Topic: Just about everything you need to start you Afghan Box camera photography!

[sapata]

I know we posted quite few things in the past regarding this subject, but I believe this site covers everything! 

From the making of the camera to the techniques used to enhance the photographs, it definitely worth a visit

http://www.afghanboxcamera.com/abcp_camera_techniques.htm

[charles binns]

I've seen these in Spain and Mexico - where for a couple of Pesos extra they put a charo on your head and a wooden rifle in your hands and you can pretend to by Pancho Villa!

[Francois]

This is a great addition to the PDF file I found a few years ago!

[Ezzie]

I met a chap in Amsterdam a few years back, he had made his own out of this and that, the front end off a Speed Graphic I seem to remember. He'd been in the business for over 40 years, and been all over Europe, and then some. He was quite adamant that these cameras were not particular to Afghanistan, nor did they originate there. The term was an undeserved lable. They were once quite popular all over the world, in different shapes and sizes way back when. But have since become rarities, used mostly in the more depraved parts of the world, or as tourist traps in e.g. Amsterdam.

Have considered building one at some stage, but not sure my fingers are up to being soaked in fix all day long

[Francois]

The biggest difference between these cameras is in the use of bellows.
Most cameras around the world rely on bellows to focus. But the Afghan/Indian design uses internal focusing by moving the paper around.
Slight design difference for essentially the same results.

[sapata]

The biggest difference between these cameras is in the use of bellows.
Most cameras around the world rely on bellows to focus. But the Afghan/Indian design uses internal focusing by moving the paper around.
Slight design difference for essentially the same results.

I might be because they need more room to be able to work inside the camera...

[Francois]

Well, the Cuban Polaroid isn't much smaller.
Thing is, bellows are fragile and I don't know how long they would last in such a dry and dusty environment as the middle east.

[Ezzie]

The gentleman in question had several, all made by himself. Many of which were of the box type. The one with the Graflex front end had was dedicated for tourist shots. He developed inside the camera, as usual. But since his in season customer base was of the impatient kind, I think he used direct positive paper to save time. When not pressed for time he used paper negatives.

http://www.nostalgischfotograaf.nl/cms/werkwijze/stap-voor-stap/

[sapata]

But since his in season customer base was of the impatient kind, I think he used direct positive paper to save time. When not pressed for time he used paper negatives.

http://www.nostalgischfotograaf.nl/cms/werkwijze/stap-voor-stap/

Ah... the tourists, what a strange specie.

[Francois]

Ah... the tourists, what a strange specie.

Strange, Clarkson said the same thing while in the Serengeti for Top Gear!
(They were looking at a flock of American tourists equipped with bazooka lenses and white socks. I noticed that this species tend to travel in packs. They make strange noises and all look in the same direction when one of their members makes a Whooo sound, which is probably related to their hunting instincts as the individuals don't seem to get nervous when they hear such a noise.)