Fuji Lifts...an alternative to Polaroid

I'm still awaiting the arrival of the Arches, so I thought I'd give you a lift! Ha!

This is the first Fuji Film "lift" I did and I wanted you to see how it looks when you don't get it right. This is a view out of our balcony. Hey! When you have nothing else to shoot, shoot the pool.

But, I think I might have this figured out.

Fuji Instant film is a whole different animal than Polaroid. I don't know what they use for their emulsion substrate, but it is some tough stuff. Normally, making a lift with Polaroid was pretty straightforward, albeit a little dicey, to say the least. Fuji is downright bullet proof!

Trust me. It is not at all like Polaroid. So let me explain the "lift" process first.

Let your regularly processed Fuji Instant film "cure" for about 24 hours.

Immerse in just at boiling temperature water. I use a stainless steel pan and when you see the edges just start to peel, pour off the hot water and add cold water until it is completely cold.

Play with the emulsion from the edges moving toward the center. The film lifts very easily compared to the old Polaroid. When the film is almost ready to completely come off the substrate, slide a piece of Pictorico transparency film underneath and, as quickly as you can, let the emulsion adhere to the film. I tried paper first, then the Pictorico. That explains the wrinkles, by the way and also speaks volumes for the strength of the Fuji.

Let it dry normally. DO NOT USE A HAIR DRYER (which I did on this one assuming quite wrongly that it would act like Polaroid.) The stuff just shrivels up like those liquid plastic bubbles.

Once dry, I find that coating it with a light layer of Premier Print Shield holds it very well.

Don't let your fingers touch the stuff because it will show! Trust me.

Finally, "mount" the transparency on mat board both for permanence and also to make it visually appealing.

The example above is the result. Whew!

I shot this with my Zero 4x5 with 2 extensions for a 75mm focal length and f/216. The exposure was about 3 alligators.

I know I am lifted!

The View

Nope. This is not a commentary on the TV Show The View. First, I've never seen it (yes, I do read Yahoo News) and second, I never watch TV. I never do unless I am housesitting for Diana's mother who has a TV in every room of the house. (Talk about warped sensibilities). I turned one on the first time we housesat and went through, I think, about 100 channels, commenting to Diana, "Now I remember why we don't have one of these, let alone 6!"

Anyway, someone asked me if I use a viewfinder for my pinhole photographs. Well, sometimes.

(I learned how to answer that way in Politician's school.)

Or.

Maybe yes. Maybe no. (You can learn that one after 8 years in Med' school.)

I am being evasive because I like being surprised mostly by what I get without "seeing" it first. But, if I need to absolutely know what area I am covering with my pinhole, I borrow a trick from Hollywood. My hands.

First, you don't need a lanyard to keep this finder around your neck. It's always handy (couldn't resist the pun), it is variable format which is perfect for my 6x6 and 4x5 and it is original equipment (it came with the body at birth, although it has changed size over the years and has gotten a bit wrinkled with use) and it serves multiple uses...film loader, eye shade, occasional eating utensil, cable release and all 'round usage for expressing one's self in traffic.

To use, one needs to simply hold an approximation of the format (6x6) up to the eye, hold it about as far from your eye as the focal length of the camera (my Zero 2000 is about 1 inch) and take a peek. For other formats, simply change the size (4x5 requires approximation) of the hand frame.

Now, if you really want to use this viewfinder all of the time, you may find yourself in trouble occasionally as you, for example, lay on the ground on an urban sidewalk and aim up! Of course, if you take your hat off, put in a few quarters and look like I do when shooting in my grubbies, you might pick up a few extra bucks. (Who says photography doesn't pay?)

But, this is a great way to get a rough idea of what you are getting. Truthfully, I usually opt for surprise as some of my photographs show. Some good. Some not so good.

Make this our little secret. I don't want this to get out. For the entrepreneurs out there I must tell you that there is little market for these but manufacturing costs are really low.

That's it for now. I have to go. Justice! I just baked a huge Lasagna and we're off to a Lasagna and Strawberry feast. Hope the snow stopped in Spokadoodle. It's 66 degrees here!

(Can't wait to get my Arches Paper in! That Fuji Instant Film is burning a hole in my camera bag.)