Sometimes, to look natural, we create a scene. Found a mushroom, set it up on a log, added some dirt and leaves. Four lights, a camera on a tripod, and 60 photos stacked into one — a technique called focus stacking, where the camera works front to back in small increments until everything you want sharp actually is. Been shooting with older gear lately. Nice to remind myself where the current technology can take me.

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As I mentioned a few days back, the museum collection has been cataloged. Now I am working to bring some of these cameras back to life. Many are complete unknowns.
First up was a favorite, my 1977 Spider-Man 126 camera. Still boxed. A glorified toy. The film it is designed for is no longer made, and was discontinued long before the film faded. I found a company selling 3D-printed cartridges shaped like 126mm film that I can load with 35mm film. Due to the lens opening, it takes the whole emulsion from top to bottom, so you get an image that bleeds over the sprockets. I love the look.
I loaded an expired roll of film I had lying around the studio. I had no idea what the result would be — an almost 50-year-old camera, which was nothing to impress when it was new, and a mystery film. I documented the loading on video.
I’m sure a grown man walking around the local park with a Spider-Man camera looked normal.
Here are the results — a light leak in the toy, the old film doing what old film does. I consider this a success. I developed the film in my barn today, part of my first batch of color negative processing in over 20 years.

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