These photographs are part of a series shot using old 24x30 cm sheet film, and a

self built giant  camera . I wanted  to experience again -  in this age of digital

perfection -  the phenomenon of analog photography, and the sense of wonder and

surprise that I had felt when first learning about  it. Also, shooting portraits, I could

share this proces with others and find out what  kind of image  would be produced

by the interaction between  my subjects and this  uncommonly  huge and slow

camera. The exposure time was 45 seconds,  and I asked everyone to  close their

eyes for one photo, and open them for the next one. Even with their eyes closed,

they do not look asleep nor dead,  they are lost in thought,  maybe  daydreaming.

They are almost  defenceless, as if passively delivered to the camera. With their

eyes open, it is quite different: Being photographed becomes  almost  an action,

they are willingly giving something of themselves away. When asked about the

experience,  they all felt it had been quite intense,  and that the images  were very

revealing of things not normally visible.

                     Esther

                    Saskia

 This is me in front of the self made 10x12 inch. studio camera.

 Everything was made with recycled materials, the films are almost 40 years old!

 I still can't believe it works...