Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day 2021

mooseontheloose · Apr 17, 2021

I haven't noticed any threads about this year's WPPD - anyone have any plans for this year (Sunday, April 25th)?

We may be entering another state of emergency here in Kyoto (similar to last year) soon so I may actually try some indoor pinholes this year, especially if the weather doesn't cooperate. I have a couple of cameras I haven't used in quite a while so may dust them off for this year's WPPD.

DWThomas · Apr 17, 2021

I intend to participate, but have suddenly found myself annoyingly busy for next week with an art show setup and some medical issues -- we shall see. Last year I did some table top efforts due to Covid and rain, probably in a 24 hour period I should be able to at least take a couple of shots to process later. Have managed to do something every year since I discovered the event in 2005, be a shame to break the string!

grahamp · Apr 17, 2021

Carla and I try to do something every year. I just finished making a version of the Will Travel 58/65mm 4x5 body as a pinhole. I need to test it this weekend. There's always the 4x5 cigar box pinhole, the Zero Image 6x9, or even the shutter mounted pinhole on one of the field cameras. Just a case of choosing somewhere suitable. We moved house just before all the restrictions started in California, so we are not as familiar with the photographic possibilities locally as we might have been.

radiant · Apr 17, 2021

Good reason to grab my DIY pin pinhole which I have used only one time since I built it!

Donald Qualls · Apr 19, 2021

In addition to my homebuilt or home converted pinholes, this year I have commercial 6x6 and single/double frame 35mm pinhole cameras. I need to remember to get out with the tripod and one or the other (haven't even used the 35mm Ondu, yet -- been putting it off, meaning to install a sprocket clicker to improve accuracy of advance).

mooseontheloose · Apr 19, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
In addition to my homebuilt or home converted pinholes, this year I have commercial 6x6 and single/double frame 35mm pinhole cameras. I need to remember to get out with the tripod and one or the other (haven't even used the 35mm Ondu, yet -- been putting it off, meaning to install a sprocket clicker to improve accuracy of advance).

I also have an Ondu pinhole that has yet to be used - it's definitely on the list for WPPD! Have you installed a sprocket clicker in other cameras? I've been wanting to do that to my RSS pinholes but haven't figured out the best way to do it yet.

Donald Qualls · Apr 19, 2021

mooseontheloose said:
I also have an Ondu pinhole that has yet to be used - it's definitely on the list for WPPD! Have you installed a sprocket clicker in other cameras? I've been wanting to do that to my RSS pinholes but haven't figured out the best way to do it yet.

I haven't, yet, but it's (supposed to be) easy -- just cut a piece of film or a bread bag tab to a point, then glue the result to the inside of the film chamber where the point will ride in the sprocket holes on the film. Count eight clicks for a full frame, sixteen for a double.

The potentially tricky bit is getting it so it doesn't jam the film on either wind or rewind -- minimal contact with the film sprockets seems like the best route.

@DrHSTGonzo · Apr 20, 2021

Yes indeed. This last weekend I was thinking about pulling out my 6x6 RSS for some shots. I hadn't realized WPPD was coming up until your post, it has been a chaotic year. Appreciate the reminder!
@Donald Qualls & @mooseontheloose : Are y'all referring to using a 35mm - 120 adapter set and take up spool? I have been wanting to try one out with a pinhole camera (and perhaps some other MFs)
~ Ryan

Donald Qualls · Apr 20, 2021

Not in my case, the Ondu I have is natively 35mm, with removable mask dividers to produce either single or double (panoramic, 24x72) frames. I do have a set of 120-35mm adapters that I can use with any of my 120 cameras, but I haven't used them in pinhole (I got a set with my Better Camera Building 6x6 pinhole, and also have two sets I bought to use with my RB67 and have since also used with my Wirgin Auta). They work well, though the RB67 especially wastes a lot of film at the start (needs to have a leader to replace the header paper of 120).

@DrHSTGonzo · Apr 20, 2021

Thanks Donald, the Ondu 35mm sounds pretty cool. I'll have to keep an eye out for one. Now to order the adapter. I'd really be interested in trying it on my RB67. Before loading I may cement some scrap film to make a longer lead to compensate for the back.

Roseha · Apr 21, 2021

I have always seemed to miss WWPD in the past, but this year I have my Reality So Subtle 6x6F already loaded with Rollei RPX 25. I was thinking of taking it to Central Park today but went with my Xpan and Olympus XA with color instead. Sunday has morning rain predicted in New York, but maybe I can pull something off in the afternoon.

RalphLambrecht · Apr 21, 2021

mooseontheloose said:
I haven't noticed any threads about this year's WPPD - anyone have any plans for this year (Sunday, April 25th)?

We may be entering another state of emergency here in Kyoto (similar to last year) soon so I may actually try some indoor pinholes this year, especially if the weather doesn't cooperate. I have a couple of cameras I haven't used in quite a while so may dust them off for this year's WPPD.

It's just like Christmas;Pops up out of nowhere.

Donald Qualls · Apr 21, 2021

@DrHSTGonzo said:
Thanks Donald, the Ondu 35mm sounds pretty cool. I'll have to keep an eye out for one. Now to order the adapter. I'd really be interested in trying it on my RB67. Before loading I may cement some scrap film to make a longer lead to compensate for the back.

Might look up the spec for 120 backing paper to ensure you have enough -- IIRC, you need 14 cm from the start mark (the crosswise arrows on 120 backing) to the start of film, plus enough before that to thread across the gate and attach to the takeup spool.

radiant · Apr 21, 2021

I really would like to have some kind of idea ready for sunday. Something that works for pinhole really well. Any tips?

ChristopherCoy · Apr 21, 2021

vedostuu said:
I really would like to have some kind of idea ready for sunday. Something that works for pinhole really well. Any tips?

Paper and a pringles can?

Donald Qualls · Apr 21, 2021

vedostuu said:
I really would like to have some kind of idea ready for sunday. Something that works for pinhole really well. Any tips?

If you mean a suggestion for subject matter, one of the strengths of pinhole is depth of field -- an image that juxtaposes a very close object against a distant background is almost impossible to photograph with a lens, because one or the other will be out of focus, but pinhole can make a golf ball look as big as a building -- and both be about equally sharp.

radiant · Apr 21, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
If you mean a suggestion for subject matter, one of the strengths of pinhole is depth of field -- an image that juxtaposes a very close object against a distant background is almost impossible to photograph with a lens, because one or the other will be out of focus, but pinhole can make a golf ball look as big as a building -- and both be about equally sharp.

Good idea! I tried proximity on books but it ended up pretty normal photo, see this post (there is even photo of the actual situation): http://tulos.tuu.fi/?p=872

Donald Qualls · Apr 21, 2021

Yep. The close part is good, but there isn't anything to the background. And the close isn't close enough to be remarkable.

The other thing you can do with pinhole that's hard with a lens is extreme wide angle -- like 30mm on 4x5 film wide. That plays into the near/far juxtaposition, too. And curved film planes, like paper inside a paint can or similar.

distributed · Apr 21, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Might look up the spec for 120 backing paper to ensure you have enough -- IIRC, you need 14 cm from the start mark (the crosswise arrows on 120 backing) to the start of film, plus enough before that to thread across the gate and attach to the takeup spool.

I have never found an ISO spec online but I did find this Indian Standard:
https://archive.org/details/gov.in.is.8984.1978/page/n3/mode/2up

I would hope it's quite similar to a comparable ISO spec.

Donald Qualls · Apr 21, 2021

I can't open that link (blocked by my work network), but if it's for 120 film, it should be close. The only thing that's critical is that the film start isn't too far from the start mark -- shortening that by a centimeter or two won't cause problems -- and that there's enough leader before the start mark to thread and attach to the takeup spool. You could just measure those lengths off the backing from a roll of 120 film...

Valerie · Apr 21, 2021

Thank you for the reminder! I've recently been given a handmade 8x10 pinhole and some X-ray film. Sunday Playday!!

grahamp · Apr 21, 2021

Pinholes excel at foregrounds and close-ups - medium and far distance cannot rely on detail as you won't have the resolution. Long exposures (1 second and up) are normal, so as long as you know your reciprocity correction, you can do things that are hard to do with wider apertures. If you make your own pinhole camera you can build in some rise to handle tall buildings.

MattKing · Apr 21, 2021

You could even do a portrait or two...

DWThomas · Apr 21, 2021

I tend to aim for bold compositions, generally large, well-defined objects which have the additional advantage of holding still -- bridges, barns, industrial sites, rock formations ... That said, the long exposures generally involved can produce that silky look on waterfalls and such too. The weather guessers are calling for rain here on Sunday, so it may be another table top pinhole day like last year. Oh well!

ChristopherCoy · Apr 21, 2021

I really want to try something on sunday, but not sure what I would use. I don't want to drill a hole in a Nikon body cap and take 36 pinhole photos.

Could I use some black cardstock and electrical tape and tape a circle over the RB67 body? I've never done pinhole before.

Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day 2021

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