Vintage Widelux camera offers new perspective on Cuba, Missouri murals

It’s all in the eye of the beholder…

With his Widelux camera, Ray Harvey gives his murals on the Phillips 66 station a new look.

With his Widelux camera, Ray Harvey gives his murals on the Phillips 66 station a new perspective.

The photos on this page were taken by Missouri artist Ray Harvey, who has a history with the Viva Cuba Mural Project. Harvey painted the Bette Davis Mural and the History-at-the-4 Way mural on the old Phillips 66 station.

The Cuba Free Press building and the Bette Davis mural have a new look when seen through the lens of the Widelux camera.

The mural photos on this page have a “distorted” look due to the fact that Harvey used a vintage F7 Widelux camera that his wife purchased for him as a gift on Ebay. Harvey ‘s interest in Widelux photography was sparked when he saw an interview with Jeff Bridges, of the acting family, on a CBS Sunday Morning feature.

Bridges took shots using a Widelux camera on movie sets and would make gift books for the cast and crew from his shots. Then it was suggested that he publish some of his photos, which he did in a photographic book Pictures.

The Widelux camera was developed in Japan in 1948. It has a mechanical, pivoting lens that gives panoramic shots, with the distinctive “fish-eye” look. A photographer is not guaranteed the same look in the subsequent shots, and some shots may be somewhat blurry. Not knowing exactly what image he will have is part of the photographer’s fun in shooting with the widelux camera.

As an artist, Harvey was attracted to the perspective that the camera gave to subjects. During a vacation to Florida during a hurricane, Harvey took some stunning nature shots. He also likes old diner-type shots. Other examples of Harvey’s photography can be seen on his website. Recently, he took some photos at the Washington Fair that turned out well. And, being a muralist, he decided to try out some shots of murals in Cuba.

As you can see, Harvey has shared some of his shots with us. Enjoy the bends and turns that this vintage camera adds to the mural scene in Cuba. All photographic rights are reserved to Ray Harvey, and photos are not to be reproduced in any manner.