Posts by Author: David Prochnow

David Prochnow
Our resident “how-to” project editor, David Prochnow, lives on the Gulf Coast of the United States in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He brings his expertise at making our photography projects accessible to everyone, from a lengthy stint acting as the Contributing How-To Editor with Popular Science magazine. While you don’t have to actually build each of his projects, reading about these adventures will contribute to your continued overall appreciation of do-it-yourself photography. A collection of David’s best Popular Science projects can be found in the book, “The Big Book of Hacks,” Edited by Doug Cantor.

    This Rugged Camera Isn’t Just Tough; It Might Grade Your Lab Report Too!
    Feb 12, 2026 David Prochnow

    Imagine a camera so rugged it can survive a tumble down Mt. Everest, as well as help you inspect your morning toast under a microscope….

    Kodak Returns EKTACHROME E100 to its Film Fold
    Feb 12, 2026 David Prochnow

    Imagine a film that refuses to act its age, a tiny cellulose superhero, cape fluttering in the breeze of analog photography’s renaissance. In a nutshell,…

    A Simple Trick to Turn This $5 Lens into a $100 Lens
    Feb 10, 2026 David Prochnow

    Sometimes, a used equipment seller’s  inexperience can reward the savvy, seasoned photographer with a genuine gem. Case in point, a used M42 lens, a Vivitar…

    Greet the iPad Paparazzi: Where Photography Meets the Intrusive Slab
    Feb 10, 2026 David Prochnow

    There exists, somewhere in the wild, a rare creature who looks at a tablet and thinks, “Yes, this tablet; this is my camera.” You’ve seen…

    This New Release from Leica Just Might Be Your Cup of Tea, err, Coffee
    Feb 10, 2026 David Prochnow

    If you’ve ever wanted your coffee to literally see the world through Leica lenses, then the Leica Coffee Cup Set for 2, 4 Pieces, Porcelain,…

    Build the Biggest, Tiniest Instax Camera
    Feb 7, 2026 David Prochnow

    Everything about the Fujifilm instax Pal camera is odd. It has no LCD, no viewfinder, and, oddest of all, it has no in-camera instax print…

    A New 75mm Lens is Here to Make Your Photos Look Like Hollywood Dreams (Without the Hollywood Budget)
    Feb 6, 2026 David Prochnow

    Hold onto your vintage camera straps, folks, because Light Lens Lab just dropped what might be the coolest thing since sliced film: their brand-new 75mm…

    Install GIMP on a Smartphone! A Portable Digital Darkroom in Your Pocket
    Feb 4, 2026 David Prochnow

    Are you sick of subscriptions? Tired of never really owning any of your software? Thank goodness for software, like GIMP, that deliver a free, open-source…

    You Won’t Believe What Leica Is Selling Now (Hint: It’s Not a Camera!)
    Feb 3, 2026 David Prochnow

    Move over lenses and cameras, Leica just dropped the ultimate gear-head chic essential: the Leica Knitted Hat. That’s right, it’s not a 50 mm f/0.95…

    Make ANY Android Smartphone into a Focus-Stacking Champion
    Feb 2, 2026 David Prochnow

    Focus stacking isn’t the sole domain of high-priced cameras anymore. There’s an Android app that brings focus stacking into the world of smartphones. Not just…