Adding a new camera to the collection
Two recent books have stirred my interest in exploring the variety of affordable vintage cameras that can still be used. The books are: ...
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Simon Williams
Jun 13, 20192 min read
Refurbishing Antique Bellows Cameras
The Blog writing has been on the back burner whilst I spent time refurbishing my two 1900s, mahogany and brass bellows camera. The Boots...
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Simon Williams
May 11, 20191 min read
North Somerset Artsweek 2019
It has been a very busy April/May – preparing 75 pieces for North Somerset Artsweek #nsaw2019 – but so worth it! We have had a great...
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Simon Williams
Apr 14, 20191 min read
Take, process, learn, adjust, repeat
Captured a few images today with the 1900s Hora half-plate camera on X-ray film – scanned and inverted. Just learning what iso this film...
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Simon Williams
Apr 5, 20191 min read
Antique camera at Hartland Quay
It has been a busy few weeks preparing for North Somerset ArtsWeek in May. I am exhibiting at The Theatre Shop, Clevedon BS21 6HX. ...
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Simon Williams
Mar 16, 20192 min read
Yorkshire Trip & a Half-Plate Camera
Taking the opportunity to stay a few days at Skipton this week, I packed the VW Camper with my “new” 1900s Hora bellows camera and basic...
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Simon Williams
Feb 21, 20191 min read
Repairing a Thornton Pickard Shutter
I added a second plate camera (By Hora & Co – Wandsworth London 1902-1930) to my collection recently and it came with a Thornton Pickard...
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Simon Williams
Feb 17, 20191 min read
Pre-Flashing the Paper Negative
Another useful tip from an online forum – to reduce the contrast of a photo paper negative, the advice is to “pre-flash” it with a short...
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Simon Williams
Feb 7, 20191 min read
Vintage Photography with X-ray Film
With 5×7 sheet film being expensive, at over £1 a sheet, I have been looking for alternatives. I love the look paper negatives give to...
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Simon Williams
Feb 4, 20191 min read
Now to get things in focus
Having learned how to set the exposure on the 100 year-old Thornton Pickard I have been working on getting everything well-focussed. The...
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Simon Williams
Feb 2, 20191 min read
Bellows Camera in the Snow
With the sun out and the roads passable, I ventured up onto the top of the Mendip Hills with the Thornton Pickard and some film...
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Simon Williams
Feb 1, 20191 min read
Still life with a bellows camera
On a snowy day, staying at home was the warmer option and gave me a chance to apply what I have learned about exposure for this camera to...
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Simon Williams
Jan 31, 20191 min read
6 out of 6! – 6 Good exposures
On the frosty Mendip Hills this morning, I used the vintage Thornton Pickard camera to take some silhouette images of trees. Building on...
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Simon Williams
Jan 30, 20191 min read
Mastering Exposure – Vintage Camera
Very pleased with exposure of paper negatives today. (Images here have been inverted in photoshop from a scan of the paper negatives) ...
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Simon Williams
Jan 25, 20191 min read
Latest etching – still learning …
Clevedon Pier – again from a photo – laserprint transferred onto aluminium with acetone then etched in copper sulfate and salt. Raising...
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Simon Williams
Jan 20, 20191 min read
Successful etching of the plates
Having successfully transferred the laser prints of my photos onto aluminium plate, the next step is etching in copper sulfate/salt. To...
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Simon Williams
Jan 5, 20191 min read
Success with the antique camera and shutter
Well, some success and still some failures(learning opportuntites). Saggy bellows have caused a shadow on the negative and one or two...
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Simon Williams
Jan 5, 20191 min read
How to measure the speed of my antique shutter
My Boots branded 100 year old Thornton Pickard camera has a new addition – a mechanical shutter. This allows me to shoot at speeds under...
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Simon Williams
Jan 5, 20191 min read
Adding a shutter to my antique camera
In order to access shutter speeds of less than 1s I need a mechanical shutter. I found one on eBay for a bargain price – and it is in...
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Simon Williams
Dec 20, 20181 min read
Photo-Print-Transfer-Etch-Print!
Today was bringing together my photography and my relief printing. Starting with a B&W photo with a lot of contrast – An old oak door in...
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