AlexAtBat

This is a cool effect, how did you accomplish this.?

Just the quality (or lack thereof) of the lens. Straight negative and contact print. The Speed Graphic camera was used because it has a focal plane shutter in the camera, so one is not needed as part of the lens. Basic focusing is done on the ground glass, the film holder is then put in the camera, and composing is done with the camera's "sport finder" (a wire frame one centers the scene in -- not too exact.)

The single element lens (the magnifying glass) is not at all corrected for the various distortions that naturally occur with lenses. Only the center of the image will be sharp. With no aperature, there is very little depth of field...always "wide open". By using the instant Polaroid Type 55 film, I could make quick tests to determine the bext exposure on the film. I did not need to know the exact aperature of the lens.

PS -- this was Alex's last game and the only hit (and rbi) he got that year -- pure luck!

Was this just a straight magnifying glass or a magnifying glass in front of a lens? This is one of the things I love about this site, always finding new sources of inspiration and techniques to try. Thank you for sharing.

Only the magnifying glass. You can hold the magnifying glass in front of a piece of white paper to see what type of image it throws -- and if you measure the distance between the glass and the paper when you have something far away ('infinity') in focus, that distance will be the focal length of the "lens".

Thank you for the explanation Vaughn, much appreciated

I did an entire fashion shoot once using only a magnifying glass on a contraption made out of cardboard tubes. The colours and soft focus was so dreamy.

Now you have me thinking about using it on my 4x5.