Full speed ahead............

Behind the Scenes with Butterflies & Buffalo: Tales of American Culture from Butterflies & Buffalo on Vimeo.



This is what has been taking a considerable amount of our time and energy the last few months at work and sometimes even after work.  My husband, Mike, fabricated the trailer, helped bend up the bellows sections, assemble the bellows, fabricated parts, doors, braces etc. for the camera and even hinged the rear sections of the bellows to open so the film could be loaded.  This is a FULLY FUNCTIONING camera and will travel the US taking photos of all our different cultures with the worlds largest camera and with amazing detail.  The photographs can be up to 2 stories tall!!! 
This is just the the first phase of the project, so there's much more to come. 

Mike and I have had the pleasure of meeting, working and becoming friends with some amazing individuals since the 1st phone call from Dennis Manarchy and the journey we've taken with them has been fantastic.   Our passion for helping Dennis with his dream began with day one of the project, and it's been quite a ride! 

Some of the other Bartels involved are my brother in law, Nick, and my father in law, Irv, they did the absolutely gorgeous paint job and custom lettering on the trailer, painted the bellows and then painted the inside of the camera after the bellows were assembled.  Craig Whitaker helped Irv and Nick with the painting on the trailer as well. 

I am in the process of trying to get it arranged for the camera to come to the square in Monroe at the end of October, so cross your fingers.  

Next up..........Some pictures from the Wi Sheep & Wool Festival.