Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Dennis Manarchy is a renowned Chicago-based photographer and filmmaker. ( http://www.manarchy.com/images.html ——WARNING, many are NSFW). Manarchy has recently built a 7,000 pound 35-foot-long view camera mounted on a trailer. It makes film (yes, FILM) negatives that are 6 feet high. He makes 2-story high portraits with it and intends to tour the country making portraits of "…the faces and history of vanishing U.S. cultures in their natural environments." ( http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2101561/Photographer-Dennis-Manarchy-builds-supersize-35-foot-camera.html ) Manarchy intends to "…haul the camera over 200,000 miles across 50 states with the view of creating a collection of photographs and stories that will celebrate and pay tribute to the history of American cultures that have shaped the nation." He figures he needs to raise at least $3-million to complete the project. Rolls of 16-exposure film imported from Europe run $25,000 each. :shock: The monster camera records the equivalent of 97,000,000,000 pixels. (Is that a lot?) :shock:

The weatherproof camera has been parked outside the courthouse in Monroe, Wisconsin. The camera was proudly displayed here because the trailer was custom-built by Davis Welding in Monroe. It leaves tomorrow (Monday nov. 18) but the only chance we had to visit it was yesterday (Saturday). There was a display of photographs and construction details inside the courthouse but being Saturday it was locked up. :cry: . The weather was awful but even worse today. I made some pictures of it, some of which are not wire sharp because it was cold and wet and blustery and I was frankly shaking and my hands were stiff.

The giant camera sits in the rain and fog in front of the Green County Courthouse.


The camera has swings and tilts and may be used for any purpose you would normally use a view camera for. A little spendy, perhaps, with film running about $1,500 per exposure, before processing.


The platform at the front of the trailer is the sliding posing platform. In use there is a chair equipped with seriously old-fashioned head braces to hold a sitter's head at precisely the correct distance so the sitter does not slip out of focus.


A closeup of the 400-pound, $400,000 lens and shutter. My understanding is that the lens is actually a magnificent mockup. If real it would be a 42-incher. Manarchy has three other lenses that he uses to actually make his pictures. The nearly half-million dollar pricetag is for intricate metalwork. Because the weather was regrettably dreadful all you can see of the front element is obscured by condensation. The camera is, fortunately, weatherproof.


I was very taken with that exacting replica of a pneumatic shutter, nearly identical to this 1897 2-blade model built by Bausch and Lomb.


A 2-story high ink-jet print is draped over the front of the Green County Courthouse.


The print, 22'x22', is of Joe Yazzie, a Navajo. This is what Manarchy intends to do with the camera all around the U.S.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

A daunting project!
I have wished him the best of luck in this adventure and offered my assistance should he get to my part of the country during the venture.

Project website:
http://butterfliesandbuffalo.com/

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Thanks SO much for the link to the Project Website! :thumbup: :thumbup:

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

My pleasure.
One error in your post though, its a 20,000 mile trip, not 200,000.

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Nuts. You're right. The error is the Daily Mail's, though. The quote is a cut-and-paste directly from their cited and linked article. :| :hunf:

busted_shutter

Now that's a camera!!

doduce Loc: Holly Springs NC

I'd like to se how he does the developing and printing. That would be fascinating.

doduce Loc: Holly Springs NC

Just look at the link. I'd like to wander around inside his brain.

Ol' Frank Loc: Orlando,

His Photoshop program must be awesome!

Psergel Loc: New Mexico

A canon

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Either someone else did basically the same thing , or I've read about this before. Quite an idea, requiring huge amounts of imagination, skill, and cash.

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Jerry, you are correct. From the Wikipedia article: "In 1900, (George R. Lawrence) built the world's largest camera to take a photograph of the Alton Limited locomotive, owned by the Chicago & Alton Railway. The camera weighed 1400 pounds (640 kg) and used a 4.5′ × 8′ glass-plate negative. The photograph was taken for the 1900 Exposition Universelle (Paris Exposition of 1900) in Paris, France and won 'The Grand Prize of the World.'" Those interested may read about Lawrence here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_R._Lawrence

A picture of George R. Lawrence's 1900 crew-served camera.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Ah, yes. Thanks.

farnsworth52 Loc: W. Pa.

Does anyone know where to get a list of future locations and dates. I've got to see this

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

The tour schedule is not yet finalized, they are still raising funding. Keep an eye on the website for updates.