How Instant Photographs Work!

In 1947, the first instant camera was built. What was so special about it was the fact that the film developed itself in only a few minutes. This was a major achievement considering that it used to be fairly complicated and time consuming to develop film. Even though it seems to be magic that makes the pictures appear, it actually is a fairly simple process.
There are not too many differences between a regular camera film and an instant camera film, thus, I will commence with explaining photography in general.
Usually, film consists of a plastic base coated with a silver compound. When light hits the film it causes a chemical reaction that forms silver atoms. The pattern created by the silver compound that has reacted with very much, very little or no light at all shows the image taken. Colour film is very similar, the only difference is that it has three layers, one sensitive to blue light, one sensitive to green light and one sensitive to red light. When the film is exposed to light, each layer reacts with its specific colour. Again, the pattern created by the reaction shows the picture taken.
While the chemicals needed to develop normal film have to be added one by one, the instant camera has all the required chemicals in the film itself.
Underneath each colour layer, there is a developer layer containing the dye chemicals for the specific colour. These light sensitive and developer layers lie in between a black base layer and the image layer, the timing layer and the acid layer. The different layers are components of a chain reaction waiting to be set in motion. The component triggering the chain reaction is called reagent layer and is a mixture of opacifiers that block light, alkali that neutralizes acid, white pigment and some more elements. It is located in between the image layer and the light sensitive layer. When a picture is taken, the film is exposed to light for a short period of time and then pressed through a pair of rollers that releases the reagent layer through pressure. The reagent chemicals change the particles exposed to light into metallic silver and dissolve the dye that make the colours of the photo appear. At the same time the reagent chemicals also move upward and activate the layers on top. Once all processes are completed, the light blocking chemical clears up and the picture will slowly appear.

[397 words]


http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/instant-film.htm

Rating Instructions: How to make a Camera Lucida!

At first, the instructions for making a camera lucida looked quite promising and appealing thanks to the drawings, the font and the design in general. After taking a closer look, however, we realized that they are actually quite confusing and not very helpful.
What we first noticed was the missing material and tool list. It was only after carefully reading the instructions that we were able to make our own list. This fact alone takes out the fun of building the camera lucida with theses instructions.
In addition, chronological step-by-step instructions would be a lot easier to understand than writing everything in one paragraph as it is done on the sheet. It is far easier to follow a chronological list than a full text, especially because you want to refer back to the instructions from time to time. Moreover, the instructions are not very detailed, we were fairly confused from time to time.
What we recognized as well was that the drawings do not match the instructions Neither did we know where to start, nor could we make any sense whatsoever of the first drawing.
The firstly believed nice handwriting turned out to be hard to read: We could not decipher whether the figures given were in millimeters, centimeters or even meters.
What confused us the most was the mentioning of David Hockney, what has he to do with all this? Even if he is important in relation to the camera lucida, his name should not be in the instructions.
When analysing the instructions we realized that if we were to build a camera lucida by only using these instructions, we would give up completely frustrated and discouraged. Unless we try to find better instructions on line there will be no camera lucida for us.

[295 words]

How to make your own Camera Obscura!

What you need:

• a large piece of card (70x90cm) 
• a marker pen 
• a magnifying glass lens 
• a biro 
• a craft knife 
• duct tape 
• a long ruler 
•  tracing paper 

How to do it step by step:

1. For your two cardboard tubes, measure and mark a piece of 60x40cm (Piece 1) and next to it one of 58x20cm (Piece 2). WARNING: Place the pieces carefully on your cardboard, you need to cut out three pieces in total: 60x40cm, 58x20cm and 15x15cm. If you don’t place them carefully you won’t have enough space for all of them. 
2. Cut the two pieces out with your knife. HINT: In order to make your cuts straight, use the ruler to steady your hand. 
3. Measure four times the length of 15cm on the long side of Piece 1. 
4. Measure four times the length of 14,5cm on the long side of Piece 2. 
5.  Now use the biro to score the card of both pieces. Your Piece 1 should now show four sections of 15x40cm, your Piece 2 should show four sections of 14x20cm.
6. Once folded, use your duct tape to hold Piece 1 and Piece 2 together incividually. 
7. Now you need to cut a piece the size of the end of the outer tube, 15x15cm (Piece 3). 
8. With your marker, make two lines (from corner to corner) which cross in the middle to show you the center of your piece. 
9. Now place the lens in the middle of this cross and mark its outer lines. 
10. Remove the lens and mark and cut a small square in the middle of the circle. The size of this square depends on the size of your lens, if your lens has a diameter of 7cm, your square should have a side length of 5-6cm. 
11. When the square hole is cut out, place the lens in the middle of Piece 3 again and stick it on the card with duct tape. Make sure the duct tape does not cover the entire lens, you need to be able to look through the square you cut out. 
12. Place Piece 3 on the end of Piece 1 and fix it with duct tape. 
13. Cut out a piece of tracing paper the size of 16x16cm and tape it on the end of your Piece 2. 
14. Now slide Piece 2 into Piece 1 so that both covered ends are on the same side. 
15. Your Camera Obscura is ready for use: go outside and try it out. HINT: You can focus by sliding Piece 1 to and fro. Your image will be upside down, this is a natural effect caused by the lens. 

Special Idea: It will be even more fun to use your Camera Obscura when you paint it and make it more colorful.


[479 words]

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0wenfVfHuo

Compare two Polaroid advertisements

When looking at advertisements 1 and 2, the differences are quite substantial, especially considering they were both advertising for the same product and are both composed of a picture of a Polaroid camera and a text underneath it. Whilst comparing the two pictures we noticed that the first advertisement is from 1956 and the second advertisement is from the 21st century. One thing that struck us immediately when comparing and contrasting the two advertisements is the main focus. While the modern one focuses on the Polaroid camera itself and shows nothing but the product, the older one chooses to feature on a gentleman on a lively street who is looking at a Polaroid camera in a shop window. In addition to this, the texts are very different as well. From analyzing advertisement 2 it is clear to see an explicit reference to the NSA scandal in 2013, the issue of privacy and how this official government organization was spying on basically the entire world. It appeals to everybody’s wish to maintain their human right to keep their private life private by saying that this fantastic Polaroid camera leaves your photos to you and nobody but you, unless you want to share them. However, advertisement 2 does not really tell you to buy the camera. It only implies that it might be favorable if you bought it. The older advertisement, on the other hand, describes the actual process of purchasing the magnificent new camera. It actually tells you to purchase the product by saying “go ahead...get it!”. These substantial differences in message can be explained by the fact that the 1950s were a period of wealth and economic growth. People had money and were eager to spend it. In conclusion we can say that these two Polaroid advertisements are very distinct indeed, even though it does not seem that way at the first glance.

[313 words]

Describing Paragraph: Boy With Toy Hand Grenade!

The old black-and-white photo shows an approximately 10 year old boy in a city park holding a toy hand grenade. It looks like a sunny and delightful day. Even though some people are strolling around in the blurry background, the main focus is definitely on the young boy. He is standing on the pavement all by himself, under the shade of the big a tree right behind him. The boy is dressed in a rather casual way, wearing a checked shirt, dark overalls and socks which are far too big. The strap of his overalls hang awkwardly off his right shoulder and create an untidy image. His incredibly skinny arms and legs make him appear undernourished, and since his clothes are oversized this impression is intensified. His actually rather likeable and not unfriendly face is framed by short fair hair. On this photo, however, the boy’s face is contorted in a weird way. His eyes, which looked directly into the camera, are opened wide, his lips are distorted and his teeth are clenched together. The impression that this boy is desperate, tense, even slightly maniac is supported by him making this bizarre face. Additionally, his left hand is strained in a claw-like gesture and his right hand clenches the toy grenade tightly. He seems to be irritated or unsettled by something and does not look relaxed at all. The entire picture creates a rather dark atmosphere and evokes a somehow disturbing ambiguity because of several reasons. One upsetting aspect is that a boy, who should be glad enough to be able to play in a park on a wonderful, sunny day, appears to be so utterly unhappy. In addition to this, his playing with a hand grenade is somehow frightening and troubling.

Little History of Photography

Peer Feedback:

In general my classmates said that my narrative was pretty good. They mentioned, however, that it is weird that the initiating event is only revealed at the end of my story. While criticizing some spelling and punctuation mistakes or word repetitions, they still concluded that they liked my story.
I know that Inge said I had to look at the punctuation in the direct speech again, so I looked the rules up in the Oxford Dictionary and they confirmed that I actually did it the right way. I don’t know what’s the problem and therefore didn’t change anything.

Final Version:

“My dear little Brownie, when you’re ready you will be one of the most important cameras ever built,” the inventor told the box on his table one bright morning while putting the last little pieces into place. Everything had to be finished by eleven o’clock, when the presentation was going to take place.
“You know, it all started almost 80 years ago, in the early 1820s, when two Frenchmen called Niepce and Daguerre took the first photograph with their Camera Obscura. People back then thought capturing an image was some kind of magic and even thought it was blasphemy to take photographs of humans - it was ridiculous,” the old man laughed.
“Another important man was a physicist, Arago, who held a famous speech in front of the Chamber of Deputies on behalf of photography. Of course, these early technologies couldn’t compete with ours. It took ages to take a photo because of the long exposure time, and they were overly expensive. This, however, was the reason why they were so precious…well, also because each of them was unique, and they were passed on from family member to family member. You will change this, my friend. You will change photography from a luxury to something available for everyone.”
One of the inventor’s colleagues entered the small room, “The presentation starts in half an hour. Will you be ready by then?”
“Of course. Thank you, John.”
When the young man closed the door behind himself, the inventor continued, “We have to fast forward a little, my dear, otherwise you won’t be ready for your big moment. So, where was I? Ah right, it was in the 1860s that photography was becoming more popular. The first professional photography studios were established and families started to have their photographs taken. In these pictures requisites and props were used because people needed something to lean on - the exposure time was still pretty long. Eventually, after a decade or so, photography became even more popular and was seen as some kind of art and even became equal to painting. Surrealist photography started with Atget who no longer focused solely on people but also buildings, squares, or only little parts of something bigger. But you know what? Only rich people and artists had access to cameras. You will change this. You will be the first commercial camera. Now let’s go and impress my boss.” With these words the old inventor took the first Brownie ever built and left the small room with the aim to present it to the world.

[422 words]

A day in the life of a Birgit!

A day in the life of a Birgit is as often exciting as it is boring. It is either filled with happiness and laughter or depressing thoughts and a f*ck-you-world attitude. The common Birgit is, as you can see, a highly dangerous and unpredictable being. Luckily, the day we encountered our Birgit was a good one. Its mood was all glorious and happy and there was lots of laughter and stupidtiy around it.

First thing it did when its alarm clock rang was, as usual, making a cup of its favourite tea (Yogi Tee -> Lebensfreude), turning on its laptop and trying to wake up while browsing the internet and checking its mails. As the day was bright and the sun was shining its mood lifted immediately and it was looking forward to getting the day started.
Even Uni was highly enjoyable for this particular Birgit on this particular day because Birgits tend to think that a day is exactly what you make out of it and, as it was in such a  good mood, it made the best of it.
When Uni was over the day got even better for the Birgit. It convinced its friend of a similar species, the Laura, to accompany it on a shopping trip. Even though it had to buy jeans, and Birgits usually hate that because they just can't find ones that fit, this Birgit had the best time because - believe it or not - it wasn't that hard after all to find a fitting one. After this delightful and surprising experience the Laura made the suggestion of rewarding themselves with some ice cream. No sooner said than done.
They enjoyed their delicious ice cream with a considerable amount of joy and laughter, and our photographer even managed to get a close-up photo of these two rare species in interaction.

 A little later the Laura and the Birgit seperated, and we followed our Birgit to its home. There it took a shower and a little later the Laura came visit the Birgit for dinner, all dressed up nicely. They spent some time cooking a delicious meal and enjoyed it with a glass of wine. When they finished the Birgit had to dress up as well because the Birgit and the Laura had big plans for the evening: they wanted to go to the Casino. Quickly the Birgit dressed and put some make up on and soon they left to meet their friends, followed by our camera team. They finally arrived at the Casino, as the first of the whole group, but they didn't care and just started the evening feeling pretty and enjoying a good glass of wine while waiting for the others to finally show up. Even thought the group consisted of six people half of them refused to have their photo taken, so we only managed to get one of our Birgit, the Laura and one representative of another very rare species, the Fabio. Unfortunately we cannot provide any photos of the rare and endangered species Sandra, Marco and Sabrina, that were present as well.

After gambling a little and loosing all its money the Birgit and its companions decided to go for another drink to a bar, where they spent the rest of the evening. The Birgit was lucky enough to get a lift home from the generous Fabio and finally fell asleep with a smile on its face.

I think we are on the best way to gain the Birgits trust and hopefully we will be able to deepen our records of this particular Birgit in the future as it really is a highly representative member of this very rare species and we are glad that we found it.