Most photographers would agree that it is the ability of a camera to take pictures that can be blown to a large sized print, which makes them special.
If we go by that yardstick, most cameras have a certain megapixel which tells you how large a print can be without the images appearing pixelated. Thus, when it comes to large sized images which need to be stretched on large screens, usually used in advertising or propaganda related purposes, companies or photographers need to use extremely powerful cameras. However, I still have not come across a camera that can blow out a picture in crystal clear quality to 30 feet in length.
San Franciscan photographer Darren Samuelson has built a six-foot long camera which requires 15 minutes to set up each shot. It weighs 70 pounds and uses 3 feet long X-ray sheets to capture the film. Of course, this is not the digital photography that most of us tout today, but an analog contraption that comes with a 1210mm Nikon Nikkor lens. It is not exactly the kind of camera that you would want to use while on a holiday, or even when you want to share pictures that you take on Twitter or Facebook.
Instead, it is a gigantic photographical device that could possibly be used for public displays of photographical material. This beast of a photographical device costs $2,300 and must be one of the most complex DIY devices ever. Mr. Samuelson took 7 months to build the contraption and took the help of a computer-aided design program. The parts of the device had to be listed in 186 rows, which show how complex the camera must be. Of course, it would not impress most of the digital camera toting folks, who believe in mobility and immediacy.
I find it difficult to understand why someone would take the trouble of transporting the device when good digital cameras do pretty much the same. I would either see it is a bizarre technological art work, or a tongue in cheek response to the world of photography that depends on megapixels. Of course, it might also be a rebellious response towards ‘smaller the better’ attitude most camera manufactures carry today. You could also take a look at the Nikon DSLR Camera Costume, which seems to be an artistic response to the world of cameras as well.
