Rob Masters

In Part 1, I went over some history, and the things you have to think about differently when working with in-camera cyanotype. In this part, I will provide a simple design and instructions on how to build it.  The design is based around the lens of a Google Cardboard VR headset. These are cheap and easy to obtain. There are two common versions - one is roughly f/1.5 and the other about f/1.2, and they also have differing diameters. As this also results in different focal lengths, there needs to be a couple of changes to support both versions. Further, the design is flexible enough that almost any lightweight lens can be used with some modifications to the dimensions.  Materials Black Gaffa Tape. Not duct tape, gaffa. It makes a difference. Clear packing tape or good-quality sellotape. 2 A4 sheets of dark (not black) 210-250gsm card 1 25mm diameter/38mm (f/1.5) or 37mm diameter/45mm (f/1.2) lens (or similar, see below) 1 small coin or metal washer An A7 piece of baking parchme...

Back in October last year, I picked up some "Solarprint" paper from an educational supply house that was having a sale. For some weeks I thought about what to do with it, and eventually decided that the usual path of making contact prints or photograms with it was a bit too dull, and that I would build a camera and take photos with it.  Now I am by no means the first person to do this - although the idea of producing cyanotype camera negatives is surprisingly recent. As far as I can tell, the first person to do it was photographer,  John Beaver, in 1999 - over 150 years after the development of the chemistry ! More recently, blogger Nag on the Lake published a how-to for cardboard cameras in 2019. Meanwhile, Ray Christopher has been experimenting with using cyanotype paper as a medium-format negative. The cyanotype process chemistry is rather unusual in that is not particularly sensitive to visible light. It is most sensitive to UVA down to the visible spectrum. One of the s...

We're on a bit of a fantasy journey again this week, following a little girl through some magical landscapes, complete with mermaid, magic mirrors, and a mystical door of vines. "Feral Hearts" from 2016, by the Estonian artist Kerli, and the video appears to have been shot (in part) as a tourism promo for Estonia. As far as I can tell, though, this is simply Kerli's love for her own country, and not a sponsorship deal. Which makes the whole thing several levels of awesome better.

I am not, as a rule, a fan of metal, but there are some notable exceptions.  There can be no denying, however, that the various metal genres are a rich source of SFF-based music videos. Point in case is this magnificent pastiche of the Sword & Sorcery genre. GoT? Eat your blackened shrivelled heart out in the face of this magnificent video. With no further ado, here is Killswitch Engage and "Holy Diver" from 2006 (covering the song originally recorded by Dio in 1983.)

Let's leap back to the mid 90's and some synthpop from one of the great bands (and composers) of the 80s and 90s ... and who are still releasing new albums even now. For the video, we get an Oni and a westernised ... something? A small god? A sorcerer? Anyway we get some very silly wire-work, even dodgier magic effects, and a no-contact fight scene. And a rather standoffish romance. It is all gloriously over the top, extremely silly, and still works quite magnificently. Massively appropriating all sorts of culture, but it somehow does not feel mean-spirited in any way.  So here is 1994's "Always" from Erasure. 

 I've been playing with some alternative photography methods for a few months now, and I've got a can-camera set up in the back yard. It will be ready to hatch in about another nine months. But I wanted to see something sooner, so I picked up some 3.5"x5.5" photographic paper (which perfectly fits a standard drink can), and built another one. This one stayed out for only three days, but the results look very cool! Ilford Mulitgrade IV Glossy, 3 day exposure, edited in Snapseed The bright line at the far left is the sun trail, and there is a reflection of it on the right, but still a very neat effect. The black line is a powerline in front of the house, distorted by the curved paper.  I think I'll put a new one up under our weather station :)

Late again, I know. It has been a hectic time post-New Year. Today we have a wonderful group of neophyte telekenetics and their friend. The four of them naturally represent the band and the guest singer. Animated by noted cartoonist and animator Jamie McKelvie, the sheer joy of this video is infectious - from playing with a hat, to the popped out toast, everything is an expression of joy.  Some discussions on the song meaning sites interpret this as an end-of-relationship song, but I disagree - especially in the light of video. It is all about embracing abilities and emotions that had been hidden. It is a song of self-empowerment and joy. So take in the 2016 sounds of Chvches, featuring Haley Williams, bringing you "Bury It".

Back to Canberra to usher in the new year.  This time we have a horde of android dancers(1) under the control of the band. Who might also have designs on a couple of them. Maybe. Or maybe it is two of the androids who have designs on each other.  "We Think You're Dishy", from 2000, by B(if)tek. 1. Which always makes me think of this scene .