Seeing is Everything

I wait for the waves to come swirling around my feet and when they do, I gasp. The northwestern Pacific Ocean waters are cold, so cold. Gorgeous but unapologetically frigid. Enough to send me running for the blanket, which I immediately sprawl out on. Ava refuses to let the cold water stop her. She wades bravely out into the ocean and I watch as her body takes on soft undulations, I watch as the waves slap unevenly against her skin. She calls out to me and I know what she wants. She wants me to join her. Too cold, I yell back. But she pleads with me, she wears me down. Reluctantly, I grab the Nikon, the Argus Seventy-Five (with the wacky cardboard contraption attached) and make my way towards the water. I look into the viewfinder of the old camera and find Ava. She fills the frame of the tiny glass square and I see her with new eyes. I point the lens of my Nikon into the cardboard device attached to the Argus and I begin to shoot. And I forget about the temperature of the water. My feet are numb but I am oblivious. I can't stop looking, can't stop shooting.

I first read about the Through The Viewfinder technique (aka TtV) back in 2006. I followed a link to a link to another link and before I knew it, I was constructing my first device out of an old cereal box. Through the Viewfinder photography is the using of one camera to take a picture of an image in another camera's viewfinder. In essence, using the second camera's viewfinder as a lens. Two years later and I have come to look at it as my secret weapon. When I am stuck in a photographic rut, I reach for my Nikon/Argus/Duaflex combination and hit the streets. I look down through the viewfinder and my framing changes, I see things so differently. I realize this can be said for most photographic techniques but something about TtV excites me in totally different way. It's the perfect combination of old and new. Simple but complicated. And so accessible. It's the next best thing to loading the camera up with film. And while it will never replace shooting with film, it comes in a very close second. I'll admit, I'm hooked. I'm riding high and waving the TtV flag. I'm not too proud to wave the flag.

And I'm converting sisters along the way. If this interests you, I've written a lengthier breakdown (which will lead you to a whole mess of TtV linkage) over on my blog. Enough to get you started, enough to get your feet wet. And I recommend getting your feet wet. Whether it's with TtV or something else. Whatever takes you out of your comfort zone and plops you right down in the middle of someplace new, whatever forces you to see the world differently, whatever that is for you. Wade out into the cold, unknown waters. It's the only way.

Picture and words courtesy of honorary sister/guess blogger Andrea Jenkins perhaps better known as Hula, woman extraordinaire behind Hula Seventy & girlhula a la Flickr.

Comments

[Jeana]

wow - thank you for sharing this info - I've seen shots like this and always wondered how in heck people did that! It looks so cool. I will have to try it someday soon, i hope...

[Marcie]

This is wonderful. I've been so curious about this technique. You've brought it to life. Thanks for sharing...

[simply blogged / leaca's philosophy]

great info. thanks for sharing.

[iHanna]

Great post, I so would like to try this but I don't have an old camera (I think). I must visit the attick...

[shelli]

Great info. Thanks.

[thea]

you took me right in with this beautiful story. This reminder of what it feels like to allow the camera to take you to a wonderous place. The photo zone:)

I too love ttv photography. I had a gallery show of just my ttv images, where hearing people reflect on how they felt looking at the images, convinced me that it is a powerful method of storytelling.

This image is gorgeous!

[Gayle]

What a great photo! I sure wish I had some of my dad's old cameras.

[claudia]

woohoo! I'm waving the flag right there with you sister! Ttv shooting is some much fun. My next venture is to try to do a video through mine, I saw one on the Through the Viewfinder flickr group someone did of a train and I hunger to try it but haven't had time. Here's my flickr set of some of the fun I've had
http://flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/sets/72157605341035086/
I've shot some people shots but only just recently learned of a good PSE method for eliminating some of the dust and noise off the skin.

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

That's so funny, I posted a TtV flower shot on my blog last night! I love this technique.

http://www.wayfaringwanderer.com/2008/09/new-england-aster-diptych.html

I have also written an article about the technique.
http://www.tzplanet.com/words/be-creative-with-old-cameras-through-the-viewfinder/85

[Robin]

Really interesting idea, too bad I only have one simple boring camera, I feel I miss out on so much sometimes but someday I'll have more.

[Kacey]

The beginning of your post just sucked me into your story! I haven't tried the through the viewfinder technique. Yet. I think I'll go read up on it. Love your photo!

[jessica]

I am intrigued by this process. the light and colors that are given off by the old cameras are just unrivaled. I hope to acquire an old camera once we are settled in america. i am sure i will be bitten by remorse, at the thought of all the photos that could have been done here in this fashion. really wonderful photos you have hula!

[spread your wings]

this is a beautiful photo (i love the reflection) and I DO love that technique.

[m. heart]

this is fantastic, i've been eyeing my old brownie camera for a while now and i'm hoping this will enable me to get some use out of it!

[Amy]

I had stumbled upon this technique only recently as I was trying to find film online for my kodak duaflex II. Your photos are just gorgeous. I've been toting my cardboard contraption around with me lately and trying to play with a variety of different moods. Thanks for the post! It's encouraging me to continue to play. :)

http://drawingsinmotion.blogspot.com/search/label/TtV%20-%20Through%20The%20Viewfinder

[kelly rae]

hula,
you rock.
i absolutely LOVE how you see the world. and how you document it with your photos and words :)
xo

[Tracy Fanslow]

WOW - love reading about the special technique. Can't wait to give it a try. Great blog. I'll be back!

Tracy
www.HappyDaisyAZ.blogspot.com

[mika]

i can't wait to begin exploring this, too... i'm looking forward to starting my search for a argus/duaflex/etc this october....i promised myself i'd wait till this month...it's almost here! i can't wait!

[Michelle S]

I love your ttv photo. The water looks especially cool and your daughter is very brave in that cold water.

I first saw this type of photo when I found some of Alicia Bock's work. It was so beautiful! That's what originally made me want to learn more about photography - I wanted to be able to make something like that. Now, I have both a Duaflex and an Argoflex camera that I found in a local "junk" shop.(They are very inexpensive on eBay, as well). They have this wonderful silvery look when you look into the viewfinder - like looking into a very old mirror.

I didn't get my box contraption right until the second try. I need a lot more practice. And subjects. I can't wait to see my favorite bridges through the viewfinder. Here's a link to a page in my blog that has a couple of posts showing some ttv.

http://askewtoyou.blogspot.com/search?q=ttv

I look forward to seeing what others come up with. It feels like part photography and part science experiment.

[Julie Alvarez]

I adore this technique. I just don't use the strange device, because my second camera is an old reflex Nikkormat, and no light comes between the digital lens and the viewfinder.
Here's my set of TtV on flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/sets/72157607326531552/
Thanks for all the tips.

[golightly]

I've been so busy I hadn't built a blackout contraption for my new Duaflex - until today!

[Jenny Rebecca]

I have a wonderful old Yashica of my grandfather's but it as a red grid in the viewfinder! :o(

[Rachel Parton]

I have the adult version of that bathing suit! It's semi-captured here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/partonponderings/2733548918/

[Yoli]

Girl this is enchanting! I have to research this!

[Jackie]

Okay, okay, I'm wading in! I've been sitting on the side of the pool admiring other people's ttv shots and now. i. must. get on the very tall diving board and jump in myself! Right now! Even if it is only 41 degrees F.

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