This series focuses on those who take the making of pictures a step or two further, creating their own photographic tools.

Kiel Johnson, Los Angeles, CA

Kiel Johnson is a Los Angeles-based sculptor. Handmade, hard work, and having fun are central to his practice and he embraces the idea of work as play. Interested in making a piece of art that makes art, Johnson created a cardboard model of a twin lens reflex camera. Standing three feet tall and with incredible attention to detail, the sculpture is a function camera (although a pinhole rather than a twin lens). The photographs were made director to color paper with a 20 to 30 second exposure.  

Using only cardboard and tape, Johnson spent three evening sessions crafting the camera while videographer Theo Jemison filmed the process. Jemison’s video is a clever combination of stop-motion and time-lapse. Johnson felt that making a video about the making of the art added to the cycle and successfully demonstrated what he considers the fun part of art-making—the actual making.

View more of Johnson’s work on his website.

Have you made or modified your own photographic equipment? Let us know at info@donttakepictures.com