Pinhole Photography

A pinhole camera, also known as camera obscura, or "dark chamber", is a simple optical imaging device in the shape of a closed box or chamber. In one of its sides is a small hole which, via the rectilinear (straight lines) propagation of light, creates an image of the outside space on the opposite side of the box. Aristotle wrote about a rudimentary concept of the pinhole camera. Today, photographers continue to use pinhole cameras for artistic purposes. Many pinhole cameras can be bought (even pinhole kits can be purchased), but we are going to make ours from scratch!

Assignment:

This week we will be making real working cameras out of a can of oatmeal, a piece of aluminum with a tiny hole poked into it, some paint, and a whole lot of tape. I promise these are real working cameras and they give a very nostalgic, almost dreamlike quality to the images. 

Steps:

1. Obtain an oatmeal canister (or something like it)
2. Paint interior of the canister and lid black (paint the outside if it is white or thin cardboard)
3. If your box has a clear plastic lid, cover exterior with black tape, paint interior black or cut a circle of black construction paper to place on the inside & glue in with elmer’s glue.
4. Carefully cut out a small square (about 1 in x 1 in) on one side of the oats box. It should be middle of the container.
5. I have precut aluminum squares from pie tins for you
6. Poke a pinhole in the aluminum (we will do this together)
7. Tape the aluminum on the inside of the box with black masking tape
8. Let it all dry! (tip: use the hairdryer for quick dry)
9. In the darkroom, "load" camera with a precut piece of 4x5" RC paper by making a tape loop on the backside of the paper (non shiny side) and pressing it against the interior of your canister
10. Place the paper inside the pinhole camera so it faces opposite the pinhole "lens." and put the cover on tight
11. Carefully holding the pinhole with your finger, go outside and find a great shot, set up your pinhole camera on a solid surface, and take your finger off of the pinhole.
12. Expose for about 10 seconds depending on the amount of light (see time chart below)
13. Come back into the darkroom and put the paper through the darkroom chemistry. Now you have a NEGATIVE.
14. Once dry, make a POSITIVE image by placing the negative face down on top of a new piece of b&w paper (we will do this process together).
15.  Mount your prints side by side
    1. Prints must be cut evenly and straight
    2. Prints must be centered (use a ruler)

Start timing your exposures using this chart:

• Bright Sun with Distinct Shadows
  8-12 Seconds
• Cloudy and Bright, No Shadows
  15 Seconds
• Heavy Overcast, Open Shade, rainy
  25 Seconds
• Indoors- Bright
  5-15 Minutes
• Indoors- Average light
  30 minutes to 1 Hour

Resources: https://www.pinhole.cz/en/pinholecameras/whatis.html

Justin Quinnell is a great pinhole photographer who has been working solely with pinhole photography for the last 22 years—he's even made a pinhole camera out of his mouth!