A Fraction of a Second

This story began many years ago, even before arriving in this incredible city, it started when by chance I discovered a panoramic photo camera with a rotary lens; the “No. 1 Panoram Kodak Camera”, which was launched back the year 1900 and discontinued 26 years later. This medium format camera (120/220 film) could capture a 112-degree image. At last, there was a camera that could fulfill my need and desire of obtaining panoramic images without the need of tediously putting together a series of 35 mm pictures. My disappointment aroused when I realized that none of these cameras was available for sale, but I did not give up. I felt that someday, somewhere in the world one of these cameras would cross my path.

Once the initial enthusiasm faded and time passed, the digital era stroke photography inevitably causing the retreat of analog photography with its dark rooms, acetic acid, photographic fixers, and red lamps. However, my search for the panoramic camera continued as well as my trips throughout the world capturing light.

One day, unlike any other, at an online sales site I found a Soviet-made panoramic camera with similar technology to that of the Kodak camera from the beginning of the 20th century. Despite knowing that analog photography was disappearing, I recognized the opportunity and I did not doubt in buying the camera to a Russian tourist who was passing through Chile. He said, in his own words, he needed the money to continue traveling and so had to bid farewell to his camera. This is how my search for analog panoramic images begins.

The title of the book “A fraction of a second” literally means and corresponds to the speed of the exposure each time the shutter opens and the (not very) precise sweep made by the lens while turning and exposing the film.

I hope you enjoy these images of this fascinating city as much as I enjoyed capturing its people, its buildings, light, fraction by fraction and second by second.