Blurry and Dreamy Shot

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shava

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hi everyone, nice to meet u

i've been a huge fan of Susan Burnstine photos since they are so beautiful, dreamy and unique..

i wonder how she did that photos.. i notice that she created a homemade camera with modified lens but can someone please give me some hint about how to create something like that ?

you can see some of her photos in here :
http://www.soulcatcherstudio.com/exhibitions/burnstine/index.htm

PS : sorry if my english is bad btw 🙂

thx before 🙂
 
No idea how she did it, but I agree that her photos are quite interesting. However, I think that effect would eventually get a bit old.

There are lots of ways to achieve somewhat similar results, but I do not know what tricks she is using. It would appear from the apparent Scheimpflug technique that she has done some lens movements to alter the plane of focus. It would also appear some fairly heavy filtration was used, perhaps a dark red filter. Vasoline on the lens as well? Dunno. I doubt I could replicate it, but it would be interesting to try.
 
bmattock said:
No idea how she did it, but I agree that her photos are quite interesting. However, I think that effect would eventually get a bit old.

There are lots of ways to achieve somewhat similar results, but I do not know what tricks she is using. It would appear from the apparent Scheimpflug technique that she has done some lens movements to alter the plane of focus. It would also appear some fairly heavy filtration was used, perhaps a dark red filter. Vasoline on the lens as well? Dunno. I doubt I could replicate it, but it would be interesting to try.
Click to expand...

thx for the reply .. 🙂

btw, i've tried using a transparent plastic cup as a filter, but the result is dissapointing.. 🙁

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shavanta/4200785650/in/set-72157622903260698/
 
To apply vaseline to a filter is one way to get similar effects. Another way is to use a bigger piece of glass and hold it free in front of the lens. With a SLR you can control the effect in the finder and modify it by tilting or moving the glass.

A quick search (susan burnstine effect filter) let me find this:
http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/conten...ep-x-step/e3i235cb0d15bf335ea8ce243ab8a8eb5fb
Maybe this helps too.
 
Last edited:
petronius said:
... A quick search (susan burnstine effect filter) let me find this:
http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/conten...ep-x-step/e3i235cb0d15bf335ea8ce243ab8a8eb5fb
Maybe this helps too.
Click to expand...

Ah yes! Ever see those kids telescope or binoculars, tiny, brightly colored and entirely made of plastic? I think there was a Capt'n Crunch collapsing telescope at one time, and McDonalds I think, had a "spy scope" that was a compass with a larger objective (50-60mm focal length, about f/2.5 or so) and a smaller ocular lens (about 10mm, f/1-ish). Together they made a tiny, optically horrid, galilean telescope. Either could be used for photography, but they are visibly aspherical, and not in a good way! The lens warps, swirls and blurs it's image, and I will bet no two are alike!

Thanks for the link Petronius! I have seen those lenses all my life, and it is good to see they can be used the way Burnstine does! I've got some old folders, so I could play with this idea, once I get some "spare time". 😉

One nit:
The above link said:
... Since Burnstine’s homemade camera had a range finder rather than a single-lens reflex, she had to guess the distance ...
Click to expand...
 
aha.. thx u very much for the link, sir!!!

it's much harder than i thought, but she's inspired me to create some homemade filter or lenses.. i always want to create a photo that have unique style like her and Moriyama 😀
 
bmattock said:
No idea how she did it, but I agree that her photos are quite interesting. However, I think that effect would eventually get a bit old. ...
Click to expand...

For most of us, yes, it would get old Bill. But when I look through many dedicated artists (as I am thinking Burnstine is) they tend to develop one style at the expense of their versatility. Photographic variety is fun, but what does it result in? A bunch of photos that look like a bunch of other people's photos, eh?
 
I think the easiest way to get these effects would be with a LF camera with movements, and just a shutter in place of the lens. Then you could place your own lens on top of this. Alternatively, you could use a 6x6 camera like a Hasselblad, with a filter attachment on a flexible mount and play with various filters plus vaseline.
 
It does get old, (so I made them to fit other cameras) here are two from two homemade lenses: one is from a Hollywood Reflex camera lens and the other an Instamatic lens on my BessaR (with a large aperture)(I also have a magnifier lens, but no images):

3113179959_26d523142c.jpg


4260421054_d10ab281a8.jpg
 
she's good. most of her pictures would work even better without the gunk, optical or digital... before i wasted a buck on a thimbleful of vaseline i would ask myself, are my pictures worth the goo?

😎
 
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Bump 🙂

I like her work and approach.
https://www.cartierbressonnoesunrelo...de-pesadillas/

BIO:

Susan Burnstine is one of the few photographers today avidly pursuing alternative processes to create an idiosyncratic and deeply personal visual landscape. Initially, Burnstine sought to find a way to portray her dream-like visions entirely in-camera, rather than with post-processing digital manipulations. To achieve this, she has created twenty-one handmade film cameras and lenses that are frequently unpredictable and technically challenging. The cameras are primarily made out of plastic, vintage camera parts, and random household objects, with single-element lenses molded from plastic and rubber. Learning to overcome their extensive optical limitations required Burnstine to rely on instinct and intuition--the same tools that are key when attempting to interpret dreams.

http://www.susanburnstine.com/bio.htm
Click to expand...

ABOUT THE PROCESS

Susan's images are shot on film with homemade medium format cameras and homemade lenses, primarily made out of plastic, vintage camera parts and random household objects. Effects are created entirely IN-camera. No photoshop post-processing techniques are used to achieve effects.

PRINTS

All images are printed at 12x12 or 16x16 in limited editions of either 25 or 15 with a total of 5 artist proofs. Images are individually printed by Susan with ultrachrome K3 inks on archival, acid free, 100% rag, fine art paper and hand coated with giclee varnish. A select group of images are available in 27x27, edition of 3 with a total of 2 artists proofs. Prints are signed and numbered in pencil au verso.

http://www.susanburnstine.com/purchase.htm
Click to expand...
 
Wow- this is an old thread.

Several photographs exhibit the optical characteristics of reversing one of elements of a lens.
 
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