Alternative Pinhole Day

I had to drive up to Kaukauna on Saturday, the day before the Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day Experience in Appleton, so John Adams from Photo Opp and I decided to meet at The Draw to load the cameras and make sure everything was ready. 

The venerable Populist documented the weekend. Despite carrying it everywhere with me for eight years, the only submissions to the Pinhole Day gallery I made with it were when it was new in 2008 and 2009. Our more vintage, just-barely 20th century Mustang has done admirable service for my spate of traveling to the Fox Cities in the last year.

The weather forecast had been deteriorating for a week and it turned out to be right. The group show by the Fox Valley Photography Group was over and I had to pick up my picture. By the time I got to the Kaukauna Public Library it was raining quite steadily. I set up the camera and left the shutter open and ran inside.

On the way back to Appleton. The tripod being rigged that way reminded me of the longest thread ever on f295, Stormy's "In which I challenge you to a race." from 2007. It consisted of pinhole images from inside moving vehicles which went on for two years and twenty-two pages. I posted pictures to it on page 10 taken with this camera in this car - and on page 14, stereo versions.

I actually got to the Draw a bit early. I didn't want to take too many photographs since I expected to take some on Pinhole Day, but I did need some establishing shots.

It's on a part of the river known as Eagle Flats between two of the rapids, just upstream from Appleton Lock No. 3.  The paper mill that occupied most of the island is gone and the nearest new apartment buildings are a quarter mile away. It seems to sit alone by itself in the middle of the river.

When John hadn't arrived by 10:05, I checked my email and discovered that somehow I had transposed the time to leave home with the time I had to be there and was an hour early. I drove up the hill to downtown and got a cup of coffee.

John and I loading the cameras.

Before going home, I did a little scouting for Pinhole Day. Everybody was probably going to photograph this isolated house reflecting in the the Lock Channel tomorrow.  Only one person eventually did.

Got back to Oshkosh too late to make lunch, so it's burger time.

Up early on Sunday to check the weather. Well, it's not raining yet, but the probability is 70%.

My intention was to shoot a roll later with the workshop participants, but it is the Pinholy Day of Obligation and there's lots of film in this camera. The magnolia blossomed on the 12th. The rainy weather somewhat dampened the display, but the relative chill allowed the blossoms to persist until the end of the month.

The oaks provide a menacing character to the back of the house which looks somewhat alarmed.

A classic Pinhole Day subject, a wet emerging Tulip.

My trusty steed again ready for more adventure. It has started raining now.

Posing with the cameras and a few tripods while waiting for the participants. I was listening to John and Almon Benton setting up and testing the scanning system during this two minute exposure, wondering what to do if they turned around and noticed what was going on behind them. One funny tripodology note. Much of Photo Opp's equipment collection was donated by professional photographers, so about half the participants had industrial strength Manfrotto tripods to support their three ounce cameras.

The weather still sucks.

The next few pictures were intended to be two minute exposures which included the participants.  During almost all the time people were out taking their photographs, there were a few hanging out in The Draw, probably to dry out, with whom I ended up having conversations. After about twenty minutes, I remembered to close the shutter, during which time no one stayed still long enough to block or reflect enough light to be recorded.

More faint shadows on the couch. Surprisingly, everyone seemed to go outside and not take advantage of those giant windows with exposures only about a minute and a half. A few did very long exposures in the stairway and basement hallway.

At the bar, serving soup to all the hungry silver halides.

With the negatives hung in front of a large white wall, it was fun to stand around and discuss them while they dried. A few folks had never seen a negative. Before you ask, we didn't have much issue with dust. The Draw must just have clean air and it was very humid.

Finally remembered to close the shutter before everyone stopped sending photons to the camera while this group waited for dry negatives.

Oh, all right, I'll show you the double exposure.

Almon operating the very efficient and high resolution scanning system, probably with a crowd around watching the positive pictures appear on the computer. There was precious little time to look at them, and then only in 12 to a screen thumbnails. I've seen a few on Instagram, but not many. If you've posted some on social media, put a link in the comments below.

The cameras back home. They all got a little wet but seemed to dry out without issue. With all the unloading film in the dark, only one winder got lost.

My tripods, notably returned with all the quick-release adapters in place.

By Tuesday, the weather got a little less wet, but not much brighter. To meet Camera Casino's immutable deadline on Wednesday, it's out on the bike to Lake Winnebago to finish the roll. I'm not sure if this little point that defines the south edge of South Asylum Bay has a name.

Two of the trees bordering Miller's Bay framing the north inlet.

The first two boats stored next to the boat launch, probably as disappointed about the weather this weekend as I was.

Now that all the negatives are done, I have to decide what to submit to the Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day annual gallery. Lots to choose from. If you haven't submitted yours, don't forget. In case you're into some cool alternative print process, you've got until June 30th. Our group is Appleton PhotoOpp.

The Populist has a .15mm Gilder Electron Microscope Aperture 24mm from a 24x36mm frame. The film is Kodak Pro Image 100.