Photography Project - How Instant Photographs Work

How do normal cameras work?

To understand instant photography, one first has the know the basics of conventional photography. Normal cameras project the image onto the film, which then has to be developed externally. The film needed for normal pictures consists of a plastic base which is coated with three layers of light-sensitive silver compound. Each of the three layers reacts to a different light spectrum. The top layer is sensitive to blue light, the middle layer to green light while the bottom layer reacts to red light. When hit with light, each of the layers react to the light and form metallic silver in the according layer. This chemical record is then developed with the help of chemicals called developers.

What is the difference between this and instant photos?

Instant photographs develop the photograph inside the camera itself. To facilitate this, special instant film is required, which is loaded into the camera. Each of these films results in a print, just like paper that is loaded into a printer.

How does instant film work?

Instant film consists of the conventional three light-sensitive layers and special additional layers for instant photography. Under each of the three color layers, there lies one developer layer. On top of these layers, lie three more layers: the image layer, the timing layer and the acid layer. All these layers together sit on top of a black base layer. There is one more layer, which sits between the light-sensitive layer and the image layer. This layer contains the reagent, which together with the reagent material breaks loose the chain reaction that results in the developed photograph. At first the reagent material is collected at the border of the film, but when the picture is snapped, the film is passed through rollers, which spread the material out into the middle of the film. As a consequence the reagent reacts and the chain reaction starts. When the chemicals have taken full effect the picture will appear on the film.

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Photography Project - Evaluate Instructions

The instructions for making a camera lucida are generally not well organized but still manage to give the most essential information. As soon as looking at the instructions, one gets confused as where to begin. After eventually finding the start and continuing reading, the confusion grows as one does not know what to glue together exactly. The general lack of numbered steps makes the instructions seem more complicated than necessary. While the drawings provide details for the construction of the camera, the text merely instructs the reader briefly in terms of what actions to perform. The text also does not contain a list of needed materials or tools, which would be very helpful. Another unhelpful part is that a certain David Hockney is mentioned but the reader has no idea who this is supposed to be, so it is a irrelevant information and could simply be left out. Although the text is rather confusing than helpful and although its references to the drawings are unclear, the construction of a camera lucida with the help of these instructions is generally speaking doable.

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Photography Project Description "Migrant Mother"

The black and white picture “Migrant Mother” taken by famous photographer Dorothea Lange shows a Native American woman, probably in her 30s, holding a little baby in her arms while being surrounded by two toddlers leaning against their mother’s shoulder. They are hiding their faces, be it out of sombreness, embarrassment or shyness in front of the camera. The simple, slightly ragged yet proper clothes cannot distract from the sad and sorrowful atmosphere that is created by the little family huddled tightly together outside their simple tent. Her hand’s fingertips are resting thoughtfully against her lower jaw. When closely regarding the mother’s face in detail one can see that her face has been wrinkled by raw weather and the worries of her unforgiving life. With her lined forehead and her gaze into the distance, she seems to be troubled by her and her children’s uncertain future. Despite her obvious misery there lies a certain determination and strength in her appearance, as if she was a lonely wolf mother protecting her pups from the woes of the world.