with other camera bodies. I’ve assembled scanner
cameras from Brownie box cameras, cardboard
boxes, PVC tubes, and even old stage lights and
magic lanterns. With a little effort, you can also
mount a scanner camera back on a large-format
monorail or field camera.
Large-format lenses for cameras are expensive,
but you can find lenses that may work just as well
inside old photo enlargers, overhead projectors,
stage lights, and even toys!
The nice thing about the CIS-based scanners
used for this project is that they’re powered via
USB. Hook your camera up to your laptop, and
take it on the road.
84 Make: Volume 14
The motion distortion is the most interesting
thing about the scanner camera. Spend some time
getting to understand it, and you’ll start thinking
about time and movement in photography in a
whole new way — and this will start to inform your
traditional photography as well.
For more photos taken with the simple and
deluxe scanner cameras, see makezine.com/14/
scannercamera.
Michael Golembewski is an artist and interaction designer
who lives in Brooklyn, N. Y. Visit his Scanner Photography
Project at golembewski.awardspace.com.
