Roll 35.1, 35.2, 35.3: the Kaiju – A 6X18 Panoramic Pinhole Camera

Here, at the Schlaboratory, our scientists are constantly searching for new ways to leverage 3D printing to the very narrow application of pinhole photography.  Earlier this summer, a breakthrough wide angle panoramic design, the Kaiju Pinhole Gamera, was released to the wild.  At this writing, I believe I have the only two representative samples of this mutant pinhole beast, but it’s freely available for download, and easy for anyone to print and assemble.  Obviously, when anyone, anywhere can download the design, I may never know when it’s been printed unless someone posts a “Made One”

My earliest pinhole camera designs were met with skepticism when I first published them. I knew they would work (because SCIENCE!), but without photos, it is easy to dismiss yet another fanciful 3D printing design as unworkable. So, I take considerable care to shoot several rolls of film before I publish a new camera design.  On one hand, it’s a bit odious to have to prove my camera works, but it’s also exciting to see an idea come to life and exceed my expectations.  In the interest of transparency (pun intended), I post EVERY pinhole photograph I make with my cameras on Flickr, the good, the bad, the fugly.  However, here I allow myself the indulgence of cherry-picking my favorite images from the Kaiju’s first 3 rolls.

Because this camera only makes four shots per roll, I am counting this posting as one roll for the purposes of 52Rolls.

[Addendum:  I should add that my local film lab, Moon Photo, usually scans my film, but their drum scanner cannot handle 120 frames wider than 6X9.  Using a self-designed 3D printed 6X18 film carrier for my Epson V500, I have muddled through scanning these images.  I endeavored to stay true to the color and exposure originally captured by the Kaiju. Any defects or ugliness is purely my ham-fisted doing. If you’re a scanning guru, I would love to tighten up my scanning workflow.]

Film:  FUJICHROME Velvia 50 Professional [RVP50]

Camera: terraPin Kaiju 6×18 Pinhole Gamera

SCOPES outing to the Washington State Capitol

SCOPES outing to the Washington State Capitol

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard. These locks connect Lakes Union and Washington to the Puget Sound.

Looking west, towards the locks from the middle of the Ballard Bridge, Fisherman’s Terminal to the left.

The George Washington Memorial Bridge, AKA the Aurora Bridge, State Route 99, over Lake Union.

The Fremont Bridge, a double-leaf bascule drawbridge built in 1017. It is opening in this 3 second exposure.

Film: KODAK PROFESSIONAL EKTAR 100 Film

Camera: terraPin Kaiju 6×18 Pinhole Gamera

Looking up, under The George Washington Memorial Bridge, AKA the Aurora Bridge, State Route 99, over Lake Union.

The Jesus Bus or Dr. Bronner’s bus,

These rolls were processed by Moon Photo in Seattle; all images are as scanned by me without alteration or added effect.  More photos from this and my other 52Rolls can be found HERE.