Create The Unusual With Your Own Gear

May 02, 1986|By Nancy Seeger.

Experimenting with different photographic techniques can be exciting. Although there`s lots of equipment on the market designed to alter

photographic images, some of it is expensive. Unusual pictures can be created by using do-it-yourself techniques, like those suggested below. These techniques are easy and inexpensive.

-- Selectively Blurred Effect. This will produce a photograph with some blurred areas, while the rest of the picture is in sharp focus. The effect is achieved by spreading clear ointment on selected parts of a glass surface that is placed in front of the lens.

Equipment: 1/8-inch piece of single-weight clear glass or Plexiglas, cut a half-inch larger than the lens diameter, or an ultraviolet (UV) filter; petroleum jelly or similar clear ointment; duct tape; cellophane tape, to cover rough edges of clear glass, if used.

Procedure: Attach the UV filter, or use small strips of duct tape to attach the glass or Plexiglas to the lens front.

Spread ointment sparingly on outer surface of glass. Ointment can be placed around the edge, or in any place that you want the picture blurred.

When using a single-lens-reflex camera, the resulting photo can be visualized by setting the f-stop, then looking through the lens. Areas with ointment on the glass will result in blurred areas in the photo. When using a non-reflex camera, the results may be a surprise because the image cannot be seen through the viewfinder.

Plastic wrap or cellophane also may be used.

-- Kaleidoscope Effect. This technique will produce a photograph with symmetrical divisions of the image, similar to that of a kaleidoscope. The effect is achieved by placing the camera lens inside a mirror or glass arrangement and mounting it on a board. Best results can be achieved by placing the mounted arrangement on a tripod.

Equipment: Two mirrors, or two pieces of single-weight glass, 4 inches by 10 inches or larger. Front-surface mirrors work best. If using glass, spray paint one side of each piece with flat black paint, using the painted sides on the bottom; black paint, duct tape, one or two 1/4-20 screws (length depends on size of board used for mounting, type of camera); half-inch board, cut to size needed for mounting; tripod; drill.

Procedure: Select and position desired angle of mirrors/glass. Using duct tape, attach the two pieces together in several places on the bottom and one place across the top. Arrange the camera to shoot through the angle created. If the mirrors are set at a wide angle, fewer image divisions will result; a sharper angle will create more divisions, as will close-up shots. Be sure the camera lens is just close enough to the mirrors so that the near edges of the mirrors will not appear in the photo.

For convenience, mount the camera and mirror/glass arrangement on a board. The camera can be held in place with a 1/4-20 screw, placed through a hole drilled in the board, attached to the tripod socket of the camera. If necessary, the camera may be raised with an additional block of wood. (Be careful not to force the screw into the camera to avoid breaking the camera exterior.) If the screw stops tightening before the camera is attached to the base, use a shorter screw, or place a washer over the screw.

-- Multiple Exposure on the Same Frame with Camera Mounted on Tripod. This technique will produce a double image in one photograph.

Equipment: Something dark with a straight edge, such as a small black address book, black paper or cardboard; camera with double exposure capability; tripod; cellophane tape.

Procedure: Using the middle of the viewfinder as a guide, cover half the lens with the black paper or book. If using cardboard or paper, tape it so that it stays in place. This will take some experimentation to determine how much of the lens should be covered each time. If your photo comes out with a black line in the center, it means that the black object was placed over the center of the lens.

When half of the frame is exposed, push the button.

Re-cock the shutter without advancing the film. Change the subject`s position. Move the black paper or object to the other side of the lens, making a second exposure. Advance the film for the next shot.