Brooklyn Bridge. Irving Underhill, 1913.
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Developing a Panoramic Photograph | Printing a Panoramic Photograph
Shooting a Panoramic Photograph
Download the MPEG (27.6 MB) or Quicktime (15 MB) Video of this Presentation*
On a cold December day, some Library of Congress staff members volunteered to be the subjects of a demonstration of how a panoramic photograph is made.
When shooting a picture, the Cirkut panoramic camera moves in an arc from left to right. The people in the front row are arranged along a corresponding arc, so that in the finished photograph they will seem to be standing in a straight line.
While under the hood, the photographer focuses the picture. Unlike a 35-millimeter camera, a Cirkut camera has no mirror and prism to reverse the image, and the photographer sees the picture upside-down.
The aperture is "stopped down," to allow only the proper amount of light into the camera. The back of the camera is loaded with film, and the gears are wound so that when the picture is taken, the roll of film and the camera move in perfect synch.
Photographer: "…We're just about ready to photograph you, but I first need to explain a little about the camera. This is an antique panoramic camera. It works a little differently from what you're used to because it does not take a snapshot. It takes a timed exposure, so you need to hold very very still. If you move during a timed exposure, you'll turn out a blur…"
The photographer sets the angle of the arc that the camera will travel and releases the wound gear advancing the film and rotating the camera on the tripod. As the camera rotates it photographs one section at a time until it has exposed the entire length of film.
And here is the end result:
*This video was shot on December 19, 1992, in front of the U.S. Capitol. It documents the staff of the Central Photo Company shooting a group portrait with a Cirkut camera, and the subsequent development and printing of the resulting negative. The group assembled for the portrait consists of Library of Congress staff members, mostly from the American Memory pilot program and the Prints and Photographs Division.
The video was produced by Bucky Wall of Buckaroo Associates, and could not have been made without the generous cooperation of James and Rochelle Ivey of Washington Central Photo Company.
The scenes in the photographic laboratory were restaged for the video camera. Film development, which must be carried out in complete darkness, was simulated for the camera using a piece of clear film and, during the video editing process, the scene was reduced to black and white in order to simulate darkness. The footage of exposing the photographic paper in the contact printer was also manipulated in order to simulate the reddish tones of the safelight.
Developing a Panoramic Photograph | Printing a Panoramic Photograph
The "Pizza Run"
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One joke you can play in a Cirkut panorama photograph is to have someone appear in the picture twice.
The two people on the far left are also on the far right. In the business, this is called a "pizza run." Here's how it's done:
Photographer: "When he says go, you run both at the same time — Betsy around the camera, Pat around back. Get in line on the far end on the other side and just hold very still when you get there."
"Ready…Go!"
*This video was shot on December 19, 1992, in front of the U.S. Capitol. It documents the staff of the Central Photo Company shooting a group portrait with a Cirkut camera, and the subsequent development and printing of the resulting negative. The group assembled for the portrait consists of Library of Congress staff members, mostly from the American Memory pilot program and the Prints and Photographs Division.
The video was produced by Bucky Wall of Buckaroo Associates, and could not have been made without the generous cooperation of James and Rochelle Ivey of Washington Central Photo Company.
The scenes in the photographic laboratory were restaged for the video camera. Film development, which must be carried out in complete darkness, was simulated for the camera using a piece of clear film and, during the video editing process, the scene was reduced to black and white in order to simulate darkness. The footage of exposing the photographic paper in the contact printer was also manipulated in order to simulate the reddish tones of the safelight.
Developing a Panoramic Photograph | Printing a Panoramic Photograph
Developing a Panoramic Photograph
Download the MPEG (21 MB) or Quicktime (12.5 MB) Video of this Presentation*
The first step in developing is to place matching sets of identifying numbers on the labelled box. Later, when the lights are out, the film is also numbered. Before turning off the light, the technician makes sure that everything he needs is in place.
While in darkness, the technician unrolls the film, and labels it with the matching number. Each roll of film contains two separate negatives. The film is then cut from its paper backing, and prepared for hanging.
As the technician hangs the film on a metal hanger, he attaches a weight to its bottom to hold it straight, and to keep its two sides from touching. The hanger is then placed in a tank of developer for ten minutes. From the developer, the film is moved to the fixer. Once the film is "fixed," the technician can turn on the lights.
With the lights back on, the developed film is removed from the fixer, drained, and placed in a washer for five minutes. The washed film is removed from the hanger, and taken to dry.
When the developed film is dry, the technician carefully examines it, watching for scratches or problems that may have occurred in developing, and then chooses the best negative for printing.
*This video was shot on December 19, 1992, in front of the U.S. Capitol. It documents the staff of the Central Photo Company shooting a group portrait with a Cirkut camera, and the subsequent development and printing of the resulting negative. The group assembled for the portrait consists of Library of Congress staff members, mostly from the American Memory pilot program and the Prints and Photographs Division.
The video was produced by Bucky Wall of Buckaroo Associates, and could not have been made without the generous cooperation of James and Rochelle Ivey of Washington Central Photo Company.
The scenes in the photographic laboratory were restaged for the video camera. Film development, which must be carried out in complete darkness, was simulated for the camera using a piece of clear film and, during the video editing process, the scene was reduced to black and white in order to simulate darkness. The footage of exposing the photographic paper in the contact printer was also manipulated in order to simulate the reddish tones of the safelight.
Developing a Panoramic Photograph | Printing a Panoramic Photograph
Printing a Panoramic Photograph
Download the MPEG (16.5 MB) or Quicktime (10 MB) Video of this Presentation*
The first step in printing the panoramic photograph is to secure the negative to the printer with tape. This can be done under normal lighting. The technician then places wax paper between the light source and the negative, to diffuse the light during exposure.
All actual printing and developing is done under a safe-light. After placing the paper on top of the negative, the technician sets the timer that controls the printer. Closing the printer presses the paper against the negative and triggers a timed burst of light that exposes the picture.
The exposed paper is loaded into a processor that, after about one minute, automatically develops, fixes, and dries the finished print.
This first print serves as a proof print. The technician inspects it for areas that need special attention during the printing process. Using a grease pencil, the technician marks areas of the proof print for "dodging," which reduces the amount of light on specific areas of the print. Each type of mark indicates a different type of dodging that will occur later. Typically, individual faces need dodging.
The technician applies ordinary lipstick to the glass beneath the faces he marked on the proof print, to reduce the amount of light during exposure. Additional wax paper is also added to reduce the light in broad areas of the photograph.
The paper is then exposed and developed as before, to produce the final print.
*This video was shot on December 19, 1992, in front of the U.S. Capitol. It documents the staff of the Central Photo Company shooting a group portrait with a Cirkut camera, and the subsequent development and printing of the resulting negative. The group assembled for the portrait consists of Library of Congress staff members, mostly from the American Memory pilot program and the Prints and Photographs Division.
The video was produced by Bucky Wall of Buckaroo Associates, and could not have been made without the generous cooperation of James and Rochelle Ivey of Washington Central Photo Company.
The scenes in the photographic laboratory were restaged for the video camera. Film development, which must be carried out in complete darkness, was simulated for the camera using a piece of clear film and, during the video editing process, the scene was reduced to black and white in order to simulate darkness. The footage of exposing the photographic paper in the contact printer was also manipulated in order to simulate the reddish tones of the safelight.
