Tenleymayfield’s Weblog

Today was a great day. I went to school and got back mid-term grades. When I got out of school today, it was time to get down to business. I started cutting cameras today. The first camera that I cut was the Golden Eye. It was an easy cut because most of the material is thin plastic with a minimal amount of metal. The next camera was Brownie Hawkeye. Out of all the cameras, these were the two that were the least complicated regarding their insides and the material that the cameras were made out of. After cutting these two, the next few cameras that were cut were the Minolta, the Canon, the Polaroid Land Camera and the Argus Instant Load. These last four cameras were a little more complicated because of the pieces that they are comprised of. The Minolta and the Canon cameras are comprised of an equal ratio of plastic and metal. So the after effects need a little cleaning up around the edges. With a trusty Dremel tool this should not be a problem. Now, the struggle is size. I have to decide what arrangement each camera will take after it is set in the resin. All of the cameras except for the two Polaroid Land cameras are around the same size. So, the size of the final mold will be spilt in two sizes, which will be determined this weekend. So, for now here are a few images of the cameras during the sawing process and after.

So, this week is midterm week at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. As it has approached, I decided to take one week off my timeline to study and prepare for midterms. Next week I plan on hitting the Senior Thesis project strong. So far this week, I have worked on a video for my digital video class, (see category “Digital Video” on my Word Press Blog to check out other videos I have worked on in class so far this semester.) I have written a five page paper comparing and contrasting John Singleton Copley’s Watson and the Shark (1778 and 1782), studied slides for an Art History midterm, taken photographs for an individual study and have been working on my artist statement and bio. Needless to say, I needed one week away from the actual work with cameras and resin. Once the weekend rolls around and midterms are over, I can get my schedule back to normal and get back to work on the task that are closely at hand and due dates that are creeping up extremely fast.

Cameras, cameras and more cameras. Over the past few weeks, I encountered a bump in the road regarding completion of my senior thesis presentation. When I first started gathering information and equipment for the items I needed, I developed a preliminary list of questions. I kept fighting myself on the idea of bringing digital cameras into the project or solely staying with film cameras. Once I started trying to find cameras that were digital I encountered an even larger problem with cost. I could not justify spending hundreds of dollars on a camera that I would saw in half I also fought with myself over the whole idea of film meets digital and the exploration within. There are definitely a lot more film cameras that are easy to access (older in age and newer in age) then there are when you step into the realm of digital. So, when all was said and done, I decided that it would be more appropriate to stay with all film cameras for this project. The decision is made.

Here is a list of the cameras that will be used; Brownie Hawkeye Flash Model (May 1949 to July 1961), Golden Shield (1958 to1966), Argus Instant Load 270 (1966 to 1967), Polaroid Land Camera 340 (1969 to1971), Polaroid Super Colorpack (1971 to 1972), Nikon F2 (1959 to 1974), Minolta Maxxum 5000 (1986 to 2004), Canon Rebel 2000 EOS (1999 to present). 

Over the weekend, I experimented with the resin, which I will use to make a positive mold for my senior thesis project. After researching different types of resin, I made the decision to use a resin and a catalyst from Michael’s store. Resin is extremely expensive, so I bought a medium priced brand for testing purposes.  Used a small plastic mold that in the end will turn into a birch mold that will hold the cameras. There are two different processes for getting the molds ready for the resin. First you have to decide if you need to cast in layers or all at once. There are ratios for the catalyst that make this decision important. For every 8 ounces of resin used there must be 40 drops of catalyst for a solid pour. For pouring in layers, the first layer gets 5 drops per ounce and the second layer gets 4 drops per ounce. You also have to decide which process will work better for the object that you are trying to cast in the resin. I chose to do a sold pour, which worked. The problem that I will try solving over the next week will be to figure out how to make the sides of the end product smother than they turned out in this experiment. I ended up completing two molds because practice does not hurt in these experiments.  Below are some images of the process and the end product. 

As I promised myself, I am staying true to my semester long to do list for my senior thesis project. Week 2 and week 3- work with resin and catalyst. The supplies that I chose to work with are: 1. Castin’ Craft Clear liquid plastic casting resin 2. Castin’ Craft Catalyst (Hardening agent). 3. Castin’ Craft clear molds. 4. Freeman wax release. 5. Cheap throw away.  Resin. Catalyst. Wax.  Molds. Object. Over the weekend, I started working on a prototype for the project mentioned in the previous blog. The process of using resin is delicate and is generally completed in steps (layers). So now, I am struggling with how I am going to stabilize the camera inside the mold- in order to have camera (2 pieces) centered in mold prior to addition of resin and after application. The mold that will hold the resin and the camera until resin is dry, is a mold made out of birch wood. The box is not my larger than the camera itself, but it is large enough to cover camera in resin all around.  The starting process of using the resin is to figure out the ratio between resin and catalyst (instructions for catalyst come with item). The second step is to wax the mold on the inside with the Freeman Wax release. Depending on how large the item and mold are, the settling and drying time will vary. Now, over the next week, I will be focusing solely on working with East Tech so I can finish cutting the cameras.

So, a couple of days ago I gave a presentation in one of my Graphic Design classes. The presentation covered my work thus far regarding my senior thesis show. While I am I still thinking about portfolios, I have to kick this project into motion. I was given some great feedback regarding the project, which definitely got my wheels turning. Some of the key words that I took from the feedback were seduction and fetishistic! These words came about from my idea of showing camera guts to the audience via sawing the cameras in half. I started thinking about encompassing the sawn in half cameras in something that would preserve them and make then available to be touched and moved by the viewer. So I started researching clear polyurethane resin. I went and completed research at a local company who specializes in negative molds, while I need a positive mold. The trip to the company was extremely informative regarding the process of using resin, wax and specific woods for molds, and also how to keep the object steady and fixed while pouring the resin into mold. Over the next few weeks I will be playing with different molds, resin, shapes, sizes, and colors in order to figure out the best way to encompass this project for the best overall output. I have already started thinking about size. Should the final object be square so the viewer can see all six sides? Should it be round? How will it live in its space? For the next two weeks, I will be exploring the world of resin. I have placed an image of one of the cameras that I will be using. This camera is already cut in half, but has not met its partner, resin.