ULTRA & Violet
Research
(9/30-10/10)
1. I started this project in order to subvert the use of ultraviolet photography and its use to make sunscreen visible. The plan was to video different people applying sunscreen on their faces using a UV recorder.
2. Through research, I discovered that the only company presently making UV-sensitive video recorders is called Oculus, and the rental costs are prohibitive for the budget of this project.
3. As an alternative, I investigated the use of a detachable ultraviolet filter on a DSLR, specifically the 2" Baader U - Venus Filter. This filter is made for astrological purposes, specifically looking at Venus through a telescope, but it can also be screwed on to the front of a camera lens using adapter rings.
4. All DSLRs have a layer of UV-blocking coating on thier sensors. If a Baader U is placed on the lens of such a camera, the sensor will not receive any light, visible or ultraviolet and will instead produce a black image. While it is possible to scrape the UV coating off of a DSLR sensor and it is possible to convert camera sensors to black and white sensors, which increases UV light visibility, these options were also outside of the project budget.
5. After additional research, I found that 35mm cameras used with TMax400 black and white film and uncoated lenses with an attached Baader U filter produce images that show UV light.
10/11
1. I read that the Nikon D70 and D40 bodies work without modfication if used with older El Nikkor lenses and a UV filter. If the UMBC photocage has either of these bodies, I'll test this and see if it works.
Practice
(10/10-10/25)
1. I purchased a Baader U filter and confirmed that it doesn't work when used with an unaltered Vixia, Canon DSLR, or Fujifilm x100.
2. Nikon started coating thier lenses in 1970, so I located a telphoto lens from 1968 and used it in conjunction with a 35mm camera and Kodak Tmax 400 b&w film.
3. Using broad spectrum 70spf sunscreen and a human model, I shot a test roll of film on a cloudy afternoon. I shot at f8 and bracketed 5-6 stops as reccomended by Dr. Richards, the founder of Oculus. The results were low-contrast with about 7 inches of focus-shift.
4. I've located a second old Nikor lens that is 50mm and will try that one to see if focus shift is less apparent.
5. Shot 4 more rolls using 50mm. I shifted focus, bracketted and used three friends as subjects. Will process to see results
6. Processed the film. Focus is better but contrast is poor. It is time to move on to the next thing.
Execution
(11/3)
1. Had three critiques, one with peers & two with professors.
2. Shot second non-filtered series of sunscreen application with PJ. Need to do the same with B.
3. Will print two series for GRDay
a. Using UV Filter: Three sets of two with B & PJ paired b. Without UV filter: Two sets of four with B & PJ separate.