Road trip "Pop 66"

Originally reported for NCC

News,November 19, 2010.

Craft Chemistry, an art boutique and gallery in Syracuse, shows local art work from artists residing in Central New York. Brianna Kohlbrenner the owner of the boutique says " the exhibit is a way to celebrate artists that reside in Central New York by displaying their artwork to the local community.

This month’s local artist is Wesley Pope exhibiting his Pop 66 photographs. The Pop 66 exhibit is a collection of photographs taken on his road trips on Route 66. Pope started taking the photographs in 1998 when he made soda can cameras for his mom's fifth grade class. He had 30 s cameras left, so he decided to use them on his road trip from Los Angeles to Chicago. Pope said, "After that first trip I was totally hooked," and " every time I get to go across the country I take Route 66."

The pinhole camera is a simple camera without a lens and with a single aperture. The shutter is manually operated, a light proof flap is made to cover and uncover the pinhole. The typical exposure time to take a picture is around five seconds to sometimes days. Pinholes cameras can be made with just about any type of material from cans, cardboard boxes and even an aircraft hanger.

Over a hundred pictures are at display at Craft Chemistry, showing all sorts of people and landmarks along Route 66. Some attendees we spoke to say the picture look like historical picture that were taken long ago. Pop 66 exhibit will be on display until December 23rd.