Some of the photos I have shown on this blog have been processed to appear to be taken “through the viewfinder” (TtV). Because I do not have all the needed items to actually photograph through a viewfinder of a camera such as the Duaflex or even a Starflex, I have created my own images using Paint Shop Pro.
First of all, TtV photography is simply taking a picture of any subject through the viewfinder of camera with another camera. One must carefully select that first camera because the lens matters (Duaflex or other). And each lens has its own personality. You will need a macro lens (the lens of the camera taking the picture) for focusing on the Duaflex viewfinder. I do not have a macro lens at this time. There is some construction that goes into taking the image and with a little research online and some willingness, it looks like it can be a lot of fun. My photographs are not true TtV.
What I have done to process my TtV-like photos is as shown below. This is very easy and more advanced step can be taken for additional effects.
YOu will need:
1. Paint Shop Pro (or other similar photo processing program–they all have these commands).
2. Your picture
3. A mask (grunge border, TtV border, etc.)
Where do you find such borders? Go to flickr.com. A friend sent me a variety of these borders to get me started. I’ve started making my own in PsP. Be careful when using borders found on the web since some require permission to use.
This is the mask I will use in this tutorial.
My photo is as shown below. I took an average photograph of my horse, Carter Joe, resized it to the same size as the mask above (380 x367). These must be the same size. Follow the instructions in your program to resize your image.
I then used Sepia for the color change and lightened/contrasted it to the desired effect.
Once you have your photo resized and processed in the manner you desire, you are ready for the next step.
Have on Paint Shop Pro both the mask border image and your personal image open.
Click on the mask border image, go to Selections tool at the top and click Select All.
Click Edit on toolbar and then copy.
Then go to your personal image, in this case the horse.
Click Edit on toolbar and then Paste as a new layer.
The mask border will now be on top of the horse picture.
On the Layer pallet on the far right side of your screen, click blend mode.
Scroll down and click multiply. You will then have your TtV image.
But you are not done.
Click on the tool bar Layers and click Merge (Flatten All)
The final result:
4 Comments
September 13, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Thanks for sharing your technique. I’ve been working on assembling my ttv camera… I also really liked your rose photo that you posted.
Have a great evening!
September 13, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Thanks for sharing. I don’t know if I’ll ever try it, but I do like yours very much.
September 18, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Ah! Thanks for sharing this. What I really like about this process is the texture on the image… that old time feel of that look of rolling film with the flecks and lines. This is something I would love to simulate somehow with photos and perhaps I will create my on kind of TtV masks. I use Paint Shop Pro too. Very creative, wildstorm.
September 20, 2009 at 7:41 am
[...] look. Wildstorm, at Backroads Photoblog, has been posting some wonderful Ttv pictures and also a tutorial on how she does Ttv. I decided to make my own mask with framing for a type of Ttv effect. Using a photo of cracked [...]