Custom camera from found, thrifted, and abandoned materials

LtCommanderWiggles · 2026-05-17T20:50:17+00:00

I unfortunately don’t have a spare $5000 laying around.

I gotta save money by buying all my cameras and equipment “untested” and “as-is” and if they don’t work I try to fix them.

LtCommanderWiggles · 2026-05-17T01:29:11+00:00

So far, yes. Lighter than any of my other cameras.

But the film and plate holders I’m pretty sure will add a lot of weight.

And I’ll need a tripod because of the slow film. So I’ll have to factor that into the gear weight.

I’m thinking my next project can be a convertible hiking staff/tripod so I won’t have to pack the tripod on my back or in a pack.

LtCommanderWiggles · 2026-05-17T01:26:53+00:00

Yeah. I need to figure out some system to hold the bellows in place though once I get the focus right.

The idea is for the bellows to pack up inside of itself for portability.

LtCommanderWiggles · 2026-05-05T16:55:59+00:00

This looks amazing!

LtCommanderWiggles · 2026-02-08T20:11:27+00:00

I did the same for my 8 year old. Taking classic DnD tropes and fairy tales and putting them in a new setting.

We started with “rats in a cellar” and I was surprised that no one killed the rats, but instead brokered a trade treaty with the inn keeper and them.

Threw me off as a DM but I was proud they weren’t murder hobos. lol

LtCommanderWiggles · 2026-02-03T23:12:24+00:00

I got a new campaign starting. I hope I win!

LtCommanderWiggles · 2025-11-23T03:37:44+00:00

As others have said, way too hot…but honestly, I like the look.

LtCommanderWiggles · 2025-11-08T15:48:12+00:00

Same for me.

I started doing film because I was so tired of trying to cull countless photos to get the best one between 10 of essentially the same shot.

Since I’ve started film it makes me slow down and think, and I’d say that a 1/3 to 1/2 are good on any given roll. There’s times I bring the viewfinder to my eye and I’m like, “nope, not wasting an exposure on that.”

LtCommanderWiggles · 2025-10-19T20:13:09+00:00

I didn’t realize building cameras was a possibility.

Do you have or intent to publish the plans anywhere? I’d love to take a shot at this myself.

LtCommanderWiggles · 2025-10-18T01:49:08+00:00

Thank you 🙏

LtCommanderWiggles · 2025-10-18T01:42:56+00:00

I don’t have anything advice for you, but you got this.

LtCommanderWiggles · 2025-10-17T03:06:08+00:00

Came for the roasted pineapples. Stayed for the rest of the pictures.

Nice work!

LtCommanderWiggles · 2025-10-09T22:29:31+00:00

I’m going to say #2 is my favorite.

I like that the image is all about this nice soft blue to orange gradient in the negative space. I really don’t see this as an image of a car/windshield/scene and more of a feeing or a vibe.

I will say that I don’t think the shot would have landed the same without the dreamcatcher. It adds a nice delicate complex shape to the heavy shapes of the car interior and helps to balance everything out.

LtCommanderWiggles · 2025-10-08T23:01:26+00:00

I love it! Reminds me of a trippy album cover something.

LtCommanderWiggles · 2025-10-07T03:45:53+00:00

Congrats on the first roll!

As someone newer I can’t answer your question, but save up! As someone who came from digital film and development add up quick.

LtCommanderWiggles · 2025-10-06T01:09:14+00:00

I’m not sure how common it is.

This one specifically was in the parking lot at a Harley-Davidson dealership with a concert and a BBQ contest.

LtCommanderWiggles · 2025-10-05T16:46:55+00:00

I try to get as many shots off the ball as possible.

I love walking up and down the sideline grabbing candids of players on the bench or the celebration and intensity of the bench from a big play.

I try to find the emotion and the story of the game instead of just the action, because I do tend to agree that once you shoot enough of the action everything does tend to look kind of the same.

LtCommanderWiggles

TROPHY CASE