It should come as no surprise that we are big fans of cameras made out of unexpected materials. It seems that every few weeks we’re highlighting a crafty photographer who is tinkering with a camera like this, the folks behind The Homemade Camera Podcast take it a step further. Twice a month, camera builders Nick Lyle, Graham Young, and Ethan Moses do a deep dive into various homemade camera builds, the thought process behind them, and, of course, the kinds of images that they can produce.
Podcasting about photography can be a tricky thing. Photographers are in the business of seeing, and podcasting is all about hearing, and no matter how well you can describe an image, at some point your listeners are going to want to see what you are talking about. The folks behind The Homemade Camera Podcast get this, which is why they are releasing a print zine to showcase some of the greatest creations from this niche world of photography.
“By keeping the design simple I was able to concentrate on the small details of the close fitting joints and light seals. I used a mixture of Ash and Walnut for the timber in this build and stainless and aluminum for the hardware.” -Dominic Silverthorn Handmade Camera Zine
The Homemade Camera Podcast zine features approximately 30 handmade cameras in a variety of sizes. Photos of the cameras appear alongside the images that they have created and brief stories from the creators about the thought process behind the camera and how they constructed it. The variety within its pages is quite astonishing. There are large format pinholes made of wood, a panoramic lego camera, modified folding cameras, and ones that are made primarily out of foam core, velcro and gaffers tape. Although the cameras themselves are works of art, the images that they produce make this a zine that any photographer would appreciate.
The Homemade Camera Podcast is currently taking preorders for the zine, which they expect to ship out in September. Learn more about the podcast and pre-order a copy of the zine on the Homemade Camera website.
“Focusing is mostly guesswork, however when it is successful the images are beautifully abstracted. If I really want to make sure something is in focus, I use a piece of parchment paper as a makeshift ground glass to make certain the focus is how I like.” -Jacob Reynolds Handmade Camera Zine“The first three rolls have been successful! I am always a bit paranoid when walking around so I tend to put in the dark slide for safety. The square sides make it really easy to set the camera on things when not on a tripod, and I have taken a couple shots with it on its side for a vertical shot.” -JM Mendizza Handmade Camera Zine“Unlike my other cameras that were all designed with a specific shooting style and usability in mind, this camera was designed to be more of a trophy piece than anything. But that does not mean it cannot be used. The film is cut from a roll of 35mm using a 3D printed Jig and then loaded into the film holder. From there it operates just like a pin hole.” -Lucus Landers Handmade Camera Zine“Its clunky and not really hand-holdable in anything but daylight, but takes nice photos. Level is important or else the photos come out badly distorted. Quite a bit of falloff in the corners without a centre filter.” -Matt Bechberger Handmade Camera Zine“There is no shutter, so I can be seen lining up the shot, as best I can be bothered, covering the pinhole with my hand or my hat, removing the dark slide and then uncovering the pinhole. This simplicity works for me perfectly.” -Neil Piper Handmade Camera Zine“Despite the plans and adaptation, It still has some real issues: random leaks and general fogging to say the least. But, you know, it is almost entirely Lego, so I will let that slide.” -Matt Perry Handmade Camera Zine“The camera has had a few outings but it’s primarily seen use in the studio. It’s awkwardly small, and the tiny hand-made brass knobs never go down tightly enough. Really, it’s about as good as the lens that’s on it, and the patience of the operator. It usually sits open on a shelf, where every time I notice it I say I will shoot it again soon. That also goes for the pinhole shutter I made 3 years ago – I will shoot that soon.” -Sandeha Garden Handmade Camera Zine
Jeanette D. Moses is a New York City–based filmmaker and photographer known for her intimate depictions of New York's creative communities. She’s been a contributor to PopPhoto since 2014, specializing in interviews, gear reviews, and all things analog.
