DIY Projector with an iPhone and a Magnifying Glass

Every once in a while I see somebody create something so awesome, right up my alley, that I think to myself, "Why didn't I think of this?"

That's really all this post is about. Sadly. Because I am the last to draw on this one.

But it was completely worth trying it out. So. How to make a projector out of an iPhone (or any phone really... anything at all with a display) and a magnifying glass. I was surprised how much this project was akin to my experiences with camera obscuras. It starts out the exact same way, you take a box and cut a whole in the side (in this case also adding a lens element). Instead of the world being projected into your box, however, you are projecting something from your box onto the world.

I began with a box

Cut a whole in the side wide enough for my magnifying glass element to squeeze inside

The magnifying glass I used

The glass pushed into the whole

A closer view

My iPhone, playing a favorite movie (Anyone?)

There are a number of ways to set up your iPhone in the box. At first, I used this clip to keep it upright. When I shut out the lights to try it out I discovered that the display has to be within the center of the glass and that setting my display on the floor of the box was much too low for a clear image.

Which is why I used this extra little stand to elevate my display

The result, at first.

If you'll just move your display back and forth within the box, that is, closer and farther from your lens, you will be able to focus your image. It's also best to keep your lens parallel to surface you are projecting on and to keep your display parallel to your lens. If you can elevate your display to the center of your lens, you will get the clearest picture with little vignetting.

I decided to give it a go again with a few of my old bellows cameras.

This is an old Eastman-Kodak from about 1910

The problem here is that I couldn't get my display far enough inside of the bellows to bring it into focus with the size of the lens.

When I tried again with my Ibsor DRP I got the clearest picture of all, though it was significantly dimmer. Unfortunately, no picture of that one. Trinity need some help getting to the peanut butter.

Joshua & Emily Ingersoll - Married

Hey there friends! I've finally wrapped up my latest video project with Ripplewave, Josh and Emily's wedding. It was a grand location and a great family to be around. The couple was so fun! It wasn't until after I was in contact with Josh about some logistics before the big day that I realized it was the same Joshua Ingersoll I had shot with IPS back in 2011. Enjoy:

Promotional Video - IAHE 2013 Conference

Just in time! We finished the final touches on this piece for the 2013 IAHE Confernece last night. We being myself and my long time partner and friend at Ripplewave, Caleb (yes, the same ever elusive one). It's probably the fastest turn around we've ever seen with such a video. If you know me personally, you'll see several familiar faces in this one. Hope you enjoy! It was a real pleasure to get into some video work again this season.

 

For those of you looking for particulars, we used a AE template for the tv animation scene in the first 0:30 and another for the sunny orchard clothesline photos. All other B-roll and interviews were shot the week of production. We shot on a driftwood hacked Panasonic GH2 (micro 4/3rds) and a Tascam HD-P2 with a shotgun and lavaliere for audio. All you Mac users out there probably recognized the first sound track theme from garage band, but the second piece was brilliantly executed by my friend Phil (http://audiojungle.net/user/PhilLarson).

The Hunter Project

I'm finally getting my hands dirty with some video work again! It's pretty fun to get back into the swing of things with some of my faithful working buddies.

This project in particular was actually commissioned by my family. We're interviewing the last living children of my great grandfather and great grandmother who just happen to be my grandmother and great aunt. If any of you know anything about my family and I, I'm sure you know how special our Hunter heritage is to us, and that's why it's so exciting to be working on this project in particular.

(grandma Mildred and her sister Stellamae) 

(my great grandfather, typesetting... now we know where I get it from) 

(aunt Jo, sipping tea) 

(our set up for today)

So, heads up everybody! Be looking for the final documentary sometime in the next two months. I'll let you know how it's progressing from time to time.

Storyboarding & Oolong

Wrapping up the finishing touches to a storyboard project with my trusty wild orange wulong oolong. (photos and tea courtesy of the Mrs.)