Bulb, Panoramas and the Diana Mini

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The Diana Mini is perfect for experimenting with the bulb mode. Create some intriguing panoramic shots quickly and simply!

Credits: panchoballard

Analogue Prophecy #3: Expect the Unexpected and the Excitement of Experiment – what better way to experiment than to surrender to bulb mode, wind on without care and see where it takes you?

Here’s how I created some panoramic shots that I love.

Credits: panchoballard

Take the Diana Mini and set her to half-frame mode. Select the Cloudy setting and put her on Bulb mode.

Now, choose a subject (a long, panoramic one is best but as you’ll see from my photos, not necessary) and take your first shot. Make sure it’s on bulb mode and do it hand-held – no tripods! Don’t hold the shutter open too long, just imagine you’re taking a ‘normal’ shot on N mode.

Now, wind on a little but not entirely to the next frame. Aim a little to the right and take your next shot. Repeat until you’ve captured as much of the subject as you want to.

And that’s it! The fun is in experimenting. When set to Bulb mode you never quite know what you’re going to get and the added element of doing multiple exposures only makes it even more experimental and unpredictable. Try it, you just might find your new style and don’t forget – Expect the Unexpected…

Credits: panchoballard

written by panchoballard on 2011-05-07 #gear #tutorials #camera #tipster #bulb-mode #diana-mini #quickie-tipster #panoramic-panorama-multiple-exposures-experimental #diana-mini-top-tipster

20 Comments

  1. clownshoes
    clownshoes ·

    nice

  2. chethong
    chethong ·

    wonder what would the photolab do with these shots ?

  3. panchoballard
    panchoballard ·

    Ah, good point chethong. I always ask my lab not to cut the negative strip and then I scan at home. If you have no scanner you need to find a friendly lab who can handle strange sizes.

  4. nadinadu
    nadinadu ·

    ooh! that looks fun! but i dont have a scanner and i dont think my photolab would really understand...:(

  5. cmougenot2
    cmougenot2 ·

    can we also do it with the F+ ??

  6. lighttomysoul
    lighttomysoul ·

    question: why does it need to be in bulb mode on a sunny day?

  7. lalalalalalala
    lalalalalalala ·

    This is such a great idea! I must try this out one day. Thanks for posting.

  8. nicolas_noir
    nicolas_noir ·

    @lighttomysoul I don't think it needs to be on "bulb" as such - it just adds to the dreamy effect and deviates it from the standard Dianarama/Holgarama set up.
    @cmougenot2 you can do it was 230 cameras by setting the counter to 16 but leaving the 12 mask in!

  9. panchoballard
    panchoballard ·

    @lightonmysoul As @nicolas_noir says, using bulb mode isn't to compensate for poor lighting but to get an effect that isn't possible on the normal mode. It also makes the shot more unpredictable as you never know what you're going to get.

    Just hold the shutter down for a very short time. You're aiming for a fast shutter speed but because it's bulb, you'll never get it quite as fast as the normal mode.

  10. dminilover
    dminilover ·

    Very nice! What film do you use?

  11. panchoballard
    panchoballard ·

    @dminilover Thanks! I probably used Klick Max 200 for the photos in this article. You can get plenty of expired Klick Max in the Lomography shop and I love it.

  12. mimifleuri
    mimifleuri ·

    What a great effect. Gonna try that!

  13. natalieerachel
    natalieerachel ·

    Perfect! I'm getting a scanner so I can do this :)

  14. luc_skywalker
    luc_skywalker ·

    @natalieerachel - remember that you need a scanner with manual setup of scanning area. Otherwise, you will get "normal" frames and your panoramas will be cut into pieces of a regular frame.

  15. chethong
    chethong ·

    very good idea, i'm gonna try it in my next trip!

  16. susielomovitz
    susielomovitz ·

    want to try it!

  17. kdstevens
    kdstevens ·

    Nicely done!

  18. litumai
    litumai ·

    awesome tipster! @panchoballard: how many clicks do you recommend to wind after each frame??

  19. panchoballard
    panchoballard ·

    @litumai - I just do it randomly to be honest. You could work out how many clicks it is from one frame to the next but I like to surprise myself!

  20. litumai
    litumai ·

    cool! tks!

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