Brownie Target six-20

Posted by Melissa W. (Warsaw, Indiana, United States) on 22 February 2008 in Lifestyle & Culture and Portfolio.

My Grandpa has said that back in the day when there was a special occasion or family gathering, someone in the family would always say, "Go get the brownie."

I experimented with the treatment and angle on this one. I wanted the image to look and feel old, just like the camera. I think it's interesting how the face of the camera really does resemble a face.

The Brownie Target Six-20 was manufactured in Rochester, NY by the Eastman Kodak Company. The camera was first introduced in April 1941, and was discontinued by May 1952. It originally sold for $3.45. The camera takes film size 620.

Listed on Photoblogs.org

Comments (10)

Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States

This is like the camera my mom had when I was a kid. I don't know if it was a Brownie by Kodak (or if some other company made it). It was lost or discarded somewhere over the years. I wish I had it today. Thanks for putting up this image.

22 Feb 2008 1:35pm

@Viewfinder: You're welcome. Thanks for the comment. :)

Scott Collins from Ontario, California, United States

It was a good camera, I have one similar to this one. Excellent shot.

22 Feb 2008 3:58pm

Jim Mahan from Glendale, CA, United States

My parents had a Brownie so it was the first camera I used to take my first photos. I was completely fascinated with the two view finders! Thanks for refreshing my memories.

22 Feb 2008 4:05pm

@Jim Mahan: I'm glad this brought back memories for you, Jim. I've never used the camera, so I'm fascinated that you have experience with it. Was the camera meant to be like a point and shoot? Or were you able to adjust the exposure?

Ron from Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

Superb treatment, Melissa. Love the DOF and the composition.

22 Feb 2008 4:21pm

@Ron: Thank you so much, Ron. You made my day. :)

Marek Kulikowski from Ostroleka, Poland

Lubimy stare aparaty . Lubimy stara Warszawe :)
picasaweb.google.pl/Marek.Kulikowski/Warszawa

22 Feb 2008 5:08pm

Marek Kulikowski from Ostroleka, Poland

Thank you visit my blog.
Old mobil "Warszawa" ( Warsaw) 1964- 1966 in Krakowskie Przedmiescie stret
picasaweb.google.pl/Marek.Kulikowski/Warszawa/photo#5156709582176368434

22 Feb 2008 7:58pm

danthro from Suburbia, United States

Does the camera still work? Nice shot. I think you were successful with making the image look old like the camera. Is that camera blending in with the background or is this a close-up on one part?

22 Feb 2008 8:06pm

@danthro: I knew someone was bound to ask if this still worked. ;) I have no idea. Although, I have done some research to see if I can still purchase film for it. Kodak discontinued manufacturing the film back in 1995. Apparently, in the US there are only two main sources (one in Chicago and one in NY), there might be others out there though. And there's only a small handful of labs that will process it. If I were to try one of these cameras, it would be the Baby Brownie Special. The glass is so scratched up on this one that who knows what I'd get...but then again that might make it interesting. We'll see...

And nope, that's the camera blending into the background.

standley from brou-sur-chantereine, France

My father used to have the same one and and I took my first picture with it. In french countries it was called "THE BOX".
You capture it very well!

22 Feb 2008 8:39pm

@standley: Thank you. I'm happy that an image such as this can stir up old memories.

Graham Russon from Cape Town, South Africa

Lovely shot, my grandfather had a similar camera, so this brought back some poignant memories, thank you.

22 Feb 2008 10:47pm

@Graham Russon: You're very welcome, Graham. :)

Jim Mahan from Glendale, CA, United States

This was just a point-and-shoot camera so you moved closer or further away to compose the image. I was always facinated by the two view finders -- very cool!

6 Mar 2008 2:34am

@Jim Mahan: Thanks, Jim. I figured that must be how it worked, but wasn't sure...really interesting.

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