DIY Compositon Frame
This one's is just a fun little trick, that you may find useful when you don't have your camera around but still want to play photographer, or better yet, director.
It's a DIY 35mm Cropper. that you can use to frame or to wear around tour neck to prove yourself as a true photo geek.
You could buy a fancy version over at ETSY, which is all nice and dandy and copper made, but you can make one your own using an old slide frame.
First, get some old positive slide. Those are getting more and more scarce, so you better hurry.
Remove the film frame and ready! You have just created a framework to help you compose a scene before taking a photo. Or you can just ware it around your neck.
Here comes the DIY part, Drill a hole and add a strap so you can take it everywhere. While it won't take any pictures, it is quite addictive to use.
About The Author
Raymundo Panduro (Flickr) blogs in Spanish about experimental analog and digital photography. If you read Spanish or if you don't mind using google translator give him a quick look, you'll have a blast.
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Comments
Using the composition frame at various focal lengths
Is there a rule of thumb that says holding the frame two inches from the eye is the focal length equivilant of a 35mm lens, half arms length equals 150mm, arms length = 400mm?
you could add the rule of
you could add the rule of thirds lines like the etsy version with wire, toothpicks, opened paperclips, etc
Thanks!!
Thanks for posting my DiY Composition Frame :D thanks! hope to contribute in the future with more ideas :D
cool
haha. this is cool trick!
or this!
There's also an app that I have for my iphone called Viewfinder. It uses the camera and display in the iphone to the same effect. It covers various aspect ratios and focal lengths for various camera models (you can set up to 4 different cameras). Worth a look.
Cropper
If you hold the slide frame 50mm (~2") from your eye, you'll view what a 50mm lens on a '35' sees. 135mm away, a 135mm medium telefoto view. 200mm = 200mm tele, etc., etc. The same goes for 645 and 6x6 slide holders and distances. A 645 'normal' is 75mm, so further away from your peeper, but a bigger hole. 80mm for 6X6 and about 6 ins. for 4X5, 12 ins. for 8X10. There you go.
LL
Thank you!!!
I've heard about using the slie as preview tool quite some time ago but the person who told me was uncertain as to how to make it work properly. I guess I should have known it was something this simple. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Exactly what I was looking
Exactly what I was looking for, thanks.
Brilliant
Great idea. I have carried an old slide frame around in my camera bag for more years than I care to remember, for just this purpose. Never thought to hang it around my neck though, thats a brilliant idea. Off to find a drill right now, thanks.
Add grid DIY
Using your photoshop program, simply create a grid to scale. Print the grid on a clear overhead projector film, cut and trim to size and insert it into the frame. Now you have a view-thru grid. :-)
Yes!! that is what I thought
Yes!! that is what I thought too printing one in a transparent paper :D, that is a good idea :D
For those photography
For those photography enthusiasts that are too young to own any slides.. where could I find some?
You can got to any
You can got to any photography lab and ask for one slide frame :)
Got Plenty
I've used this idea for quite some time now. I have zillions of slide holders from the days I shot transparencies and will send some to anyone who sends me as SASE. Just email me (GLSmyth@yahoo.com) for my address, with Would Like Composition Frame in the subject.
Cheers -
george
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