode’s answering machine question.
Is the camera and lens combination you choose as important as the the film you choose?
We heard from a slew of listeners with a wide variety of answers, and we also gave our own opinions on the matter.
For our interview, we gave a call to Kate Miller Wilson (@katemillerwilson on IG), a large format photographer who has taken some amazingly moving photos of her children. Lately, she’s made some waves with her static electricity shots. We ask her about both, and she has quite a bit to say.
As a main feature, we run through the history of film photography and the Girl Scouts. From the very beginning, they offered merit badges for accomplishments in photography.
We take a look at the requirements, the officially-branded cameras, as well as some of the novels that feature scouts using cameras.
After a cookie break or two, we hop into zine reviews. Vania covers Thirteen Seconds by Ian Turpin (@ian_ctee on IG). Meanwhile, Eric looks at Periapsides by Jason Conklin (@ninlyone on IG).
Be sure to check out our Dev Party episodes. They’re about to get even more pee-inducing!
Music by Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers
Vania: IG, Flickr, ZinesEric: IG, Flickr, Zines
All Through a Lens: IG, Website

Dev Party #6: Dev Party and Bullshit

It’s an real quick (sort of) Ask Us Anything episode of Dev Party! We field a handful of questions from listeners while developing some film.
Vania’s taking on Fomapan something or other, while Eric developed some Ultrafine Extreme 400 at box speed. Both HC-110!
Vania’s in Fomapan something something.
The questions range from stuff about C-41 stand development to scanners to some questionable advice on what to do on your first attempt at developing.
Does Blix have less “archival” properties as a separate Bleach and Fix? Who knows!
Camera: Polaroid Automatic 250 with ND-P120 BackFilm: Ultrafine Extreme 400Process: HC-110 H; 7.5min
There’s lots of questions, a few answers and rather a lot of sass.
All Through a Tote Bag. [Link]
Eric’s DIY ECN-2 Kits. [Link]
Camera: Polaroid Automatic 250 with ND-P120 BackFilm: Ultrafine Extreme 400Process: HC-110 H; 7.5min
Vania: IG, Flickr, ZinesEric: IG, Flickr, Zines
All Through a Lens: IG, Website

Episode 13: Absolutely (Say It Again)

On this episode, we’ve got tips from listeners, a call with Iowa Amy, how to do your own tri-chromes, we’ll talk about a couple of pictures we took, there’s zine reviews and so much more.
We first check in with each other. Vania is looking for inspiration, but realizes it’s been there all along. Eric just wanted some snow. Sort of. Vania talks about how the camera is her way of interacting, while Eric realizes that he’s getting old.
Those who bought the Slow Meow film are thanked, and those interested in the ECN-2 process are invited to find out via the kits Eric is making: Here.
Moving on once more to the answering machine, we asked listeners to call in with their film photography tips. Just one, and make it quick.
The response was great! We received such advice as “don’t be afraid” and “every frame is a lesson” to the practical advice like “throw away the lens cap” and “get an immersion heater.” It was a lovely mix. Thanks to all who called in!
Vania and Eric gave their own tips as well. Obviously.
We then gave a call to Amy Blessing. You might know her as @iowaamy on IG. She was in the first American Colors show in St. Louis and is working on a project and book documenting towns along the Mississippi River in Iowa.
If you’re not familiar with her work, it explores the empty spaces of small town, Midwestern life. While many will often overlook this part of the country, Amy and her photography embody it.
We talked to her about her rural work, and shooting in the Midwest in general.
DIY Tri-Chromes!After the call, we dig into how to shoot your own tri-chromes! These are the color photos that are actually created by three black & white photos layered together.
Here’s a quick rundown:
First, you’ll need some panchromatic black and white film. Let’s just use Tri-X or T-Max or basically anything that isn’t Ortho. Something fast works best. Get yourself a camera, a tripod and a red, green and blue filter. These can be cheaply procured in a color filter set, or more expensively procured individually as filters with the Wratten numbers of 29, 61, and 47 (red, green and blue).
Find a subject – something with various colors represented. Set up the camera on the tripod and take three photos – the first through the red filter, the second through the green, and the last through the blue. I do them in this order so I can remember them when it comes time to scan. Make sure to not move the camera even a little. You want three identical pictures.and you will be needing to line this up in photoshop.
Develop the film in your favorite black & white developer, and then scan them in as normal. It would be a good idea to name them as “red,” “green,” and “blue” just so you can keep track of them.
Then open the images in your photo editor and align them to each other so that they’re all perfectly matched. Starting with the red layer, you want to “colorize” it. Open the colorize menu (the location varies) and tint it red. This “hue” is usually represented by “0” on the color wheel. Then set saturation to 75 and brightness to -30.
Do the same with the Green and Blue layers – setting the hue to 120 and 240, respectively (on some editor, it’s 33 and 66). The saturation and brightness are the same as with the red.
Now we’re almost finished. All we have to do is make them transparent. In the Layers panel, we need to set this to “Screen” for the top two laters and “Normal” for the bottom (at this point, it doesn’t matter which layer is where). Once we do this, the color image will appear!
Next on the episode, we take a look at two of our photos, both from the Fuck Yeah We Do zine.
Eric chose this:
While Vania chose this:
Both go on about it for a spell.
Zine ReviewsOn this episode, we reviewed two zines. The first was Camerastickers by Ethan Cameradactyl.
In Ethan’s own words: ‘They are the lowest quality prints you’ve ever seen in a zine, and the binding is even worse. The books are bound to fall apart, and the stickers are all thermal, which is basically the opposite of archival. But they’re pretty fun. I think you and Vania and most of your listeners would probably get a real kick out of them.’
The other zine was Every Bus Stop Has Its Own Coffee Shop by Richard Hall. This is a color and black & white halfsize zine that’s really a lovely stroll through Shrewsbury.
Along the way, we stop to hear him point out bits of history and information. There’s the Welsh Bridge, The Buttermarket (aka Butters), and Shrewsbury Abbey. But this isn’t simply one tour. This zine takes place over the entire year, night and day. There’s the evening life in the market, and a morning commute up St. John’s Hill. We wind our way through the streets, and along the river until finally returning to the Porthill Footbridge.
Be sure to check out our Dev Party episodes. They’re about to get even more pee-inducing!
Music by Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers
Vania: IG, Flickr, ZinesEric: IG, Flickr, Zines
All Through a Lens: IG, Website

Dev Party #5: Life of the Dev Party

For this episode of Dev Party, we’re taking on ECN-2! This is the color process usually used for motion picture film. But can it also be used for regular color film? Yes, absolutely.
Eric has done this for years, and Vania is dipping her toes.
We talk about the process itself, and especially about how it differs from C-41. There’s a very brief history of it, some short explanation of what it is, as well as some mention of stop baths and washing.
Future Eric and Vania also take a look at the scans they’ve made with the negs (which means there was great success!).
Here are a two from Vania…
And two from Eric…
Eric also talked about why he first started using ECN-2 on the regular. It had a lot to do with Vericolor III. Here’s a shot he devved in C-41…
And one he soon after did with ECN-2…
Get Some!They also talk about making up kits to sell for cheapish. You can find that link here.
Vania: IG, Flickr, ZinesEric: IG, Flickr, Zines
All Through a Lens: IG, Website

Episode 12: The Colors or Some Shadow or Something

On this episode, Vania and Eric talk shooting with people (or not), we’ll call up a very special guest, and dig into color photography before the invention of color film. We’ll also finish up our trilogy on zine making. Plus zine reviews and the announcement of a “new” old stock emulsion.
But first, Vania’s been sick (though it’s not the annoying and mild Man-Flu). Still, she managed to do some shooting. She even surfed with a gray whale. Eric also shot some 4×5 and with the 6×7 back to varying degrees of amusement.
Before getting into the thick of the show, we announce The Slow Meow – a slow speed Soviet-era microfilm (Tasma Mikrat 200) that they’ve teased for literally months now. It’s for sale via Eric’s Etsy Store and all proceeds go to help funding the podcast.
Moving on to the answering machine, we asked listeners to call in about whether they like to shoot by themselves or with other people. A dozen or so called in and we couldn’t say no to any of them. Their answers varied, of course, but most folks diplomatically split the difference. Wise decision – you never know who’s listening. Vania and Eric also weigh in.
We then give a call to Marley! You may know her from Vania’s stories, but now she’s here! It’s Vania’s 12 year old, film (and digital) shooting daughter. She weighs in on how the kids see film, social media, and what it’s like to grow up with a mom shooting film when the other kids moms just have iPhones.
For the back half of the episode, we switch gears and dive back into history. There were color photos before the invention of color film. How? Well, it’s a complicated story that we try to distill. It’s a tale of that takes us from “I know we can do this, so why can’t we do this?” to “We did this… but how?” Riveting stuff!
We then finish our trilogy on zine-making by talking about printers and selling (and trading) zines. Also about adding personal touches.
Lastlyish, it’s zine reviews. Vania reviews the new zine of Aerochrome shots by Kikie Wilkins in Views From Tuscon, Issue 3. And Eric takes on Mark O’Brien‘s Monochrome Mania – a journal all about low ISO film; how to find, shoot and develop it.
And speaking of zines, Eric was a part of Frozen Wasteland’s KODAK GPX 160 compilation zine. The goal of this zine is to showcase and celebrate how different photographers obtain wildly different results and display totally disparate subjects, via processing, composition, and equipment choice, given the same starting medium. It’s full color, 80 pages, and features over a dozen photographers. Pick it up!
Be sure to check out our Dev Party episodes. They’re about to get even more pee-inducing!
Music by Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers
Vania: IG, Flickr, ZinesEric: IG, Flickr, Zines
All Through a Lens: IG, Website

Dev Party #4: Rock & Roll All Night and Dev Party Everyday

It’s our fourth go around for Dev Party and we’ve found some great success! Vania is developing an old roll of Kodak Gold that he mother shot back in the late 90s. Will it work? What will be found? She also double dipped and did a roll of Fuji 100 through a Weathermatic!
And Eric is developing a roll of HP5 he shot through a 6×7 back strapped onto an Intrepid 4×5. He talks quite a bit about the Graflok system and why he basically likes the 6×7 back.
Here are some of Eric’s shots…
And here are some of Vania’s:

Episode 11: You Press the Button - We Do the Rest

 
It’s our Box Camera Appreciation episode! And wow do we have some box camera appreciation for you!
First Eric and Vania tell everyone what they’ve been up to. Eric’s been wrestling with the 120 back for the Polaroid Automatic Land Cameras, while Vania’s been shooting in the water, getting older (but not old) and mentions a few new books.
Now delving into box cameras, we asked listeners to call in and let us know which ones they’ve recommend for friends. We got answers and Eric has shot most of them. Who knew?After the messages, Vania and Eric gave their own recommendations.
After a bit of discussion, we give a call to Jennifer Froula Weber (@jenniferfroulaweber on Instagram). We’ve talked with her before about her tintypes, but now we’re talking box cameras (and tin types – you’ll see).
She and we talk which boxes she likes best, why she shoots T-grain film in them, and why she’ll often choose them over her Hasselblad.
After the interview, we deep dive into a short history of the box camera. We begin by trying to figure out just what is a box camera, but quickly move on to the 1870s and the very first of these simple little cameras.
From there, we talk George Eastman’s early attempts at boxes, as well as the Boston Bulls Eye. It finally came together for Kodak when Frank Brownwell came up with his Brownie… and the many, many more that followed.
We also explored the many competitors to Kodak’s offerings, as well as how the designs changed from simple boxes to rocket ship dreams in colors of teal, mint and red.
While Vania talked about her new zine in the last episode, Eric talks his new issue in this. It’s Conspiracy of Cartographers Issue Seven, and it was all shot on the Imperial Savoy – a plastic 60s box camera.
We continue the zine talk with the second installment of our how-to-zine segment. Here, we discuss sequencing the photos, as well as layout and computer programs. The third and final will come next!
And speaking of zines, on this episode we also review Michael Tekel’s In Silvam Sciryuda. “When I moved to Nottingham UK, I didn’t know many places around here. Except for legendary Sherwood Forest. I wanted to see it. I went, I saw and I was not impressed at first. That’s how this zine project started – with the goal to capture the true soul of this place”.
And that about does it for the episode! Happy listening!

Dev Party #3: Dev Party with the Devil

For our third installment of the Dev Party, we’re reviewing the new 120 back made by Normal M. Dean for the Polaroid Automatic Land Cameras (the ND-120. Eric’s shot a half dozen rolls through it. Vania, on the other hand, is developing some shots from Yosemite.
We’re both using HC-110! Could anything get more exciting than this? 
Here are some shots from the Polaroid:
And here are some from Vania’s dev:
 
 
 

Episode 10: We're Goin' Legitimate!

Welcome to our tenth episode! Have we got a packed show for you!
We start off with some much needed catching up. Vania’s been to the fictional city of Fresno, as well as Yosemite! Eric’s been to a waterfall where the owls are not what they seem.
Keeping things moving, we hear from a slew of folks about lines they won’t cross while photographing. A large part of photography is literally not taking photos. While some won’t photograph homeless people or children, others refuse to snap pics of injured roller derby skaters. Vania and Eric both weigh in on the thing as well.
Last episode, Vania mentioned the new issue of her zine in the briefest of passings, but now Eric tries to squeeze more information from her.
Speaking of zines, we talk somewhat briefly in the first installment of a how-to-zine overview. This time it’s about deciding upon a theme (or not), about titles, words and just getting your shit together.
And then we call up Adam Roberts – aka @icantstandpickles on IG. He has recently released a 3-D zine, which comes complete with 3-D glasses. You need to see this to believe it, and you can pick it up here (and should).
Changing gears for a few moments, we report on the execution photo of Ruth Snyder. Taken in 1928 by photographer Tom Howard, the image of a woman in the moment of electrocution was published on the front page of the New York Daily New. Soon the photo became more of a story than the execution itself.
Since cameras were forbidden in death chambers, how did Howard get this shot? What does this have to do with James Cagney? We shall tell you!
Moving on, we make our way to a couple of zine reviews. Vania talks about Leland Buck’s Paris Syndrome, while Eric digs into 365 No. 7: Analog by Trench Photos (@trenchphotos365 on IG).
In closing, we remind you about our mini-episodes (Dev Party), as well as what’s ahead in the next: a full review of the 3D printed 120 back for the old Polaroid Automatic Land Cameras. Eric got one and is in the process of testing it out.

Dev Party #2: It's My Dev Party and I'll Cry If I Want To

We’re back for our second Dev Party and it’s a bit of bittersweet drama. We’ll get to that in a sec, but first, let’s talk about what we were developing.
Eric took on Tasma Mikrat 200 in Rodinal – yes it’s another test. And Vania is developing the same in HC-110. How does it all turn out? Let’s find out.
While we work, we talk about stop baths! Do you need them? What’s an acid stop? How about an indicator stop? Is water okay? It’s exciting, we promise.
At the end, we also delve into a bit of failure. You’ll see.
 
 
 
Website (and more sample pics)
IG: @allthroughalens.podcast