Tags
Hirogane, Japan, soft focus, Vest Pocket Kodak, Vesu-tan, VPK, yoshiro
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“Vesu-tan” is a Japanese abbreviation from the time of ~1915-1920 for Vest Pocket Kodak camera. It refers to the soft focus obtained by removing the hood from the particular model of the VPK – Vest Pocket Kodak – that uses the simple meniscus lens. This opens the aperture, according to several Internet sources, by two full stops, causing the glow and out of focus images referred to by the term Vesu-tan. In general, the term referred to the use of the modified camera.
There are many images I have taken with the meniscus lens from a VPK on some pages in the right-hand column >>
NOTE: the general term of “vest pocket” is also used for many Kodak models other than the VPK. The VPK can be seen here:
http://galactinus.net/vilva/retro/eos350d_meniscus.html
A Google search for “Vesu-tan” as of today only returns one page of references (using the quotes as part of the search). I had a little better luck searching for “Yoshiro Hirogane”, a photographer whose prints were discovered in the 1990′s and appear in many auction sites.
http://www.sakura-do.com/galleries_pictorialism/details_pictorialism/details_ap_089.html
http://www.iphotocentral.com/search/result_list.php/256/Yoshiro+Hirogane
Yoshiro Hirogane Born: 1894, died: unknown Status: amateur
The above is simply meant to provide starting points for references. The VPK was made by the millions and can still be found on e*ay for under $100US. as of this date.
There are a few pages on this blog taken with this lens using a Kodak XTi DSLR and either a focusing bellows, a focusing helicoid, or an old lens body with the transplanted lens.
