The last shot I posted gained some traction, so I felt like sharing some more of what I’ve done with my scanner camera. The scan is done from top to bottom in about 2 minutes, the model did a great job of staying still throughout.
While scanning motion is definitely eye-catching and spectacular, there are other qualities to appreciate. The gorgeous soft, yet tack sharp aesthetic of large format photography is easily available with a scanner.
Usually I fight the IR-super sensitivity of the sensor, but this time it made her skin iridescent against the rock in the background.
Nice work! What does the optics look like? Do you have a picture of the whole thing?
Thanks!
There’s a picture of the camera in this comment section
Basically it’s an acrylic magnifying glass stuck into a foamboard box held together with gaffers tape. Focus (and FoV by design) is controlled by adjusting the distance between the lens and the scanner surface.
But wait, if the scanner was your camera then how did you take the picture?
They scanned a mirror.
Interested in this as well.
I don’t understand what is it you did but I’m glad you did it because this looks amazing
It really gives an “old camera” vibe. It would be fitting if the background was fake, just in the old images. You have an eye for composition as well.
Thanks! I dream of someday having enough resources to rent a studio space and construct some proper scenography with experts in the field. It could make for some truly wild landscapes and photos.
Very intriguing effect. Dreamlike. Does the camera have a viewfinder, or do you just have to experiment to get the framing right?
There’s no viewfinder at the moment. I point the camera to the best of my ability, do a low resolution scan over about 10 seconds, and adjust appropriately. Framing and focus is difficult, but gets easier over time. Whenever I have people helping or modeling on a picture, I make very sure they’re aware that it is a messy trial and error process.
Yes! Marvelous! I’m so happy to see more of your gorgeous work. I just love it - as a concept, and its results; what a damned cool way to art.
I can understand the scan lines, but what causes the “dirt” in the image? Very cool!
Thanks! I’m glad you think its cool!
Im afraid the ‘dirt’ is actual dust and grime on the glass plate. It’s a hassle to disassemble and clean, so I don’t do it nearly often enough.
It adds to it, leave it!
Very fucking cool.
Very cool. I like the vertical black lines, it looks like a film reel from an old movie that has been scratched going thru the projector.
Wild, have you messed with moving it around during exposure?
I haven’t messed with moving the camera around, but I’ve done heaps of experiments with motion in front of the camera.
I do have a dream of doing a sort of anamorphic projection through time, that will require camera motion, but that’s on the cooker for now
I was wondering if you had done more. Two minutes?! Wow.
