Like photography? Like the retro look? Need a project? Look no further!

I have always loved the look of the old pictures from a TLR camera (twin lens reflex) but for obvious reasons, shooting with one is no longer convenient. So, when I found a book that explained how to make a "contraption" out of cardboard to make it possible to shoot with a digital point and shoot or a DSLR INTO a TLR I got really excited- I definitely bought the book. Since I can't scan and copy the instructions from the book to here, I will show how I did it myself. It only takes a few supplies, and I think the total work time was about 45 minutes- this included the time it took for me to play with it for a few minutes to make sure it worked.

Here are some pictures with an example of what it is producing- later on I will find things to more specifically shoot and probably do a series of them.










Okay! So, let's get started!
Supplies you'll need:

**Cardboard (I chose to use non-corrugated cardboard because it was easier to work with... I used the board-game box to a Oiuja board I realized I didn't need the box for- it was very easy to work with and is fairly sturdy too!)
**Scissors
**Craft knife (I used an exacto)
**Packaging tape (I suppose masking tape would work too, but packing tape will hold up better)
**Electrical tape (Gaffers tape or duct tape would work well too- this is to make it light-tight ish)
**A ruler
**Cutting surface (I scrapbook so I used a rotary mat)
**a TLR camera- which can be found at antique stores like crazy for pretty cheap- I think I bought mine for $12. The more dirty the screen is the better! If it is super clean and in perfect condition then you may as well take regular pictures and crop them into squares.
**A DSLR (digital SLR) or a point and shoot camera. (I used a DSLR so my picture instructions will be with my Nikon, but the instructions will work across the board for either type)
**A pen/sharpie




Onward!

1. Make sure you have all needed supplies.

2. Measure the distance you need between the lens of your digital camera and the TLR. Do this by placing the TLR upright so that you can see clearly through the screen/viewfinder. Lean over the TLR with your digital camera until you are basically filling your viewfinder with the screen. Measure the distance with your ruler from your camera body to the screen. This will be the base measurement (plus the length on the TLR from the viewfinder to the lenses.) This total measurement will be the length of your contraption.
(A 50mm lens with a wide aperture would work best- but since I don't have that yet, I just used my kit lens and zoomed it all the way in, while making sure it would still clearly focus on the TLR screen.)



3. Measure the front, back, and sides of your TLR camera

These measurements will be the width of the 4 sides to the Contraption.

4. Sketch out on the cardboard using your new found measurements to make the outlines of the contraption. (This picture accidentally did not get rotated- so it's sideways... sorry) The flap at the top of the far right side is for the hole for your digital camera's lens to go through. The height of this flap should be the same size as the width of the "sides."

TIP:You want the cardboard contraption to be snug around the TLR but you'll be better off making it a little loose and adjusting it from there. Better safe than sorry because it is always easy to take it in more- but if you make it way too tight you'll have to start from scratch!






5. After cutting out the outline of the whole contraption (NOT ON ALL THE LINES- only the outer edges): Score your cardboard along the lines you have sketched out. with your craft knife (Scoring means to lightly cut the cardboard without going all the way through. This makes it easier to fold a straight line, and you will be re-enforcing the folds with the packaging and electrical tapes anyway.)

Fold all lines and re-enforce with tapes when you are done scoring.

6. Measure the size of the hole you'll need for the lenses on the TLR. Cut it out.

This is what my whole looked like for my TLR lenses after they were covered in tape.

If you can't tell- I was tape-happy throughout this project.

7. Measure the hole you will need for the digital lens, and cut out using your craft knife. Re-enforce hole with tapes.

8. Close up box and make sure all edges are properly re-enforced and sealed.

9. Insert TLR and digital camera into the Contraption, and have fun shooting! You can play with the exposure and shutter speed all you want to give different effects! Plus it's fun to play with color and brightness in Photoshop afterward! Have fun! If you have any questions or need clarification on anything, please feel free to ask!



PS- I did not coin the term "The Contraption" nor did I design it. If you want to see it for yourself in the book I found it in, along with many other fun DIY Photography projects, it can be found online or in major bookstores (I got mine in Barns and Noble.)
Camera Creative by Chris Gatcum- Amp Photo Books.