Pinhole cameraA pinhole camera is a simple camera with out a lens and
a light proof box with a small hole in one side. Light will pass through the small hole and project an inverted image on the opposite side of the box. The smaller the hole the sharper the image, but the dimmer the projected image. On the left is the image that I took with my pinhole camera. I only took one. I didn't have much time to take anymore. I was quite happy with the final image but it is a bit blurred that was because as I was exposing light into the single point I moved the camera slightly, which caused it to blur, but in some ways it's quite a cool effect. I am proud of the image, seeing as it was my first time making and using a pinhole camera.
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On the right is a picture of what pinhole cameras can make. I really like the way photos turn out when using a pinhole camera, I think the photos look really mysterious. The photo on the right really brings out the shadows and shading because of the pinhole camera and I think that makes it almost spooky. |
How to make a pinhole camera:
Ingredients:
1x container (e.g. biscuit tin, chocolate powder carton, coffee mate tin etc)
1x sharp knife
Black gaffa/ Duct tape
A very thin, sharp pin
Black paint and a brush (or black spray paint)
Aluminium foil (tinfoil)
A pair of scissors
Step 1.
Find a suitable container e.g. a hot chocolate tin or box. Try to ensure it has a removable lid so the photographic paper can go inside of the tin to make a picture.
Step 2:
Paint or spray the inside, and if necessary the outside, of the container black. This will prevent light bouncing around inside, ensuring that you get a clear image. Make sure that the lid of your container is light proof and relatively easy to remove and replace. you may need to paint the inside of the lid too.
step 3:
Cut a rectangular hole half way up the container (approximately 2 cm square), take care not to cut yourself!
Step 4:
Cut a 2.5 cm square piece of aluminium foil (tinfoil) and try your hardest to get it as smooth as you can. attatch this to the rectangular hole on the outside with gaffa/duct tape. Use a pin to create a small hole in the centre of the tinfoil.
Step 5:
Make a shutter flap out of card and/or tape that can open and close as you need it. Make sure that it completely covers the pinhole.
Step 6:
In the dark room (under the red safe light) cut a piece or take a piece out of a packet or photographic paper to fit inside your container. Secure it in place with a small piece of tape if necessary. It should stay completely still during the exposure. Securely attach/replace the lid of your container and close the shutter.
Step 7:
Take the camera outside and find a suitable subject. Ensure that the camera is stable and can't be moved during the exposure. Open the shutter and expose the paper. Depending on the size of the pinhole and the brightness of the light your exposure can be anything from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Make an educated guess and use your first image as a guide.
Step 8:
Close the shutter at the end of the exposure time and take the camera back to the darkroom. Carefully remove the paper and place it in the following chemicals:
Step 9:
There are two methods for creating a positive from your paper negative:
In the darkroom:
Make sure that your print is dry. Get a flat sheet of glass bigger than the image and another sheet of paper roughly the same size as your negative. Place the new (unexposed) piece of paper shiny side up underneath the enlarger. Place your paper negative on top of this and the glass on top of both. select an exposure time of approx. 8 seconds. Expose the image. Remove the bottom piece of paper and develop as before.
1x container (e.g. biscuit tin, chocolate powder carton, coffee mate tin etc)
1x sharp knife
Black gaffa/ Duct tape
A very thin, sharp pin
Black paint and a brush (or black spray paint)
Aluminium foil (tinfoil)
A pair of scissors
Step 1.
Find a suitable container e.g. a hot chocolate tin or box. Try to ensure it has a removable lid so the photographic paper can go inside of the tin to make a picture.
Step 2:
Paint or spray the inside, and if necessary the outside, of the container black. This will prevent light bouncing around inside, ensuring that you get a clear image. Make sure that the lid of your container is light proof and relatively easy to remove and replace. you may need to paint the inside of the lid too.
step 3:
Cut a rectangular hole half way up the container (approximately 2 cm square), take care not to cut yourself!
Step 4:
Cut a 2.5 cm square piece of aluminium foil (tinfoil) and try your hardest to get it as smooth as you can. attatch this to the rectangular hole on the outside with gaffa/duct tape. Use a pin to create a small hole in the centre of the tinfoil.
Step 5:
Make a shutter flap out of card and/or tape that can open and close as you need it. Make sure that it completely covers the pinhole.
Step 6:
In the dark room (under the red safe light) cut a piece or take a piece out of a packet or photographic paper to fit inside your container. Secure it in place with a small piece of tape if necessary. It should stay completely still during the exposure. Securely attach/replace the lid of your container and close the shutter.
Step 7:
Take the camera outside and find a suitable subject. Ensure that the camera is stable and can't be moved during the exposure. Open the shutter and expose the paper. Depending on the size of the pinhole and the brightness of the light your exposure can be anything from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Make an educated guess and use your first image as a guide.
Step 8:
Close the shutter at the end of the exposure time and take the camera back to the darkroom. Carefully remove the paper and place it in the following chemicals:
- Developer (1 minute)
- Stop Bath (a few seconds)
- Fixative (approx. 5 minutes)
Step 9:
There are two methods for creating a positive from your paper negative:
In the darkroom:
Make sure that your print is dry. Get a flat sheet of glass bigger than the image and another sheet of paper roughly the same size as your negative. Place the new (unexposed) piece of paper shiny side up underneath the enlarger. Place your paper negative on top of this and the glass on top of both. select an exposure time of approx. 8 seconds. Expose the image. Remove the bottom piece of paper and develop as before.