#Pentaxpanproject
Panoramic modification
The #pentaxpanproject is inspired by a camera modification found online that seeks to challenge the mundane activity of simply shooting 135 film out of a 35mm film camera by shedding light on the technicalities of the analogue experience by visually documenting what goes on before, during and after the process that tends to go unnoticed. With the recent price hikes of photographic film, prolonging the interest in shooting film alone might seem financially tough. This project’s applied approach to using film and accessories to create alternative mediums within the process is meant to inspire us to find new ways to shoot with what we already have.
Panoramic images on a medium format camera are no new concept. But converting one’s camera to shoot the supposed wrong film format purposely takes some effort and know‑how.
For those puzzled by the visuals, the backing paper of an expired 120 film roll was cut to a specific length and shape with the 35mm film leader taped onto it. A shutter mask was 3D printed and snap-fitted into the shutter opening, subsequently creating an exposure measuring 65mm x 24mm, similar to a Hasselblad XPan. Lastly, a viewfinder mask is placed on the ground glass to facilitate easier composing during shooting. Despite having dedicated cameras in the market that shoot panoramic images, most of the viable ones are beyond my budget.
What if…we could find other reasons to love what we already do and have? How might we…appreciate the nature of something so much more by understanding how it came to be?
The initial inspiration for the #pentaxpanproject came from some of my observations on social media, which made me realise how much we rely on the literal content of our images as the primary medium for storytelling. After learning that most of the content I consume leaned towards the art of photos (the WHY) but never really the science of it (the HOW), I started to explore ways to bridge the gap between the science and art of photography to create stories through a documented process rather than solely relying on the final product to generate interest.
After all, a crucial part of the analogue experience that isn’t seen a lot today is the process, whether it would be shooting, developing, scanning or something else.