Creative, commercial photographers.

The world’s largest photo booth

July 27, 2010

Apparently, using the world’s largest photo booth is not unlike using an ordinary photo booth. The subjects take a seat, strike a pose, and bingo, their photo is taken. However, unlike an ordinary photo booth the technology behind this giant version is entirely unique, as facial recognition software has been installed which is activated once the person, or persons, are in position.

Brendan Oliver is credited with creating the technology. The interactive designer developed it with assistance from LAB, a collective based in Nottingham. The team, who especially developed the software for Nottingham Contemporary, also arranged for the camera to take pictures in creative photographer Diane Arbus’ unique style.

Brendan said:

“I had a look around the exhibition and we configured the Canon camera so it replicated the style of Arbus; the same sort of tones and lighting in the exhibition. She started off in the Sixties and the technology is a lot different now.

“We get more control with a digital camera than Diane would have had.”

Within the photo booth, a video camera, a stills camera and additional custom software, written especially, have been installed. The computer prints the captured images in Polaroid-style photos, which are then projected on to a wall. Since the advent of the digital photography, professional commercial photographers, from Leeds, to London, now have all manner of new technologies available to them. Although, James Brouwer, the gallery’s audio-visual and IT technician did say of the booth,

“Technicians here have built everything from scratch. It’s never been done before.”

It is hoped that the World’s largest photo booth will help persuade gallery visitors to take the opportunity to view a Diane Arbus exhibition, which is running until the 3rd October.