Wild 'n' Wacky Cameras

Cary Norton is completely freaking stoked about the Legotron—and with good reason; go to the link to see the nice pix he took with it. Assembly photos at his site.

And if you've always wanted a Hasselblad but just couldn't spring the scratch (they're actually still fairly expensive on the used market)—you could go the route of Kelly Angood's Pinhole "Hasselblad," made almost entirely of corrugated cardboard. An oatmeal cannister probably works better—but isn't as stylish, unless you admire the Quaker dude's bomb diggity lid.

Classic pinhole camera body

Of course, the weirdness of Cory and Kelly's two cameras pales in comparison to something truly weird, such as Wayne Martin Belger's Human Skull Camera, made from the 150-year-old skull of a 13-year-old girl. Fair warning: the link might somewhat discomfiting if you happen to be a human being yourself.

Mike
(Thanks to numerous readers)

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Original contents copyright 2011 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[G Wiz]

While the Lego camera is fun - the skull camera is amazing.

[James]

My 5 year old boy is on a lego kick at the moment, which gives me a wonderful excuse to re-enter my own childhood with him at the kitchen table. My 11 year old girl is far too cool to be seen dead at such pastimes.

That human skull camera is just breathtaking in its' ability to horrify me and make me think at the same time. The dominant emotion is "did he get the original owner's permission?" I suspect not, and let me state publicly to any future descendants of mine (Google will remember) that in 150 years from now I do not want any part of my body being used for photography. Leave me be in peace gently fertilising the chalky soil of Wiltshire.

On the other hand, the 2 images taken with the skull-cam are distinctly arresting. Is it me, or has the second been either manipulated to impose a skull into the cloud, or is that a seriously freaky coincidence?

[David]

A non-cardboard hasselblad is about $800 on the bay, with 80mm lens. Hardly expensive, for what it delivers.

[Moose]

I posted this to Cary's site"

"Neat camera!

The three small images are so obviously alt. But Ashley came out so well as a conventional portrait that I thought I’d make a suggestion. The focal plane is in front of her face, on her hair. Using a deconvolution app, like Focus Magic, it’s possible to move the apparent plane of focus back to eyes, nose and mouth.

I’ve done it subtly, and I think it makes a good portrait better. You’ve got the eyes close to the 2/3 points already and a sharper central face axis pulls the gaze naturally to the focal point.

I think my Lego building days are past, but I admire what you’ve done with them."

Moose

[Andrew]

"Bomb diggity lid"

Hmmmmmm

[Mike Johnston]

You want a Quaker hat, you know you do.

Mike

[Ed]

For more strange camera experiments how about this.

http://www.beikey.net/mrs-deane/?p=5152

Digital large format camera's home grown (as much in Holland is home grown, ehem). Art on a shoestring budget were the limitation is the prophecy. And the honorable Mrs. Deane is a site wearth following anyway!

Greetings, Ed

[James]

It's called a "Wide Awake" hat. You can still buy them, at least here in the UK. I've never seen one actually being worn, but someone must be buying them!

[Steve Smith]

A non-cardboard hasselblad is about $800 on the bay, with 80mm lens. Hardly expensive, for what it delivers.

That really depends on a person's ability to find a spare $800. I know I couldn't find it at the moment.

[Max]

Legoflex!!

[Steve]

That cardboard Hassy is fantastic. Like the pinhole Leica, only better.

[proudphotography]

Are they really camera? Or prototype only for showcase? I like the the Legotron. I wonder if it will fall off if I drop it to the floor?