What could be a better start of this blog, then a Hello Kitty-camera hack? While browsing the really nice blog “Four Corners Dark”, I found his post about this toycam-hack performed by a guy called Formica. The camera is a disposable camera loaded with a pre-exposed frames featuring the great Hello Kitty! Now, you should already know that you should not return the camera for film development, but instead reuse the camera for your next rolls. Even if it takes a little work to open up the camera, and maybe some patching to get it operational again, it is still worth it if you are a little experimental. In this case the result is really nice because of the extra mask in the lens, and gives a strong unique vignetting effect. In the image below, he used cross processing techniques (Centuria color negative in black and white developer), giving lovely color tones. Check out Formica’s original images on Flickr, where you’ll find both the standard Hello Kitty film roll as well as the hacked version images.

BR/Svante

Welcome to my blog about camera hacking for artistic purposes! It will probably start out as a means for myself to document brainstorming ideas and inspiration in this field. I will write about other people’s hacks as well as my own. And the topics will include (but not be restricted to) processes, creative control, optical hacking, medium hacking, data path hacking, film vs digital sensors (!), selection and masking techniques, light leaks, toy cameras, light and flash control, firmware and PCB customizations…

The camera can be used in many different ways as part of a creative process, but the focus on this blog will be on the hacks and customizations people make to their equipment in order to for example achieve “The Special Effect” or to document their projects (like time lapse or custom triggered exposures).

I’m not familiar with any blog with the same focus as this one (please let me know if you’ve seen one!) but there are ofcourse a lot of other related blogs. Some of my favourite hang-outs are Four Corners Dark, Hack a Day, Make: blog, Craftzine: blog, Arduino blog, Adafruit blog and of course the good ol’ we make money not art

Please get in touch if you have any suggestions for this blog! Either add comments or send mails using my contact information on my site.

Best Regards /Svante