Colin Hurley from Imaging Warehouse called in to see Ben & I one Friday afternoon with a new camera in a white box. We were both aware of the Harman Titan through conversations with Mike from Walker Cameras, through online images/videos and Colin explained how the camera had become a much sought after object. In a time when technology boats of revolutionary new �focus free� cameras and 36mp dslr�s it is fair to say that neither of us expected to be as excited as we were once we saw it and handled the Titan for the first time.
One week later the camera kits arrived � two-pinhole injection moulded ABS cameras complete with 72mm wide-angle cones that accommodate a 4x5 film holder, ten sheets of lford Delta 100, Multigrade RC paper and ten sheets of Harman Direct Positive fibre base paper. The kit also included a pinhole exposure calculator. We decided to use the cameras with �fun� in mind, ignoring for the time being the ability to make paper negatives and the direct positive paper. We aim to test the direct positive paper at a later date with a larger format.
All images below are shot on Ilford Delta 100 and processed in Ilford ID11. Scans were made with a Flextight X5 with minor adjustments.
Leicester Cemetery, AD
Groyne, AD
Hereford Cattle Market, BD
Lineker Way, AD
Little Haven, AD
Scraptoft Hall, BD
The Titan produces wide angle images, very wide. I have read of users using iPhones as a digital viewfinder but for me this will ruin the surprise of the processed images. The camera is built well, easy to use and most importantly is �fun�. The images produced are good, almost too good, and I understand Harman may manufacture a version allowing you create your own pinhole. But if you create your own pinhole why not build your own camera? This really is my only concern (apart from the price) with the Titan because for me part of the process of pinhole photography is building your own camera from film cans, shoe boxes etc and with this precision built camera the joy of experimentation is lost.
However I did enjoy using the camera and will be using it again and I can see its potential within the educational sector but next time I may use colour film.
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