Inspiration: Through the Viewfinder
Through the Viewfinder (TTV) photography is when you use a digital camera in conjunction with a vintage TLR camera – such as a Kodak Duaflex or an Argus or any other camera that has a viewfinder large enough – to produce lovely aged images with a vintage feel.
If you are keen to give this a go, there are a few things you will need.
- A digital camera.
- A lovely old vintage camera with a nice big viewfinder.
- A contraption to marry the two cameras together nicely, reducing external light glare.
There are some excellent tutorials about too, check out the following:
- DIY How To: Through the Viewfinder Photography by our very own Jules Campbell
- Through the Viewfinder: A Tutorial
- A thousand words
- Be creative with old cameras
For some more inspiration you might want to visit our fabulous TTV Group.
So, over to you. Have you tried TTV photography? We would love to hear of and see your successes, and we’d also like to learn from your experiences, be they good or not so good. Share your stories with us and maybe help out others who are just getting started on their TTV journey – like me :)
FlowersEtc
Wow, thanks their lovely.
FlowersEtc
Oop’s, forgot, I haven’t tried it yet.
community replied
Me neither Flowers, I’m looking forward to it though!
tkrosevear
who woulda thought, have a few of these oldies in a hutch…thanks Rhana ;) xoxox ♥
community replied
Lucky you! I hope we can look forward to seeing the results of your adventures then? I’m going to scour the second hand shops this week and see if I can find any :)
gabryshak
@tkrosevear…. a few?!! all i can think at the moment is…. sharing is caring
i soooooo wanna play too!! these are wonderful
saving in favorites for future inspirations!
-thanks rhana
t
community replied
Ssssssnap!!
Franka Zaumseil
There is a TTV-exhibition coming up in Sydney as well – if I’m right they are still looking for people to join. Infos here
community replied
Most excellent! Thanks for sharing Franka.
Rosemary Scott
Perfect timing… The Grunge Art Gallery has just featured 12 wonderful images in the TTV style. Not all of them true TTV…. for us it’s more about the treatment, rather than the initial capture….. but TTV certainly looks great!
community replied
Now this have tried. Some beautiful results can be achieved with textures and treatments as well, thanks for sharing Rosemary :)
Kitsmumma
This is great Rhana!
My light blocking contraption is made out of an old nappi san container that I’ve spray painted black on the inside. I cut a whole in one end and the other end is a perfect fit for my lens. Your contraption will depend on the type of macro you are using, you need to adjust the length to suit your lens. Definately get some strange looks when out and about with this set up.
Here’s some of my TTV work
community replied
I was having a good laugh last night looking at all the different contraptions people had created. One that I thought looked particularly easy was a wine cooler bottle bag that you shoved your vintage camera down into, cutting out a hole for the viewfinder. This appealed to me because the cooler bag would fold up into your camera bag easily, and no duct tape was involved ;)
Rosemary Scott
PS… I must find one of these old camera’s & try the real thing…. sounds like lots of fun!
Kitsmumma
Also meant to mention that I bought my Argoflex on ebay for $6 but that was a couple of years ago, they seem to have gone up in price as the technique has taken off, still plenty to be found though :)
lightsmith
What an interesting approach….. I did have some oldies but they have passed on (for too few dollars!) Let me raid the old cupboard …..
community replied
I love those old cupboards… sadly, since we have moved I have no old cupboards left hiding any unknown treasures ;)
parmi
This is awesome, I was checking ebay just last night to find an old viewfinder camera. Really want to give this a go soon!
Faith Hunter
Great article Rhana. I have started trying my hand at TTV after being inspired by Kitsmumma and Jules Campbell. I bought two cameras on ebay, for about US$15 each. That was last year.
Some of my attempts can be seen here but it is really Jules and Kitsmumma who are the resident experts I think. They both do amazing work!
community replied
You have some wonderful images going on there Faith!
ozzzywoman
I love that idea about the wine cooler, it sounds so much more practical than the awkward cardboard arrangement I’m currently using. Going to get one tomorrow!
community replied
Let e know how you go ;)
Soxy Fleming
I’ve only uploaded one ttv and I really need to make that light excluder and maybe butcher the camera a bit. It’s a great technique
community replied
Wow Soxy! That looks like a really old camera you have there, how gorgeous!
Lorraine Creagh
Yay, I’m going to dig mine out and take some shots…so inspiring.
Tania Rose
i’ve got a series planned over the summer….assuming it moves up the priority list!
angelandspot
I love ttv. I need a bigger vintage camera though. It’s really difficult and nearly impossible with the Kodak Brownie Bullet I have at the moment.
Linda Ridpath
wow, we are so creative here on the bubble!!!!
waitin' for rain
the viewfinder of Kodac Duaflex too small for TTV :-(((
Megs D
Thank you so much for the information! After reading this on the TTV Group page I went out and bought myself a Kodak Duaflex. I can’ wait for it to arrive!!
Les Boucher
Those “old” cameras bring back so many memories. I’m off to dig into my treasure box of old cameras including an old Authographic (which allowed you to write directly onto the film using a chinagraph pencil). I may have to get the bellows replaced before I can use it though. Thank you for this I will give it a go.
The InnerNorth...
cool write up
our next show is a ttv one here