This has been quite an experience. Beginning digital studios, I never thought that we may would be making our own cameras. We did this to see the concept of how a camera works, so we know some background information of how a more complicated camera works.
A pinhole camera is a very simple camera. There is a light tight box with a very small hole at one end. On the opposite inside "wall" of the box is either a piece of film or photo paper. The small hole is covered until the picture is to be taken. When the hole is uncovered, an image is displayed, essentially "flipped." The photo paper absorbs the light and produces (when developed) a negative image. It is important to transfer the paper in and out of the camera without exposing it to any light.
Materials
- small cardboard box
- black paper
- scissors
- scotch tape
- pin or tack
- black electrical tape
- photographic paper
- access to a dark room
- utility (exacto) knife
Instructions:
1. Open the card board box and cover inside with black paper, attaching with scotch tape. Note: If you are taping so the tape will remain exposed in the box, use the black electrical tape instead of scotch tape.
2. Using the knife, cut a 2" circular or square section from the middle of one of the short sides of the box. Make sure to cut all the way through the paper also, and remove the cut-out.
3. Cover the entire hole (you just cut) with a piece of tinfoil on the outside of the box. Tape it down with the scotch tape.
4. There are two long flaps and two short flaps on the top of the box. Cut the back (opposite of tinfoil and hole) 1/3 of the two long flaps off.
The front 2/3 of the box should not change. On the bag 1/3, only the short flap should remain. Lift it up so it is above the other parts flaps of the box.5. Fold the top of the box back down (front 2/3) taping it completely shut (excluding the back third).
5. Attach a small loop of scotch tape to the middle of the inside back wall of the box.
6. Attach strips of tape to the top of the back flap so it will stay tightly shut to on the box when you press it, but can also come up.
7. Finally, in the middle of the tinfoil, poke the pin through and remove it, leaving a small pinhole.
To load the camera:
- Bring into the dark room with you a piece of photographic paper thoroughly wrapped in tinfoil so no light can get in, and your camera.
- Once in the dark room, turn on the red light if there is one.
- Unwrap the photo paper.
- Open your camera (the flap at the top of the box).
- Stick the photo paper to the back inside wall of the box on the loop of tape ( with the shiny side out). Make sure the paper is flat against the box, not at even a slight
- Close the box, and tape it completely shut (so that it is light-tight).
Now take some pictures:
Place the camera on a flat surface, aiming at the object you are photographing.
Our camera worked best with bright indoor light, with an exposure time of 3 and 1/2 minutes. Feel free to experiment with what conditions work best for you!
Overall...
This project went fairly well overall. We began and were not exactly sure what box to use for our camera. We ended up finding one after we went dumpster diving, and it turned out a very good box. We worked well together as a group. We could have researched exposure times more. Also, we should have gotten the photopaper to lie completely flat at the back of the box, because ours may have been at a slight angle.
We were, however, the only team to actually get a photo to work, which I am very proud of. And here...is our pinhole camera:
2 comments:
I thought your camera looked very impressive. How did you make yours work!
Excellent post.
Why do you think your's worked where others did not? Why do you think that one picture of your's came out when your others did not?
Do you better understand how all cameras work?
There are a couple of typos that should be fixed. You should definitely include the image you took.
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