i’m sure you’ve seen the trend toward old cameras, old film, old styles. case in point: polaroid announced it was no longer producing film and bam! a resurgence in polaroid popularity.
one of the growing trends is ttv photography – “through the viewfinder,” that signature black square frame and the blurry, scratchy, dream-like images it produces. “ttv photography” literally breaks down to: using one camera to shoot photos through the viewfinder and lens of another camera, a twin lens reflex camera (typically an old kodak duaflex base), via a black contraption “channel.” sure, you can find an old kodak … and build a contraption … and figure out how to use it … and go through lots of trial and error …
or you can spend $7 and use andie’s ttv storyboard instead.
the storyboard is broken down into layers, so you can easily add your images under the ttv frames and be done with it. retro, rustic appeal without any of the work.
one word of note: you have to have an understanding of how layers work to use this program. andie’s directions within the program are simple: place image under this layer. but if you don’t know how to rearrange your layers, you might just pitch a fit. but really, it’s a snap, whether you are fluent in layers or just starting out. it is literally a matter of open image > open storyboard > paste image onto storyboard > rearrange layers to place image under ttv layer. presto.
or, you can go all Type A on it and get even more flexibility and versatility from the program, thus extending your $7 into myriad possibilities, styles, options, and fabulosity.
exhibit a:
this is a ttv storyboard i created for a client that uses andie’s program as is, with the exception that i also added a background from the seattle package, layered it over andie’s paper bag background, then lowered the opacity of the pattern. this adds style and color to the print, but it keeps with the washed out, vintage vibe of the pix, which is only enhanced by the vintage quality within the ttv frames.
exhibit b:
ttv can also have an elegant quality. for this storyboard, i removed the paper bag background completely, and instead used a plain design from the deerfield beach collection. now the dreaminess of the photos within the ttv frames are perfectly balanced but yet not overshadowed by the simple background.
exhibit c:
this particular storyboard keeps the paper bag background under a pattern, like exhibit a, and the pattern (again, from the deerfield beach backgrounds) is again made slightly transparent so as to keep the texture underneath it. this time, however, the color and style is all from the background. the photos were converted to b&w, which really allows the ttv frame to go to work and do it’s thing. it lends such an amazing quality to b&w shots.
what it comes down to is, how purist are you? do you want to hunt down a twin lens reflex camera, build a contraption, figure out how to use it, process your photos, etc., etc.? or do you want to click your lovely photos into this lovely program and be done with it? both ways have their beauty, but for your time and money, andie’s storyboard might just be the more cost effective, and mentally stress-free, option.
cheers,
michele
by Michele S
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