Prince Henry the navigator statue at Popes Park, New Bedford, Massachusetts.
TTV Squares
TTV or “Through The Viewfinder” is kind of a neat idea, though the results are sometimes very primitive looking. The idea is that you take a photo (usually digital) through the viewfinder of another, older (usually film) camera. Most folks shoot through TLR (Twin Lens Reflex) cameras, which have a large, waist level viewfinder which one can shoot through it with a standard 50mm lens or even a zoom lens. Others experiment with everything from old range finders to box cameras, and even toy cameras. Some cheaper versions of the waist level TLR cameras can be had for a few dollars on ebay. Since the functionality of the camera really doesn’t matter (you are only using the viewfinder), as long as the view piece is crack, mold, or fog free, the camera can be otherwise broken and still serve it’s purpose for you. Some folks even desire the dusty cracked, or fogged viewfinders for some added grittiness.
I, on the other hand, don’t currently own a TLR or any other camera worthy of this project (yet?), so I actually used some template layers that other folks have made with their TTV cameras and simply worked them into my photos. I cheated, yes, but I had fun at it, and may consider picking up an old Kodak Duaflex sometime soon to give the real-deal a go.
Of Whales and Whaling
Inspired by Moby Dick, which was written and based in this city. The photos are all from the downtown are, where the history of whaling still lingers today. The statue of the whale’s tail is located at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, which is part of the Whaling National Historical Park. The statues of the harpooneer and smith are located in the center of the park at a federal building. The Seamen’s Bethel was the church of the whalers, and later went on to become the church of the fishermen and sailors. This was the church that Melville wrote about in Moby Dick, and it is still used to date.