Random Snaps: Pete Tsai

Worth a smile: Pete Tsai took a picture of his friend Bea through Vivian Maier's camera. Clever idea.

Mike
(Thanks to Jeff Goggin)

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Original contents copyright 2010 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[David Nicol]

That is very cool. Love it.

[DanF]

I was at the opening and I found the shooting through Vivian Maier's camera a bit of a parlor trick, at best, or a Great America Ride, at worst.

Separately, you will be gratified to learn that I was interviewed by John Maloof's crew for his documentary. In response the question of where I first learned about Ms. Maier, I cited your wonderful blog.

[Mark Kinsman]

Wow amazing coincidence! Saturday, I was at the exhibit and looked through the viewfinder and noticed it was focused o the wall too. At the time, I thought about taking a similar shot but the guard on duty was yelling at anyone even trying to hold a camera up to their face. Glad someone got the image - well done Pete!!!

[Bill Mitchell]

People who haven't had Rolleis probably don't realize that the hood folds inwardlly so pictures can be taken directly at eye level. It was/is a really neat, brilliantly thought-out camera.

[Martin Winter]

Would love to be able to go to that show Mike, but don't see it travelling to the UK just yet!

On a side note, we've actually used that technique for a vintage bridal photo shoot here: http://www.tinoandpip.co.uk/vintagetreasures/

Not easy focussing on a moving subject though!

[Chirtopher Lane]

Hi,

As I was looking at this, my initial reaction OMG not another Vivan Maier post (not my cup o' tea yah see). But then I realized couldn't this technique be used with any any old Rolli? I love the idea. I'm jest sayn'

Christopher

[Mani Sitaraman]

What can we do about these yelling guards everywhere these days?

[Jaimie Dee - Atlanta Wedding Photographer]

That is SO cool!!!!

[Mani Sitaraman]

Apropos Ctein's post on camera prices and inflation (and obsolescence etc.) and this thread...

If you follow Mike's like you can see that Vivian Maier's Rolleiflex TLR had a selenium meter which leads me to believe it was a model 2.8F or 3.5F. Assuming Vivian Maier bought the more affordable 3.5F at $349 in 1960 or so. Very big bucks on a governess's salary. Perhaps it was a gift from an employer. In any case, with a further expenditure on film and/or processing for almost 100,000 photographs or about 8,000 rolls of film she must have spent a substantial amount of her income on her hobby.

[Mike Johnston]

"What can we do about these yelling guards everywhere these days?"

Well, I can tell you what I do. I walk up to the guard first thing and ask him the policy on photography. If he says it's okay, then I shoot whatever I want. If he says it's not allowed, I put the camera away and don't shoot anything. There are pictures everywhere. I can get 'em somewhere else.

BTW the new Modern Wing of the AIC is a lovely place to photograph. Beautiful light, and photography's allowed. And there are masterpieces everywhere. Somebody ought to do a whole project in that place.

Mike

[Matthew Miller]

@Christopher: that is, in fact, a Whole Thing. Search for "TTV photography".

[Mani Sitaraman]

Very sensible, Mike, I couldn't agree with you more.

I should have made clear that it is the now commonplace yelling in the name of 'security' that bothers me more. What about a polite but firm "please put away the camera sir/madam, photography is not permitted"?

[Christoph Grabmayr]

@Christopher, and others who might be interested in this technique, googling "through viewfinder photography" or "ttv photography" will get you tons of pictures done this way, tutorials on setting up a kit, and pictures of these, ah, "contraptions". TLRs are most popular, but you could also use that otherwise useless Sinar 8x10 most of us seem to have lying around.

[Ed]

@Mike. Call Candida Höfer :-). Problem solved.

[Dennis Ng]

@Mani: I thought I saw in the pic that is a F2.8!

[Will Frostmill]

Christoph Grabmayr,
If you, or the countless others reading this would like to be rid of an otherwise useless Sinar 8x10, (or other large format camera,) I would be happy to take it off your hands for a small fee.

Will

[gary isaacs]

clever, but is it one of the most clever ideas of our time?

[PeteTsai]

I'm sure happy so many other people enjoyed my picture! I really enjoyed the exhibit as did my friends that are purely from the digital age.

@Mani~ I belive I read/saw something about the fact that Vivian had come into some money from a relative in Europe that passed away and willed her a part of a farm. She sold her stake in that and used the funds to travel around the world for 6 months and then returned to her nanny duties. As more of the images are scanned it may be interesting to relive her extended holiday around the world.

[charlie]

"What can we do about these yelling guards everywhere these days?"

I feel ya but...it seems policy is often geared around ownership issues? Generally I have found that traveling exhibits seem to be off limits and collections owned by the institution are fair game. Not always but something I have found. Some places don't allow it at all of course.

Best to ask about the policy first. No need to argue with security.

[Chirstopher Lane]

Matthew,

Thanks for the tip. What a great idea. I see that I can get a used Rolleiflex for under $200 at my local camera store. Suggestions anyone?

Chris

[Christopher Lane]

Hi,

Can someone tell me exactly what Rollei model she shot with? Am having a ahrd time digging it up.

Thanks, in advance.

Chris

[paul logins]

This is what I love about the GH2
and cameras like it with an articulated
monitor. You can use it like a Rollei
looking down at an unreversed image.
Very handy when making candid images,
not having to bring the camera to eye
level and drawing attention to oneself.