Old Kodak/film guys, a question.

[Lost Canadian]

I was wondering if anyone could help me out. This wonderful gentleman below took my wife and my portrait in Havana with a 1910,...yes 1910, Kodak box camera. He shot and processed our picture right in the camera and provided us with the negative and a developed picture. He had a bucket of solution on the side of the camera, there was a hole in the top which he looked through and was making some kind of rubbing motion in the camera while processing it. I know very little about film and was amazed by the whole process. If anyone can help me out as to how this process works I'd be forever in you debt.

 

[Michael Slade]

Show me the whole negative, edges and all, and in accurate color, maybe even with a ruler...then I might have a better guess for you.

 

[Lost Canadian]

Show me the whole negative, edges and all, and in accurate color, maybe even with a ruler...then I might have a better guess for you.

I've yet to scan it but will get to it ASAP. It's black and white and I'm pretty sure he said he used Agfa.

 

[Michael Slade]

What color was the liquid in the bucket? Was it just a wash bucket? Was the water slightly blue-ish? Did you re-wash the negative? Hmmm...I am very curious what this might be.

I did not know that Agfa made an instant film.

 

[Lost Canadian]

What color was the liquid in the bucket? Was it just a wash bucket? Was the water slightly blue-ish? Did you re-wash the negative? Hmmm...I am very curious what this might be.

I did not know that Agfa made an instant film.

I'm pretty sure the liquid was clear. No, I didn't have to do anything with the negative, and the whole process took only about 5 minutes. He said he can use any film though, fuji, kodak, agfa... His preference being Agfa. I just assumed that's what he used. It was pretty cool, and fast. I'm not in front of my home computer right now but when I get back to it I'll scan and look at some of my other shots of him to see if I can make out the colour of the liquid. Big thanks Michael.

 

[Michael Slade]

I would have LOVED it if you'd shot video of him making your portrait and processing that film. That would have been worth paying him twice to make two images.

Looking forward to the scan.

 

[Michael Slade]

Is it this guy?

Cuban street photographer

Or maybe this guy?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dlZ5qoxiDw"]Youtube of Havana street photographer[/ame]

Here is the definitive answer.

Another video

 

[Lost Canadian]

Here is the definitive answer.

That's totally it!!! Thanks so much!!!

 

[Lost Canadian]

Another video

The guy that took our pic is Francisco in this film. Too cool!!! Again thanks Michael!

 

[Michael Slade]

The guy that took our pic is Francisco in this film. Too cool!!! Again thanks Michael!

I had some help researching, but you're very welcome. I learned a lot from the 'hunt' and will even share that Vimeo clip with my class tomorrow.

 

[smslavin]

This is pure awesomeness. I love love love stuff like this. That's image making. I could stand there for hours and just watch him. Thanks for digging all that info up Michael. Made my night.

 

[taco2go]

Truly old school art. These are still used in some old tourist spots in India, I remember there being a lot more back in the 80's when I was living there. Here's a blog entry outlining the local technique as described by a versatile documentary photog based in India. Sephi Bergerson.

I've been following him for a little while- decent work on his site. Nice Royal Enfield trip to Spiti valley.