These aren’t just five frames, these are the first five frames I shot with Ilford’s Obscura pinhole camera, on Harman Direct Positive paper. Thus, I’m more than qualified to tell you all about it…
Long story short, it’s really fun. The camera itself is well built, for the ~$100 price tag. You wouldn’t want to toss it in a bag with some big text books, but at the same time it feels sturdy whenever you use it. Framing isn’t too bad either, just use a level and remember the focal length is a full frame equivalent of “pretty dang wide”, about 24mm.
I’m a graduate student, and all these pictures are of the university’s campus, thanks to their the proximity to the darkroom. It’s been a nice evening activity, leaving the office and heading out to shoot a sheet or two. I’ve found the paper more forgiving than expected, a bit more latitude than slide film even? For the curious, a few more notes on metering and developing can be found on my website.
If you’re on the fence about picking one of these up, go for it! Next steps for me are shooting some film, I have a pack of Portra 160 and the Delta 100 that came with the camera staring at me right now.
Thanks for reading, reach out or drop a comment if you like! My stuff lives at: www.ellsworthbell.com.
All the best,
-Ellsworth
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Julian on 5 Frames with an Ilford Obscura and Direct Positive Paper – By Ellsworth Bell
Comment posted: 22/08/2019
Comment posted: 22/08/2019
Zeke on 5 Frames with an Ilford Obscura and Direct Positive Paper – By Ellsworth Bell
Comment posted: 22/08/2019
Comment posted: 22/08/2019
Gabriel on 5 Frames with an Ilford Obscura and Direct Positive Paper – By Ellsworth Bell
Comment posted: 22/08/2019
Comment posted: 22/08/2019
Comment posted: 22/08/2019
Roger B. on 5 Frames with an Ilford Obscura and Direct Positive Paper – By Ellsworth Bell
Comment posted: 23/08/2019
Comment posted: 23/08/2019
George Appletred on 5 Frames with an Ilford Obscura and Direct Positive Paper – By Ellsworth Bell
Comment posted: 23/08/2019
No, far more less
Comment posted: 23/08/2019
James W on 5 Frames with an Ilford Obscura and Direct Positive Paper – By Ellsworth Bell
Comment posted: 23/08/2019
If it's all about the destination, then the journey is a bore. But if it's about the journey and the destination, then one can enjoy both?
Mr Appletred, to improve the latitude, one can pre-flash the paper.
James Evidon on 5 Frames with an Ilford Obscura and Direct Positive Paper – By Ellsworth Bell
Comment posted: 23/08/2019
Steve Karsten on 5 Frames with an Ilford Obscura and Direct Positive Paper – By Ellsworth Bell
Comment posted: 26/08/2019
Comment posted: 26/08/2019
Dan Stevenson on 5 Frames with an Ilford Obscura and Direct Positive Paper – By Ellsworth Bell
Comment posted: 21/09/2019
Comment posted: 21/09/2019