Through the Viewfinder

with Andrea Jenkins

Through The Viewfinder photography is defined as "the photographing of any subject through the viewfinder of any camera with another camera." Shooting through the viewfinder of a vintage camera with a digital camera is where old school brilliantly intersects with new school. The resulting digital images show the scratches, dust and distortion that come with shooting through the glass of a beautiful old camera. This special technique yields dreamy, remarkably lo-fi looking images that evoke a certain sense of nostalgia not often seen in digital photography. Truly, it's the best of both worlds.

Join me as we explore the magic of Through The Viewfinder photography from the ground up! In this workshop, we'll use old twin lens reflex cameras and digital cameras together to produce images with an authentic vintage aesthetic. We'll begin the day building the light-blocking devices this technique requires and then, armed with our cameras and newly constructed devices, we'll step outside for an afternoon of experiential shooting. At the end of the day, we'll examine and post-process the dreamy results. Spend a day looking through the viewfinder in this wildly wonderful, backwards way and you'll see the world around you with completely new eyes.

Note:  All levels are welcome! Beginning, intermediate or advanced, Through The Viewfinder photography is for everyone.

Workshop Supply List:

A digital camera-- Either a *DSLR with a macro lens or standard kit lens (i.e., 18-55mm) OR a point-and-shoot with a macro setting

A vintage twin lens reflex camera-- i.e., **Kodak Duaflex, Argus Seventy-Five

notebook/paper, pens/pencils

Additional supplies will be provided.

*Note: If shooting with a DSLR, a macro lens (or lens with macro filter) is preferred though not required. A macro lens can be pricey and a standard kit lens (the lens your camera normally comes with) will usually work just fine. However, any other type of lens can be tricky with this particular technique, most especially a fixed 50mm lens. Please feel free to contact Andrea with any questions or concerns you might have!

**Note: The most popular twin lens reflex cameras used with Through The Viewfinder photography are the Kodak Duaflex (I, II, III, IV) and The Argus Seventy-Five (or Argoflex). These are the easiest to use, the most widely available and can be found on ebay, etsy, craigslist, at flea markets or antique shops for about $10-$30. Please feel free to contact Andrea with any questions or concerns you might have about purchasing your vintage twin lens reflex camera!