Hi Jake, The topic you posed is interesting. Though I'm not famous, I do on a daily basis use cameras that I built.
I'm not sure if the total number of photographers using their own cameras would be enough for a research project. However, making and altering equipment of all sorts should be a common practice and should provide enough material to draw some valuable conclusions: that photography is a problem solving activity, and using all store-bought answers often does not give good enough results nor satisfy one's creative urges. I found that out when I had my students bulk load their film - even a simple act like that made them feel like participating in the creative act instead of producing predictable results determined by equipment manufacturers. At one time, when it took quite a bit of involvement to make a decent exposure, the photographer had to understand quite a bit of information and be able to manipulate things. Now that anyone can buy cameras that are nearly fail-proof, in terms of exposure and focus at least, that the sense of accomplishment is often not there, unless and until one makes alternative process prints, accomplishes in greater artistic vision, and/or makes his/her own cameras. Good luck. Sam Wang >I'm thinking of applying for a fellowship of which I would research camera >making and its role in the education of photography. Maybe you guys can >help me out by answering a few questions that will help me jump into the >subject so I can see if my proposal would be worth while. > >What are the names of famous photographers who made their own cameras and >used them on a somewhat daily basis? > >I know Ansel Adams made a camera/enlarger. What book has information on >this? > >Do you know of any photography institutions who teach camera making in their >curriculum besides pinholes? > >Do you think that students are missing out by not building their own cameras? > > >Additional comments would be helpful. > >The end product would hopefully demonstrate the need for institutions to >teach the subject matter and to present a design of a simple monorail camera >that anyone can make, use, and learn basic LF principles. > >Thanks >Jake Boen > > > >_______________________________________________ >Cameramakers mailing list >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers _______________________________________________ Cameramakers mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers
