Ruh khitch
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Ruh khitch, translated from Punjabi as 'Spirit Pulling',[1] refers to the way the photographer puts his hand inside the purpose built camera containing a mobile darkroom and pulls out the photograph.
Traditional ruh khitch is a way in which black-and-white photographs can be taken, printed and sold to a client without a studio or darkroom. It was practised throughout the twentieth century, mostly in South Asia by photographers who worked on the pavement near government offices (where passport size portraits were needed), and at tourist attractions like the Bhatti Gate of the walled city of Lahore. It was also practiced in Havana, Cuba, especially on the steps of the capitol building; see Laura Gooch "Instant Street Photos, Havana Style," Popular Photography, March 2000.
The camera is just large enough to contain a focusing screen and two trays of photographic chemicals; developer and fixer. This mini darkroom/camera combo allows an image to be shot, on photographic paper, and processed within two minutes. Being able to judge the exposure by examining the negative is an important feature in a camera that has no shutter. The lenses usually came from an old enlarger and the exposure times are typically between 1 and 4 seconds. This means all photographs are taken with the cooperation of the subject who has to remain as still as possible during the exposure. As with many old photographic processes that had long exposure times, a kind of neck brace was employed to aid the subjects to remain still.