“That was fun”

No more words are necessary to describe Saturday’s photographic excursion where vintage box cameras were used. The enthusiasts thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and some even managed to get decent pictures while using cameras dating back from 1929.

The photographers and their ageing cameras were graciously accommodated by the Bookshop, next to Ou Wawiele in Joubert Street. The group were allowed to hijack the second-hand bookstore with its vast array of antique ornaments for part of the morning. It provided a perfect “old” setting with thousands of books and old furniture to be used along with the other “props”.

The challenge set to the photographers was to take a “selfie” with the old box cameras. This may sound like an uncomplicated task, but it’s not. Most of the box cameras are fitted with a fix-focused meniscus lens that cannot take a picture of any object closer than roughly nine feet (almost three metres). It is also very difficult to judge exposure and shutter speed, as these are not indicated. In fact – it’s very much a wild guess as to what ends up in the frame, as the viewfinders are so blurry that one can hardly see anything through them.

If there was a competition to find the “best” photographer of the day, it would probably have gone to Isabel Venter. The others will probably remark that she used a more “modern” camera, a 1934 Zeiss Ikon Box Tengor. This camera has some exposure and focus settings. Her beautiful photo of a young child sitting on a bench was taken at the Reformed Church.

The “bravest” photographer was Laura van Zyl, who used the oldest camera, a 1929 Kodak No 2 Brownie and the most enthusiastic was Barry Fourie, using a Ferrania Elioflex 2 made in Italy from 1952.

The vintage photography project is set to continue next month. This time the theme will be “bellows”, and any old camera using bellows (the concertina-like cover between the film and the lens) can be used.

Anyone interested in old cameras and photography is welcome to join the next excursion. Those without vintage cameras can use one of the many cameras in the Zoutpansberger’s little museum. The date of the next outing will be made available once it has been finalised.