Articles by colleagues from RIT as well as a few other contributors
This is an eclectic list including some recent as well as "vintage"
articles by several current and past members of the faculty of the
School of Photographic Arts and
Sciences at RIT and guests. They range
from topics on infrared photography, ultraviolet, high speed, synchroballistic,
panoramic, special effects, peripheral, schlieren, photofinish, and many other topics.
If your interest is piqued by these articles and you want to see some more tidbits
of whimsical photographic information check out
Frequently Asked Photo Questions with Answers!
If you have any problems or comments about this project
write Prof. Andrew Davidhazy at andpph@rit.edu
EASTMAN HIGH SPEED CAMERA TYPE III
This is a reprint, also available as a PDF document, of a
bookled published by the Eastman Kodak Company in 1944 with an introduction to the need and usefulness
of high speed motion picture photography especially in industrial applications. Then it describes the theory and
operation of one of the earliest rotating prism high speed motion picture cameras. It is what one might call
"vintage" material but stil very valid in concept anyway. Added here in September 2008
VENUS TRYING TO ECLIPSE THE SUN
Photography of celestial objects is often done with very long focal length lenses. Lacking
one of these at the time Venus was transiting across the face of the Sun, this article
describes an improvised approach for making a very long focal length lens system
based on generally readily available normal focal length lenses. Updated and added here in August 2008
but written several years ago.
SENSITOMETRIC VELOCIMETRY
This is the beginnings of an article about an obscure method for determining the velocity of
a subject based on analyzing the blurred image resulting from photographing it at a relatively long exposure time.
The premise behind it is that moving subjects become their own "shutters" and the
photographic response they generate on a photosensitive material is directly related
to the rate at which they move. Added here in August 2008.
CHECKING EFFECT OF ELECTRONIC FLASH USED AT WRONG EXPOSURE TIME
Electronic flashes used with focal plane shutters require that the shutter curtains not cut into the image plane of the camera
during the exposure. This limits the minimum exposure time possible as shorter time qwill tend to cut-off part of the
image formed by the lens. This article describes three solutions to visualizing the effect of using the
incorrect exposure time with electronic flashes. Added here in May 2008.
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAMMETRY PROJECT
Photogrammetry is the science of making measurements of subjects. It generally also
implies "remote" measurement as in aerial photography. This is a project that describes,
demonstrates and puts into practice the principles at work in a terrestrial situation
and should not be beyond most high school or college students with an interest in applying
photography for technical purposes. Basic trigonometry at work! Added here in April 2008.
FILTER THREAD DING REPAIR
Most photographers have at one time of another run into a situation where the filter thread
ring on the front of the lens has been bent in some accident and now there is a need to attach
a certain filter or accessory to the lenS's filter threads. Here is a guide to one solution.
Added here in April 2008.
FRONT PROJECTION - A USEFUL SPECIAL EFFECT
Photographers have devised many different ways to place a subject of choice against some
desired and visually interesting and appropriate background without going to the expense
of traveling to exotic locations on the world or having at their disposal a large variety
of background props. This article describes a novel "traditional" technique especially useful
for social photography but also advertising and illustration. Added here in April 2008.
IS THERE TRUTH IN PERSPECTIVE?
This is an educational photo-logic exercise based on fact deduction associated with photographs
made with different lenses at different distances from given subjects. In this case it involves
distant mountaintops and a nearby church building. This project was part of the Materials and
Processes of Photography course originally designed by Dr. Les Stroebel and his colleagues in
the 1950s. Added here in April 2008.
THE INFRARED LUMINESCENCE TECHNIQUE FOR DOCUMENT EXAMINATION and FORGERY DETECTION
Infrared photography is nothing new and in the reflected infrared mode its property of
seeing thorough certain materials is well known. However a a seldom seen and used application
allows the trained investigator to visualize information that has been washed out of documents
and is undetectable to the unaided eye. This is facilitated by new infrared sensitive digital
cameras such as the Fuji IS-1. Added here in February 2008.
COMPARISON OF CANON DIGITAL REBEL VS FUJI INFRARED CAPABLE CAMERA USING IMPROVISED IR FILTER
This is an article on how one might make a makeshift infrared
transmitting filter using two relatively easy to obtain glass filters to substitute
for a true infrared filter, the Wratten #87. This test also compares the performance of a Canon
camera not designed for IR use and a Fuji IS-1 that is infrared capable. Added here in February 2008.
ADAPTING A CANON FD LENS SO IT FITS ON A CANON EF (or EOS) MOUNT
This is an article on how a Canon FD lens was modified so that it would fit on a
modern Canon EF bayonet mount such as fitted on Canon EOS-type camera bodies. The lens
lost automation but retained infinity focus and the apertures could be adjusted manually.
Added here in January 2008.
TIMING FLASHING LIGHTS WITH A STREAK CAMERA
This is an article originally published in Industrial Photography magazine about solving a
non-obvious timing problem related to flashing strobe beacons on a radio tower plus 2 more
applications for an improvised, home-made, streak camera. Added here in December 2007.
REPORT TO THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS - THE OSWALD BACKYARD PHOTOGRAPHS
This is a report of work done by Dr. Leslie Stroebel, Mr. Andrew Davidhazy and Dr. Ronald Francis
of the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology regarding
an investigation of the authenticity of the Oswald backyard photographs. It was prepared for the
U.S. Congress House Select Committee on Assassinations. Although this material is available in many
locations on the web it was placed here to give a ready connection to work done by SPAS/RIT
faculty. Placed here in December 2007.
SOME THOUGHTS ON PHOTOGRAPHIC FILTERS
This is an addendum to a workshop that is a part of the Materials and Processes of Photography
course taught in the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences. Hopefully you find it
useful for other purposes. Added here in November 2007.
DEPTH OF FIELD AND HYPERFOCAL DISTANCE MATTERS
Depth of field scales are disappearing from many modern camera lenses and DOF and
hyperfocal distance and their relationship have acquired
an almost magical status. This article covers the topic in question and answer form
and served as the basis for a lecture on the subject presented in 2004. Added here in
November 2007.
MEASURING BULLET SPEED WITH A DYNAFAX CAMERA
The Dynafax camera by Beckman and Whitley, and now manufactured by Cordin Corporation. is a marvel
of photographic engineering. Capable of up to 35,000 pictures per second it has
unique characteristics detailed in this article along with an application where
it is used to determine the speed of a .22 caliber high velocity bullet. Added here in
November 2007.
APPLICATIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN DISTILLATION RESEARCH
Another "vintage" article (in Word document format) from 1969 describing several applications
of photography in the Distillation Research Laboratory at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Added here in June 2007.
PHOTOGRAMMETRY PROJECT 01
A project that "brings down to earth" the principles related to the "radial displacement"
method in aerial photography for finding the height of vertical subjects above level terrain
when the flying height above the base of a vertical object is known. Added here in April 2007.
MORE COMPLEX PHOTOGRAMMETRY PROJECTS
Photography can be used for more than simply recording subjects and this article describes
how it might be
used in a science classroom as the basis for making measurements "on a shoestring".
Added here in April 2007 although probably written in the early 1980s.
BASIC PHOTOGRAMMETRY METHODS and TECHNIQUES
Before computers and photogrammetry related image processing programs much of the work of
extracting information from aerial photographs was done by hand. Here are several
very basic methods for finding out such things as the elevation above base of vertical objects, determing area of an irregular
subject, determining area by graphical means and height of objects based on shadow.
Added here in April 2007.
INFRARED and ULTRAVIOLET PHOTOGRAPHY - theory, technique and practice (3Mb PDF)
This is an illustrated narrative prepared as the guide to a slide show covering, in a
simplified fashion, the fundamental theory, techniques and principles associated with
setting up for the four major applications of photography by invisible radiation. It is
only available as a PDF document
about 3 Mb in size. Added here in December 2006.
INTRO TO SHADOWGRAPH AND SCHLIEREN IMAGING
This is an illustrated narrative prepared as the guide to a slide show covering, in a
simplified fashion, the optical operating principles associated with shadowgraph and
schlieren imaging. This is also available as a PDF document about 3 Mb in size.
Added here in August 2006.
STRING VIBRATIONS
A little "fib" led to a photographic investigation of vibrating strings to be used as an illustration
to go along with an article on the "String Theory". Again, proving that not all photographs need
to be sharp to be effective. Added here in November 2005.
THE SCIENCE OF TEACHING
An article that appeared in Camera on Campus magazine highlighting Prof. A.Davidhazy's
teaching activities related to high speed photography and photoinstrumentation
at the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences at Rochester
Institute of Technology. Added here in October 2007.
MAKING ORANGE JUICE IN A FLASH
A "vintage" article from June 2, 1980 in which a local newspaper (UPSTATE magazine) describes some high
speed photography activities in A.Davidhazy's laboratory at RIT.
Added here on a slow day in August 2007.
ENTREVISTAS CON ANDRES DAVIDHAZY
En varias ocasiones me han planteado una serie de preguntas sobre mi carrera profesional tan bien
como opiniones acerca varios temas relacionados con la fotografia. Hago disponible aqui algunas
de estas entrevistas aunque en algunos casos faltan las preguntas!
Añadido aqui en Noviembre 2005
STRESSED PLASTICS BY POLARIZATION
Many transparent objects, especially those made of plastic, although other materials behave similarly,
change the character of an incident beam of light in a manner that is hardly visible to the naked
eye. However, this property of can be used to produce some truly spectacular visual results.
Added here in August 2005
BREAKING the EXPOSURE TIME BARRIER!
Most of the time there is a desire to make photographs of action events that do not exhibit
any motion blur. But blur can be a beautiful thing and this brief article extolls the virtues of
braking the sharpness convention. Added here while still in progress in July 2005
SCANNING PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES
This is roughly a paper that I presented at the 2005 ART+MATH=X conference that was held at the University
of Colorado at Boulder in early June of this year. If you check it out you'll see that it draws
heavily from my past work in the area of strip, streak and scanning imaging methods. On the other hand,
this group of mathematicians and artists had not heard of such processes before. The good thing for
me was the interaction with the group that led to considering additional avenues for future experimentation.
Added here in June 2005.
TEACHING HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY AND PHOTOINSTRUMENTATION
This article describes the approach and the content of several
courses related to photoinstrumentation designed with the assumption that
fundamental techniques, reasoning and high-speed problem solving approaches have not changed
much over the years. This material was presented at the 26th International Congress of High Speed
Photography and Photonics that was held in Alexandria, VA in 2004. Added here in June, 2005.
SIMPLE LIGHT SLAVE SYNCHRONIZERS
The subject of setting off a flash in response to the light of another one is a problem that
comes up from time to time in photographic situations. Here is a non-electronic description
of how one might make "slave syncs" from scratch and whether they work or not hopefully
have some fun in the process. Added here in March, 2005.
CAMERA for MAKING CONICAL PHOTOGRAPHIC LAMPSHADES and MORE
At one time I was hoping that I could interest Popular Photography magazine in publishing
a piece on my work with a unique panoramic camera that is able to make conical projections or reproductions of
scenes surrounding the camera as opposed to cylindrical ones made by all other rotating
panoramic cameras. Well, this was the piece submitted for consideration. They were not
interested. Added here in December, 2004.
NASA - IMAGING and PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY ZERO-GRAVITY PROJECT
Crystal Embrey, Jason Babcock, Keith Krause and Sam Hill proposed an experiment to the
NASA Microgravity Research Flight Opportunity for college students and in a competition
involving 60 universities nationwide they were selected to be among the 23 student
teams to be invited to fly on NASA's famed Boeing 707, KC-135, "Vomit Comet", at the
Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. This is their story.
PROJECTION CRYSTALLOGRAPHY AND MICROGRAPHY WITH DIGITAL CAMERAS
With the advent of digital cameras the process of using an enlarger as an improvised
low-power transmission microscope merits to be revisited as there are many benefits to
be derived from using the digital process for the capture of images under such a
"microscope" but there are also potential pitfalls to be aware of. Added here in March, 2004.
FOTOGRAFIA DE BARRIDO CON CAMARA DIGITAL IMPROVISADA
La fotografia de barrido no es un tema discutido muy a menudo en circulos fotograficos.
Este articulo detalla mis experimentos con este proceso utilizando una camara que improvisé
a base de un escaner manual. Este material sirvió de base a un articulo publicado en la revista
Fotomundo, en la Argentina, en Marzo-Mayo 2002.
TEORIA Y PRACTICA BASICA DE FOTOGRAFIA DE BARRIDO
Estos son dos articulos que aparecieron en la revista Fotomundo en al año 1996. Detallan
ideas fundamentales sobre el proceso y varias aplicaciones de camaras en las cuales se mueve
la pelicula detras de una pequeña ranura lo que transforma la camara en una maquina que graba
una dimension en el campo del sujeto y al mismo tiempo tambien el pasaje del tiempo.
IMPROVISED ADAPTER TO USE CANON FD ITEMS ON EOS CAMERA BODIES
When Canon went from manual focus to autofocus lenses they decided to change lens mounts.
Some photographers devised ways to use their new cameras with older equipment fitted
with FD mounts. When I bought a Digital Rebel I became part of this group and joined the
group of "adapters" by making this home-made EOS/FD interface. Added here in March, 2004.
ALTERNATIVE VELOCITY MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES IN SYNCHROBALLISTIC PHOTOGRAPHY
Synchroballistic cameras have many applications but mostly these are buried in specialized
laboratories, hard to access military installations or in technical literary archives. This article
illustrates and explains two data reduction approaches for obtaining useful data from
synchroballistic photographs of missiles in flight. Added here in March, 2004.
SPLASH PHOTOGRAPHY IN DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS
This article was given out as part of a hands-on a demonstration of how one might go
about making splashing milk or water-drop photographs ala Doc Edgerton in high ambient light conditions
at a 1983 meeting of the SPIE (International Society for Optical Engineering). Added here in Feb. 2004.
TABLETOP RACETRACK PHOTO-FINISH PHOTOGRAPHY
This was a "handout" given out as part of a hands-on a demonstration of a miniaturized,
racetrack photo-finish photography simulation using a modified Polaroid camera as the recording instrument
at a 1983 meeting of the SPIE (International Society for Optical Engineering). Added here in Feb. 2004.
PHOTO-FINISH ET LA PHOTOGRAPHIE DES COMPETITIONS SPORTIVES
This article WRITTEN IN FRENCH was found among a pile of papers in Andrew Davidhazy's office
and IS made available here by him without permission of the author due to being
unable to locate him or the publication from which it came.
Added here In September 2007.
SYNCHROBALLISTIC PHOTOGRAPHY ON A SHOESTRING
In 1983 this article was given out as part of a hands-on demonstration of synchroballistic
photography using a modified Polaroid camera as the recording instrument at a meeting of the
SPIE (International Society for Optical Engineering). Added here in Feb. 2004.
MECHANICAL TIME DELAY SYNCHRONIZER FOR SPLASH PHOTOGRAPHY
Based on the pioneering work of A.M. Worthington this article describes
how an ingenious mechanical solution can be applied to solving a complex
synchronization problem associated with splash photography. Added here Jan. 2004.
OVERVIEW OF STREAK AND STRIP CAMERAS RESCUED FROM THE PAST (1978)
A manuscript that was started in 1978 was found in a pile of papers and is presented here "as is" after it
was transformed into text using Optical Character Recognition software. This was to
be, and still someday may be (maybe upon the author's retirement!), an overview of
the many facets and applications of streak and strip cameras.
HOW INSTANTANEOUS IS A SLAVED ELECTRONIC FLASH?
Photographers use slaved electronic flashes as a matter of course but seldom question the delay
between the firing of a main flash and that of the second, slaved, flash.
Find out how such small time delays are determined using a Cordin rotating mirror streak camera.
CALIBRATING YOUR SHUTTERS WITH TV SET and TURNTABLE
Experiment with leaf and focal plane shutter calibration tests based on
widely accepted audio and video standards. Plus learn seldom discussed facts about the operation of
focal plane shutters and how moving subjects become their own shutters!.
SPLASHES, SPLASHES and MORE SPLASHES!
How to make photographs of splashes is a topic that has interested many photographers since the advent of
photography. Here are some tips and suggestions regarding a controlled approach to photographing them
without wasting excessive amounts of film or time.
Added here on Sept. 25, 2003
HOW TO MAKE A "LEAF" OR "BOOK" STYLE STAR-TRACKER MOUNT
General description of a device designed to counterrotate the camera along an axis
parallel to that of Earth to pan along with the apparent motion of the stars to prevent
"trailing" or blurred images of stars over extended time exposures. Based on an earlier text file this was added here on Sept. 22, 2003
REFLECTED ULTRAVIOLET DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY with IMPROVISED UV IMAGE CONVERTER
Description of a quick-'n-dirty improvisation to make images made up of ultraviolet reflected or transmited by subjects using a standard digital
camera equipped with a CCD sensor that is notoriously insensitive in the ultraviolet. The basis
for the approach is the use of a fluorescing image converter. Added 08-25-2003.
An
OVERVIEW OF HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGING
This is an introduction to several topics related to high speed photography from electronic flash to
rotating prism and rotating mirror cameras to streak and synchroballistic applications of
various high speed imaging systems. It served as the basis for an article in an encyclopedia.
BASIC DIGITAL ROLLOUT or PERIPHERAL PHOTOGRAPHY
A recent (May 2003) rewrite of several past articles on applying a linear CCD array
from an old hand scanner to the purpose of making "rollout" or peripheral photographs of
people rotating on a mechanized turntable. The article still needs illustrations but some
results can be seen
here!
POLAROID TYPE 667 and an ALTERNATIVE SABATTIER TECHNIQUE
The Sabattier effect has seen a resurgence of interest due to the discovery that
Polaroid Type 55 material can be used to achieve it. In this article the application of a less
well known material, Polaroid Type 57 or 667 is demonstrated to be equally or even more suited
to the task when coupled with modern digital image management techniques.
PHOTOGRAPHING BRIDS IN FLIGHT
Birds in flight make for a challenging subject. Although this has been done many times by other
photographers this article describes my introductory experiences with this fast paced and
unpredictable event. Barnswallows in action!
INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL STROBOSCOPIC MOTION PHOTOGRAPHY
A flashing light source or an interrupted continuous light source can be effectively
used as a tool to track subjects motion and learn about their behavior over time.
While film techniques are fairly well known, applications in the digital realm have
peculiar limitations and these are at least partially solved in this article.
LUMINANCE vs. ILLUMINANCE RELATIONSHIP
Exposure, and consequently the photographic effect as measured by the
density of silver deposit, depends directly upon the intensity of the
light source and increases the longer the material is subjected to light
rays. Because exposure depends upon the time during which the light
acts on the film, film is able to integrate the quantity of light
falling upon it and a long exposure time can be used sometimes to
photograph extremely faint subject. (Note: This is not by an RIT faculty member but rather a few pages from The Handbook of Photography by Henney and Dudley. )
APPLICATIONS FOR AN IMPROVISED DIGITAL STREAK CAMERA
A close relative of the strip camera, details about which are available in
several articles listed below, the streak camera is not very well known but it
can be a valuable tool for research and development. Streak cameras display
time as an obvious dimension of the images they generate.
THE SIMPLEST SPECIAL EFFECTS DEVICE
We are preconditioned to assuming that photographs are made in an
instantaneous manner. By making exposures sequentially, using a
matte-box, we can produce images that startle and confuse our
audience. Deception is also possible. Better and cheaper than using a computer!
text-specialeffects-course.html
A SPECIAL EFFECTS course at SPAS/RIT
This short article is essentially a narrative of how this course came about, a general
course description and it also includes several illustrations made by
students enrolled in past offerings of the Special Effects Photography course.
INFRARED (FILM AND DIGITAL) PHOTOGRAPHY EXAMPLES
Here you will find not so much a complete article but some seldom seen illustrations of technical/scientific
applications of infrared imaging, from improvised digital panoramic infrared to
the use of infrared for forensic and art history and restoration purposes.
IMPROVISED DIGITAL CAMERA for PERIPHERAL or ROLLOUT PHOTOGRAPHY
Variation on a theme! This article describes the application of my improvised digital
linear strip camera specifically for peripheral photography or "rollout" photography applications.
SCANNER BASED DIGITAL CAMERA
Another offshoot of the article below. Work is based on the use of a linear CCD array
removed from a cheap hand scanner and installed in a 35mm camera body for doing
peripheral, panoramic and image plane scanning.
BETTER QUALITY SCANNING DIGITAL CAMERA
This is a work-in-progress and an offshoot of the article below. Work is based on the use of a linear CCD array removed from a cheap hand scanner and installed in a 35mm camera body for doing peripheral, panoramic and image plane scanning.
DEMONSTRATION QUALITY SCANNING DIGITAL CAMERA
This is a report on how a simple Kodak Snapshot scanner was "gutted" and the
remains adapted to a traditional 35mm camera to demonstrate image plane
scanning photography, as well as panoramic and peripheral photography.
SIMPLIFIED STROBOSCOPIC SYSTEM FOR MOTION PATTERN PHOTOGRAPHY
Stroboscopic photography of objects in motion is a fascinating application in
photography. Usually performed with sophisticated and expensive flashing
stroboscopic lights, this article describes an approach more within the means
of most photographers.
SIMPLE SOUND SYNCHRONIZERS FOR AMATEUR HIGH
SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY
This article describes a very basic but highly effective way to make a sound
activated synchronizer that will allow you to make pictures of bursting
balloons, shattering light bulbs, etc. All you need is an old (or new!)
cassette tape recorder, an $.75 SCR and a sync cord with a PC socket.
INTRODUCTION TO THE FOCUSING SCHLIEREN SYSTEM
Among flow visualization techniques, the Focusing Schlieren system has been
largely ignored by the field. It is, however, a low cost solution to solving
visualization of density gradients, a system with good sensitivity to visualize
convection patterns in liquids or gases such as warm air rising from a flame or
heated object and ultimately it is also a powerful tool for teaching many
optics related principles.
SIMULTANEOUS REFRACTIVE AND REFLECTIVE SCHLIEREN FOR SURFACE STUDIES
Visualization of surface flatness of a heated liquid undergoing convection
by way of a seldom-seen reflection/transmission schlieren system. (This was one
of Andrew Davidhazy's earliest published technical papers).
INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY WITH AGFA 1280 DIGITAL
CAMERA
After an unsuccessful initial attempt to determine the usability of a digital
camera for near infrared photography, further experiments proved that there is
sufficient residual sensitivity in an Agfa 1280's CCD sensor to make passable
infrared photos that simulate those made with film.
ULTRA HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY WITH A
CONSUMER GRADE DIGITAL CAMERA
Several problems inherent to most consumer grade digital cameras are described
and solved in this article about the making of microsecond photographs of
bullets cutting playing cards in half and photographed with an Agfa ePhoto
1280 camera and an EG&G microflash unit.
OFF-BEAT APPLICATIONS FOR AN AGFA ePhoto 1280
CAMERA
This article describes several adaptations made to an Agfa ePhoto 1280 camera
to allow its use with close-up lenses, filters and REAL wide angle focal length
converters, as wel as a slide copier and as the basis for storing and
exhibiting visual presentations.
INTRO TO PANORAMIC, PERIPHERAL AND
SCANNING PHOTOGRAPHY
This describes (again!) how scanning film cameras (the forerunners of linear
array digital capture technology) operate for panoramic, peripheral and other
applications and how to conduct introductory experiments using nothing more
complicated than a very basic, manual, camera. Published in Spanish in a 1996
issue of Fotomundo magazine in Argentina.
BRACKET FOR STRIP PHOTOGRAPHY
How to make an improvised film rewinding unit useful for experimenting with
panoramic and photofinish type photography. Construction details, application
suggestions and instructions on set-up and use are included.
PERIPHERAL IMAGING WITH ELECTRONIC MEMORY UNIT
Description of how a Colorado Video 593 peak store instrument is applied to
making 360 degree roll-out images of the surface of cylindrical subjects.
This was published in the Nov. 1997 Electronic Imaging newsletter of the SPIE.
LINEAR-STRIP PHOTOS USING CIRKUT AND HULCHER CAMERAS
This article describes the process by which cameras originally designed for use
as rotating, 360 degree coverage, panoramic cameras can be used for
applications such as photographing the full length of a passing train or the
facades of all the buildings along a street. Published in Panorama, the journal
of the International Panoramic Photographers Association.
BASICS OF STRIP ENLARGERS
Enlarging long negatives produced by rotating panoramic cameras capable of
360 degree coverage, as well as photofinish and peripheral cameras is a problem
because of their size. This article describes the design and construction of an
enlarger capable of making prints hundreds of feet long.
FREDERICK W. MUELLER
This is an article that appeared in the Baltimore Sun Sunday Magazine, January 5, in 19--
sometime. It relates to the report of the death of Fred Mueller who apparently was
an innovator who in the early 1900's had devised a conical panoramic camera and made
panoramic photographs from balloons and motorized aircraft. There is no evidence that he used
it for peripheral photography however!
IN CAMERA MASKING WITH 35mm CAMERAS
A variation of the proces used by advertising and commercial photographers
whereby a desired background scene is combined with a foreground subject using
in-camera masking devices but in this article it is explained how this may also
be accomplished with 35mm cameras.
PROJECTION CRYSTALLOGRAPHY
The birefringent properties of many crystalline substances can create vivid collages when
combined with polarized illumination. Use your enlarger to create high magnification
polarized images of birefringent crystals. The author is Alan R. Pomplun, a 1987 graduate
of the Technical Photography program.
WRITING TECHNICAL REPORTS
This is a brief article that was prepared and distributed to his students
by the late Dr. Ronald Francis, of the Photographic Science department in the
School of Photographic Arts and Sciences at RIT. It is included here in his
memory and to continue to serve students of photographic sciences into the
future.
20 squares per inch GRAPH PAPER TEMPLATE
Admittedly this is not an "article" but it is hopefully something that some photography
student, teacher or practitioner will find useful when they can't immediately locate
20 square per inch graph paper onto which to plot (at .4 log H or Density units per inch) film or paper
characteristic curves. Added here on August 12, 2004.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY 1851-1930
This is a brief article that was prepared by Linc Endelman, a long time friend
and member of SPIE who prepared this short "synopsis" of early development in
the field of high speed photography. It is included here with his permission
as a testament to the pioneers in this unique photographic endeavor.
UNDERCOVER 35 (Panoramic Lubitel)
This is a brief article that was published in the Ilford Newsletter for Photo
Educators and it deals with adapting the Lubitel for use with 35mm film to
obtain unusual aspect ratio photos that incorporate 35mm artifacts.
INTRO TO TECHNOLOGY OF PHOTOGRAPHY
A brief review of fundamental image formation principles, camera systems, and
special cameras and imaging techniques used in scientific, technical and
instrumentation photography for the purpose of visualizing otherwise invisible
events or to make measurements of such events. The article describes in brief
how the various systems work and the technology that makes their operation
possible.
QUOTATIONS FOR TEACHERS
A compilation by Dr. Richard D. Zakia of quotations
from men and women through history with particular
relevance to teachers. Dr. Zakia is a Professor Emeritus
from the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences at RIT.
COFFEE DEVELOPER
A novel application for coffee - DEVELOPING your film and photographic papers
with it! Detailed in an article by Dr. Scott Williams and his Technical Photo
Chemistry students and published in Sept/Oct 1995 issue of DCCT.
PERIPHERAL BASICS
This was published in Industrial Photography magazine and describes the basics
of making peripheral photographs with a modified SLR camera and run-of-the-mill
audio turntable.
HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY
An overview of high speed photography originally prepared for the Focal
Encyclopedia of Photography.
SPECIAL EFFECTS
Summary of a variety of special effect techniques originally the basis for a
special effects section in the Focal Encyclopedia of Photography. Includes
things like Sabattier, matte-box, stroboscopic, kaleidoscopic, bas-relief, and
many others.
COLOR INTERPRETATION
Characteristics of modern color emulsions are reviewed and summarized by
Professor Michael Peres particularly for Biomedical applications but
expandable to other situations as well.
STRIP EXPERIMENTS
Brief history of one photographer's work in the area of panoramic cameras and
strip enlargers. This article by A. Davidhazy was also published in the IPPA
newsletter sometime in 1987.
STREAK APPLICATIONS
Paper detailing two applications for streak cameras. The first is a report on
how the behavior of a Olympus OM-4T camera plus F-280 flash was conducted and
the second on simultaneous streak and instantaneous pictures of fungus
spreading.
ANSCO MEMORIES
Article by Prof Emeritus Ira Current, retired faculty member, about his early
days at Ansco (later Agfa/Ansco), his arrival and on-the-job anecdotes prior
to WWII.
SHUTTER TESTING
Article that describes simple techniques to testing shutters particularly
useful in the classroom. Although basic in principle these methods can be
elaborated into significant problems.
ELECTRONIC PHOTO EDUCATION
Article by Sabine Susstrunk on the integration of electronic photography into
traditional photography programs and education.
HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY 101
Paper presented by Andrew Davidhazy at the 20th International Congress on High
Speed Photography and Photonics describing an introductory course in high speed
photography taken by Imaging and Photographic Technology students at RIT
SYNCHROBALLISTIC PHOTO
Report on a synchroballistic project which is part of the Photoinstrumentation
Applications Seminar course at RIT.
INFRARED BASICS
Overview of IR photography originally prepared for the Focal Encyclopedia of
Photography.
ACTION INFRARED PHOTO
A description of how to modify a SLR camera for action infrared photography
and how to adjust a regular light meter for more dependable IR exposure
determinations.
INFRARED FILTER
A brief note on how to make an improvised IR filter particularly suitable for
use over light sources such as flashes. Spectral transmittance curves included.
INFRARED and ULTRAVIOLET INTRO
A short, sort of "by the numbers", summary of theory and practice of Infrared
and Ultraviolet photography.
STRIP PHOTO BASICS
An introduction to strip or scanning photography and how to adapt regular 35mm
cameras for this purpose and apply them to photofinish and peripheral
photography.
STRIP PHOTOGRAPHY AND
SCANNING PHOTOGRAPHIC SYSTEMS This article is from the Proceedings of the 12th Annual Conference on Visual Literacy that was held
at the University of Maryland in November 1980. It was presented to an audience generally unfamiliar with this type of photography.
In simplified form it is a brief summary of some of the applications I had already experimented with and a precursor of experiments to come.
CONICAL STRIP PHOTOGRAPHY
A description of how a novel strip camera was designed and constructed to solve
problems caused by peripheral photography of conical objects and panoramic
photography with a tilted camera. There is also a brief review of "linear"
applications for strip cameras.
CIRCULAR STRIP PHOTOGRAPHY
Conical or circular strip scanning. This is another folksy description of how a
strip camera with film revolving behind a slit-aperture was designed and used
for novel panoramic and peripheral images.
TILTED PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPHY
Conical or circular strip scanning. This is a condensed version of the Conical
Strip article listed above (and which was published in the
IAPP newsletter in 1996) of how a strip camera with film revolving behind a
slit-aperture was designed and used for novel panoramic images.
INSTANT STRIP PHOTOGRAPHY
Making strip cameras out of Polaroid pack-film type cameras. The first of two
versions written about this.
SLIT SCAN
PHOTOOGRAPHY
Slit-Scan Photography is the inverse of strip photography and exposure occurs
just as with Focal Plane shutter cameras but under more controlled conditions.
Slit-scan photography exploits Focal Plane shutter distortion. This article
explains theory and application of this unusual technique.
CROSS BEAM SYNCHRONIZATION
How to set up a system to photograph flying insects at close range and
automatically using a cross-beam sync trigger and fast acting
capping shutter.
PEAK STORE and DOF
Photomacrography with extended depth-of-field based on the light-scanning
technique and the capability of the Colorado 539 Video Peak store device to
store changes in video signal levels.
This was published in the Jan. 1994 Electronic Imaging newsletter of the SPIE.
THE PHOENIX PROCESS
How to make regular B&W paper prints from normally discarded Polaroid paper
negatives and take advantage of their unique visual quality.
HIGH SPEED SLR
How to make a truly HIGH SPEED camera out of standard SLR cameras so that you
can achieve framing rates in excess of 1000 pictures per second ... and learn
something about the operation of Focal Plane shutters along the way!
FALLING SEEDS
Another high speed event captured and quantified with basic equipment but at
much lower cost and rivaling in accuracy what one might expect of much more
sophisticated schemes. Good "technical" project for instructional purposes.
TAILFLASH SYNCHRONIZATION
Theory, discussion and circuits suitable for use with leaf-shutter cameras for
setting of a flash at the end of an exposure for combined flash/tungsten action
photography.
POLATEST
How to use Polaroid materials for a multitude of applications related to
exposure testing. Partial exposures, use of an ND filter staircase, etc. are
some of the techniques described.
1001 USES FOR NIMSLO
1001 (well actually only 10 or so) modifications that enable you to make
photographs the Nimslo was never originally intended for. Sequential exposure,
close-up stereo, panoramic modification, tri-color exposures, and
multi-spectral photography are some of the
applications included in this file.
FLIPBOOKS FOR A CHANGE
Exploring the "flipbook" with photography. A classic animation concept
applicable to an introduction to photography class.
2FOR1 ON POLAROID
How to save money using Polaroid pack films by making smaller pictures on each
sheet of film. Useful for testing or for passport picture making.
SCHLIEREN PHOTOGRAPHY
Describes the theory of Schlieren imaging for flow visualization. This text
went along with a demo which you will have to imagine!
COLOR SCHLIEREN SIMPLIFIED
An article that originally appeared in 1982 in Photomethods magazine's Images and ideas
publication describing how I set up a single mirror, double pass, color
schlieren system.
FILM LEADER RETRIEVER
How to make a film retriever out of scrap 35mm film useful for those times you
rewound the film back into the cassette but wish to pull it back out for some
reason or another.
HIGH SPEED CONDOM BURSTS
Determining break point of condoms subjected to air burst test using three
different high speed techniques. Sound trigger delayed flash, rotating drum
framing camera at 10,000 pictures per second and double-slit rotating drum
strip photography.
STROBOSCOPIC SPINOFFS
A short paper summarizing several projects spun-off from the pioneering work of
Harold "Doc" Edgerton that most students in the Imaging and Photographic
Technology BS program at RIT complete as part of high speed and
photoinstrumentation coursework.
POLAROID STRIP PHOTO
A shorter and more up to date version of another article (instant strip)
describing how to modify a Polaroid camera for strip photography. This article
was intended for a high school audience.
STEREO CAMERA
How a stereo camera using 4x5 film and based on surplus Wollensak stereo camera
lens boards was constructed and the reasons why.
PHOTOFINISH PHOTOGRAPHY
Text that was handed out along with a demonstration of a Polaroid camera that
was modified for strip photography and in this case used to photograph
race cars running down an inclined ramp during a demo at some conference in the
past. Diagram of modified camera included.
STRIP SYNCHRO PHOTO
Text that was handed out along with a demonstration of a Polaroid camera
adapted to operate as a strip camera and used to photograph a model rocket
transported by a carriage driven back and forth by a screw lead.
MIRRORS, MIRRORS
Just some ideas on how to use mirrors for "fun" effects such as kaleidoscopic
photography and using them in front of a camera or within or in front of an
enlarger or copy stand.
MAKING A STREAK CAMERA
Reprinted from PMI (Photo Methods for Industry) magazine , September 1963, Vol. 6 number 9
page 72 in conjunction with a column written by William Hyzer on Photo Instrumentation.
This was the very first technical article that was published about my initial experiments with streak and strip cameras.
PHOTOTECH
A brief overview of RIT's Imaging and Photographic Technology
program/department where I am a faculty member and why a student might
choose this as a program of study.
SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT CAMERA LENSES
Reprinted from Kodak Customer Service Pamphlet - AA-3. It is included here hopefully with Kodak's
indulgence and for its educational value. I do not believe this is available on the Kodak site.
It is a little tidbit of insight into how lenses work and some operating parameters. If this infringes
copyright I will immediately remove it upon request.
YOU CAN GO FLYING ON A ROLLER SKATE
Reprinted from the Friday, June 19, 1959 issue of the Boston Globe this is the first paid
publication of Andrew Davidhazy's photographs. He thought he'd be a photojournalist someday.
Unfortunately no by-line was included. Not for Davidhazy and not for the writer either.
a note for those with only e-mail capability ...
questions? ... comments? ... write Andrew
Davidhazy right from this location.
You are reader number
since
February 23, 1998
I hope you have found or will find something interesting among these
articles!
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