iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 20h

One of the last pictures from the roll of 400ISO shots from down near the river. These converted industrial buildings have a good combo of historic charm and modern maintenance.

A black and white photograph of a steel arch bearing the words "HEINZ LOFTS" between Victorian brick buildings.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

On a recent photo walk, I shot some "fast" film for a change: 400 ISO. Shot with my father's Ricohflex TLR from the 1960s.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Trying out camera movements on the Speed Graphic. The shot on the right was my first attempt, and it is overexposed because I forgot to close the aperture down. I would love a wider lens to get the top of the spire in frame. #largeFormat #aristaEDU #graflex

A black and white photo of a church, lit up at night against a black sky.

A black and white photo of a church lit brightly against a black sky. Two blurry figures move at the lower right of the image.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Won a few rounds of "is it pictures" over the weekend! May need to give the medium format a few more minutes in the fixer (base is still a bit dark), but I'll test that this evening. #blackandwhite #photography #pittsburgh

Two pages of 120 film shot 6x6, showing photos from a walk by the river in Pittsburgh

A black and white 4x5 negative of a stream flowing through boulders.

A black and white 4x5 negative of a church lit against a dark sky.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Toned my first cyanotype today, and had some success! Toning solution made by boiling some dry apple wood sticks from my yard, yielding this lovely golden sepia tone. #cyanotype #printmaking

A small print of a flower in a warm sepia color, propped up in front of a box of washing soda.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Cats being cute in view of my home office (and my continued privilege of working from home).

A cream colored cat and a smaller orange tabby cat curl together on a floor cushion.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Teardown continues in my effort to access the shutter. Still can't access the blades or the mechanism.

A Konica 1c partially disassembled in a developing tray.

The removed shutter assembly, viewed from the rear with the iris and shutter blades visible.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Took this Konica 1C partially apart to service the shutter. Got the timing mechanism clean and lubricated, but the shutter blades still have a huge amount of resistance. Any advice for how to get to them so I can clean them? #cameraRepair #konica #rangefinder

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Spent part of yesterday afternoon taking advantage of the bright sunlight to make some cyanotypes out in the yard. This was the first of the day, using some photo negatives and plants from the yard. #cyanotype #photoprinting

A blue cyanotype print with negative impressions of a maple leaf, a clover, and some mint leaves. Under these are prints from photo negatives.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Real natural lens flare from the Takunar 35/2 early version. Very dramatic, but surprisingly controllable.

A large cat sits in the foreground, nearly eclipsed by a dramatic yellow lens flare

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Shot some engagement photos on 4x5 two weeks ago and just got done processing and scanning the film. So much fun! #largeFormat #petzval #filmphotography

A couple sits on a low wall in a black and white photo. Behind them is a beautiful manicured park with a large fountain.

A couple in suits hold hands and look into eachothers eyes in front of a large fountain. The background blurs into a swirl around them.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Gotta run more cyanotypes soon, using more large format negatives for contact prints but also more photograms, transparencies, and mixed media stuff.

Fingers hold up a small print in blue and white depicting an antique tractor on a farm. It is a cyanotype positive from a large format negative.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

A clear and present danger to Pittsburgh's photography community. Come see me and a bunch of much cooler stuff in Millvale today!

A table with a Vintage Cameras sign is loaded with a huge variety of cameras.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Saturday! Come to Millvale and check out cool analog photo displays, activities, and goods & services! Commerce! #pittsburgh #millvale #analogLiberation #filmphotography

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Sometimes you have to do something slightly ill-advised and pull all the optical elements out of a couple of large format lenses, blow out all the dust, clean them all with isopropyl alcohol (and two elements with hydrogen peroxide to get rid of tiny fungus spots), and put them all back together.

A Wollensak Velostigmat f/4.5 lens mounted on a Graflex Crown Graphic camera. It is wide and clean.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Like film photography? Gonna be in Pittsburgh next weekend? Check out Analog Fest in Millvale, with tons of great exhibits and experts, plus vendors like me selling cool cameras and photo stuff! #analogLiberation #filmPhotography #pittsburgh

A poster for Analog Fest, presented by Analog Liberation. August 28-30 at the Maple Leaf at 115 Sedgwick Street, Millvale, PA. Cameras, Photos, Movies, Gadgets, Art, Workshops, Hand-made instant photos with Sophie Wisdom, Tintypes with Ashley Kouri.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Post a perfect album from the 2000s (2000-2009).

Cover art from Tool's 10,000 Days album. A head with three faces rotates ahead of the viewer.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Took this apart and serviced the shutter today: the self-timer works reliably now, and the shutter fires at different speeds as long as you use the self timer (the manual shutter release holds the shutter open because of a broken part). Better than it was before I took it apart! #lubitel2 #tlr

A black twin lens reflex camera labeled Lubitel 2 hangs from its strap.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Not quite a shitty camera, but I am deeply surprised that it works after having a pair of exploded batteries sitting in it for almost 30 years (they expired in 1997). One thorough cleaning later and a pair of fresh batteries brought it back to life.

A black and white photo of two cats on a hardwood floor. One is on his back wrestling with a larger cat who is walking past.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

The Milky Way from the foothills of the Front Range near Denver. Visible with the naked eye, but only a long exposure brings out the color (human vision loses color perception quickly in low light).

A purple and gold streak of stars rises above the pine trees.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

This is the beard of an RPG interloper. Not an expert, just a guy who sometimes shows up.

A white person with a long gray beard on their chin, and short trimmed beard on the cheeks.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Took my Speed Graphic 4x5 for a walk Saturday morning with the 1850 Petzval lens attached. This is a crop of my most successful portrait that morning-I was hand timing exposures with the shutter, so overexposed several shots. Litho film can be very unforgiving. #antiquePhotography #largeFormat #4x5

A young black man wearing a bright t-shirt emblazoned with BROTHAVERSE looks seriously into the lens of the camera.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Antique cameras with red bellows, as was briefly popular in the beginning of the 20th century, especially by Eastman Kodak. Unfortunately only the two 4x5 cameras are still usable to original specs with minimal modification. #antique #cameras #kodak #conley #antiquePhotography #4x5

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

I'm lucky to be the current caretaker of portrait lens made in 1850 (for sixth plate photos, but just covers 4x5 with some vignetting). I do want to use it more.

A large brass lens mounted to a Graflex Speed Graphic camera.

A black and white photo of an antique tractor in front of a barn

A black and white portrait of a white person with a close cut beard. Behind them swirl reflected lights.

A large brass lens mounted to a 4x5 studio monorail camera with a packard shutter in front of it.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Kodak Six-20 Brownie Junior from between 1934 and 1942. I have (most of) the original box and manual for this one. Very standard box brownie with better styling thanks to the art deco front plate. #kodak #artDeco #antiquePhotography

A black brownie box camera with an art deco gold front plate.

A brownie box camera with a metal front plate seen from the side.

A black brownie box camera with an art deco gold patterned front plate.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

The Ica Icarette 500/2 is one of my favorite unexpected cameras from the estate collection I'm managing. It is 101 years old now, and works like a dream with film that's still easily available. Nice sharp Zeiss lens shooting 6x9 on 120 film. #mediumFormat #antiquePhotography #120film #zeiss

A black folding camera with a wire composition guide.

A black and white photo of densely packed buildings

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Kodak Six-16 Art Deco camera in brown from the estate collection I'm managing. These were made between 1932 and 1936 in a few variants. This one has a good shutter and clean glass, but worn out bellows. #kodak #mediumFormat #antiquePhotography #artDeco

A Kodak Six 16 art deco folding camera in brown and silver, with faux ostrich leather wrap. The corners of the bellows are cracked and worn.

The camera is fully closed, displayed with its original operation manual.

The original case is snapped shut, holding the camera and manual. The strap is badly worn and broken off in the middle.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

A Kodak Rainbow Hawk Eye No.2 camera in dark green from the estate collection, made in 1931 or 1932. A simple box brownie camera that uses now-discontinued 116 film, this was a slightly premium version over the basic black cameras. #brownieCamera #kodak #photography #mediumFormat #filmPhotography

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Uniflex I twin lens reflex camera made between 1947 and 1950. This copy from the estate collection I'm processing is in rough shape, but this camera's selling point was taking both 120 and 620 film. #photography #cameras #TLR

A Uniflex I twin lens reflex camera. The leatherette body panels are peeling and discolored, and the knurling of the knobs has yellow staining.

In the rear view,the leatherette is peeling significantly from the back panel.

The front view with the viewing hood open.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Graflex Speed Graphic 45 from the estate collection I'm processing. This one was made in 1952 or 1953, and the focal plane shutter still runs well. This is one of the few I'm keeping for myself, as I can adapt the 1850 Petzval to it. #photography #largeFormat #graflex #antiquePhotography

A Graflex Speed Graphic camera with below extended and viewing hood open. The outside has minor scuffs, but the inside is pristine.

A rear view of the camera with the viewing hood extended.

A rear quarter view showing the viewing hood collapsed, and showing the focal plane shutter controls.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

A Mamiya C330 from the hoarder collection, shown with the 135mm f4.5 lens set attached. I found the matching boxy hood orphaned at an antique shop while on vacation. Produced from 1969 to 1975, it is an interchangeable lens TLR. This one works, but has some frame spacing issues. #photography

A badly scuffed and worn TLR camera, with bright clean lenses surrounded by a boxy plastic hood.

The same camera viewed from a back corner, where the finish has worn away to reveal corroded metal frame components.

Aview of the back and crank side of the camera, which is in slightly better cosmetic condition.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

I believe that large format photography exists to keep me humble. Even with a checklist I underexposed the shot of the dandelion because I forgot to account for extension factor. Luckily the scan is okay. Graflex RB 4x5, Arista Edu 100 ISO, df96 monobath. #largeFormat #antiquePhotography #film

A Graflex RB camera with viewing hood and lens housing extended.

A black and white photo looking up at a worker on top of a roof, their ladder propped against the eaves of a window.

A low contrast closeup photo of a dandelion blossom in seed.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Caturday cameo by one of my common studio visitors. #caturday

An orange tabby cat with dark gold eyes sits in front of a gray background.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Polaroid J66 from the hoarder collection. Produced from 1961 to 1963, using Type 40 roll film. It is a shame there's no new film available for these. #polaroid #photography

Polaroid J66 camera in a lined leather case with paperwork.

A Polaroid J66 camera in warm gray with a tag labeled 1100.

The J66 with the lens body extended and flashbulb holder folded out.

The J66 fully unfolded and staring at the camera.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

This rascal squirrel dropped an unripe mulberry on me the other day during my regular walk. At least they repaid me by posing for pictures.

A small American Red Squirrel looking down into the camera from a tree branch.

A small American Red Squirrel sits on a branch overhead and eats an underripe mulberry.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Not all of these antique cameras are in serviceable condition. This one has bad separation between lens elements, a sticky shutter, a totally shot bellows and no ground glass. The condition of cameras in this collection truly runs the gamut. #antiquePhotography #5x7

A wooden folding camera with a metal front standard. The corners of the black leather case are dented and frayed, the bellows is split and cracked, and the lens has a discolored haze across part of the interior.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

One of the nicer examples in the collection, with a working shutter and beautiful glass and bellows.

A large format folding camera with oxblood leather bellows and warm orange wood inside a black leather case.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

They are interchangeable! (On the examples I own)

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

One of the many, many old cameras available, representative of the bottom end of the collection.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Joined as usual by one of my trusty studio assistants.

A photo of a cat partially lit by studio lights, bathing himself below a studio prop table.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Today's camera foolishness: finally started making good photographs of the ~130 vintage cameras in trying to eventually get rid of.

A gray backdrop holds a medium format studio camera. Several lights are pointed at it to give soft and even coverage.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Finally, budweiser camera, it is your time to... well, not shine exactly.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

My assistant is here to demonstrate the 3d printed bracket that holds the Instax frame in the film holder.

A Graflex 4x5 film holder with the dark slide pulled out. A white 3d printed bracket is clipped inside.

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John W Sheldon @johnwsheldon.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Did some camera testing slash photo experiments in the front yard today. My 1931 Graflex RB is a very strange beast to shoot with, but I'm happy with how these Instax frames loaded into the film holder turned out. Next test: black and white film in the studio. #antiquePhotography #instax

A bearded white person wearing a red fleece pullover holds a large antique Graflex RB SLR camera with the lens and hood both extended.

Two instax wide frames are set on a wood surface. One is a slightly dark picture of pink and white flowers labeled "f16 1/680". The other is a picture of yellow dandelion blossoms captioned "f4.5 1/440".

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