The Diana Mini is perfect for experimenting with the bulb mode. Create some intriguing panoramic shots quickly and simply!
Photo by panchoballard
Analogue Prophecy #3: Expect the Unexpected and the Excitement of Experiment – what better way to experiment than to surrender to bulb mode, wind on without care and see where it takes you?
Here’s how I created some panoramic shots that I love.
Take the Diana Mini and set her to half-frame mode. Select the Cloudy setting and put her on Bulb mode.
Now, choose a subject (a long, panoramic one is best but as you’ll see from my photos, not necessary) and take your first shot. Make sure it’s on bulb mode and do it hand-held – no tripods! Don’t hold the shutter open too long, just imagine you’re taking a ‘normal’ shot on N mode.
Now, wind on a little but not entirely to the next frame. Aim a little to the right and take your next shot. Repeat until you’ve captured as much of the subject as you want to.
And that’s it! The fun is in experimenting. When set to Bulb mode you never quite know what you’re going to get and the added element of doing multiple exposures only makes it even more experimental and unpredictable. Try it, you just might find your new style and don’t forget – Expect the Unexpected…
20 comments
clownshoes
nice
chethong
wonder what would the photolab do with these shots ?
panchoballard
Ah, good point chethong. I always ask my lab not to cut the negative strip and then I scan at home. If you have no scanner you need to find a friendly lab who can handle strange sizes.
nadinadu
ooh! that looks fun! but i dont have a scanner and i dont think my photolab would really understand...:(
cmougenot2
lighttomysoul
question: why does it need to be in bulb mode on a sunny day?
lalalalalalala
nicolas_noir
@lighttomysoul I don't think it needs to be on "bulb" as such - it just adds to the dreamy effect and deviates it from the standard Dianarama/Holgarama set up.
@cmougenot2 you can do it was 230 cameras by setting the counter to 16 but leaving the 12 mask in!
panchoballard
@lightonmysoul As @nicolas_noir says, using bulb mode isn't to compensate for poor lighting but to get an effect that isn't possible on the normal mode. It also makes the shot more unpredictable as you never know what you're going to get.
Just hold the shutter down for a very short time. You're aiming for a fast shutter speed but because it's bulb, you'll never get it quite as fast as the normal mode.
dminilover
Very nice! What film do you use?
panchoballard
@dminilover Thanks! I probably used Klick Max 200 for the photos in this article. You can get plenty of expired Klick Max in the Lomography shop and I love it.
mimifleuri
What a great effect. Gonna try that!
natalieerachel
Perfect! I'm getting a scanner so I can do this :)
luc_skywalker
chethong
very good idea, i'm gonna try it in my next trip!
susielomovitz
want to try it!
kdstevens
Nicely done!
litumai
awesome tipster! @panchoballard: how many clicks do you recommend to wind after each frame??
panchoballard
@litumai - I just do it randomly to be honest. You could work out how many clicks it is from one frame to the next but I like to surprise myself!
litumai
cool! tks!