Category Archives: 1914 Brownie

More Shots from the 100 Year Old Camera – Still Learning

Posted on June 1, 2012 by | 2 Comments

On the same weekend trip that I talked about here, I took along the camera I talked about here. Like with the Duaflex II, I used FujiChrome Velvia 100. It’s a good film, but not my favorite.

The first shot is from Multnoma Falls, Oregon. It’s an iconic shot that pretty much every photographer and his grandmother has captured. I waited and waited for people to get off the bridge so I could get a clear pic, but finally, I gave up. This happened because a very West Virginia type of fellow yelled up from where I was standing to the bridge “Hey thar, cousin! Wave yer arms up so as I can take a pi’tur o’ you!” I figured, “why not?”

This was taken at the same overlook as captured here. It’s interesting to see how two different cameras, even if loaded with the same film and taking shots of the same thing at nearly the same time can give two completely different feels.

I wish I could remember which overlook I was on when I took this. It’s one of my favorite pictures. I believe it to be Mayer State Park. There, I met an older English couple who talked to me about box cameras and “vipers.”

I waited in the cold wind for this one. Sun plays a huge roll in trying to get the right look, especially at the Painted Hills (part of the John Day Fossil Beds in Oregon). The sky took on a strange purple hue that is probably due to the film being “cross processed” (when you develop slide film as regular negative film).

When you’re dealing with a 100 year old box camera, it’s sometimes impossible to tell if what you want to shoot is completely in frame. Yes, there’s a view finder, but it’s mostly fogged over by 100 years of life. The engine is a fully functioning early 1900s two-truck Heisler run by the Sumpter Valley Railroad.

Here’s another great example of how two different cameras can capture the same shot differently. I caught this with the Duaflex II at the same time.

Again, I waited for the sun at John Day Fossil Beds. I believe this is called Picture Gorge.

This, the last shot on the roll, I really botched. This is Cathedral Rock near the John Day Fossil Beds. I didn’t aim high enough. With the Brownie camera, you’re supposed to literally shoot from the hip. That sometimes leads to shooting too low. That was the case here. This camera would be much better suited for wide expanses. Or a better photographer.

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Photos from a 100 Year Old Camera and the Need to be Still

Posted on May 24, 2012 by | 1 Comment

A few weeks ago, I posted about my new old camera. It was made by Kodak in 1914 (so it’s 98 years old, I guess).

I took some photos (seven in all – one didn’t turn out) and here they are!

Freight at Carkeek Park, Seattle, WA

Steamboat Rock, Grand Coulee, WA

Grand Coulee, WA

Yeager Rock, WA

Freight in Everett, WA

Blurry Interurban Pillars, Larabee State Park, WA

Larabee State Park, WA

So… my impression. The first roll of film shot with a camera really tells you a lot about the camera. For instance, I clearly have a light leak. I’m not sure I hate it though. Also, there’s a string or fuzzy of some sort going on. It’s also not that huge of a deal to me.

Mostly, however, the first rolls tells you a lot about yourself. I need to slow down. Thanks to digital point and shoots, I’m always in such a hurry to get the shot. I need to set it up and breathe. I also need to watch my movement. This camera is clearly very sensitive to that. It’s got a lot to do with how the shutter release is set up. Not that it’s the camera’s fault, I just have to learn how to use it. Be still. Be calm. Take the time to get the shot.

The second picture (Steamboat Rock) is lovely. I was still and just captured the image. The one after that, I don’t even remember taking. I was probably rushing myself and this was the result. The rest, aside from the last one, are fairly blurry.

I seem to like to take photos of moving trains. This might not be the best camera in the world for that. Still, I’m betting I can find a way to make it work. I just need to be still.

For those interested, I used FujiChrome Provia 100F. It’s quite possibly my favorite film. I might give B&W film a shot

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My New 100 Year Old Camera

Posted on May 7, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Last week, I picked up a Kodak Brownie – the world’s first hand-held camera.

Way back in 1900, Kodak introduced the Brownie, created by Frank Brownell, but named after popular children’s characters “The Brownies” (according to Kodak, anyway). The camera was basically a cardboard box with a lens. It sold for a buck and everyone wanted one.

A year later, the price doubled and we got the Brownie No. 2. The No. 2 was considered the higher end camera, as it had two aperture settings – one for sunny skies, one for cloudy. Other models came along quickly, like the folding Brownie and the folding pocket Brownie.

But the box Brownies were more popular (and less expensive).

My model, Brownie No. 2 Model D was introduced in 1914 (which makes it 98 years old, I guess). The difference between the C and D models was that mine featured a new spring latch for the back rather than the old sliding one.

The camera takes 120 film – the same film that the Holga takes. In fact, the Brownie No. 2 series was the first camera to ever use 120 film.

It takes 2 1/4″ X 3 1/4″ negatives, which give you a whopping eight pictures per roll. Yes, this isn’t your typical snapshot camera. You need to be very selective about what you try to capture.

I loaded it up with Fujichrome Provia 100F and will hopefully get a chance to test it out this upcoming weekend when we (hopefully) venture into central Washington again. This camera needs bright light, and the desert will work.

What’s really great is that they made so many of these, that there are still tons around. Most of those tons still work. And what’s even better is that they’re cheap. Even cheaper than a Holga. It’s all pretty exciting.

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