I have always had a deep interest in physical objects that connect us with our collective history. As I continue to make photos in the digital age, this need for something tangible has only grown. The cameras captured in this series are from my own collection and many of them are still in use. Framing a subject through the viewfinder of these machines is one way to quite literally look into the past.
This series brings life to objects which are often reduced to bookshelf curios by means of Gif animation. Simple movements attribute a playful personality to each camera. Cameras with bellows were chosen as they allow for more movement than a fixed lens device. Lenses expand and contract and focusing adjustments are visible. The SX-70 is much like a Transformer as it changes from a simple rectangular object to a SLR instant camera.
All images were made using a single strobe light, reflective umbrella, silver handheld reflector, and a v flat. Most were shot in the sequence they are presented in. Some utilized slight frame duplication and reversal in order to achieve the intended action. The final piece in the series “Group Photo” incorporated an additional tangible element, the instant photo. This photo was taken by the 110a Land Camera which mimicked the action in the animation.
