PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY
It is thought that the first examples of pinhole photography date back as early as the 5th Century. As an introduction to our photography course, we learned about the history of the subject. Finding out about pinhole photography was the best place to start, so at the beginning of the year, we were introduced to pinhole cameras and a number of us were able to find out more about this most basic form of photography, and to experiment with it for ourselves.
WHAT IS PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY?
Pinhole photography is lensless photography, in which a tiny hole replaces the lens. Light is passed through the hole, forming an image on the photographic paper, which has been placed inside the camera. Photographs taken with pinhole cameras, are usually much softer than the sharper images, which we normally associate with those captured by a conventional camera.
The images, formed on the photographic paper or film, may have been exposed to light from anything between half a second to several hours. The most important thing about a pinhole camera is the pinhole itself; the hole, which is made with a needle, should be sharp and regular, in order to achieve an effective end product.
Here are some examples of pinhole images:
WHAT WE DID...
In our class, we used an empty drink can with a pinhole in it, obscuring the pinhole with duct tape. We then exposed the hole for approximately 7 seconds, before developing the the photograph in a darkroom. Unfortunately, the outcomes were disappointing, as the end products were just silhouettes, which lacked clarity. We think this may have been because the photographic paper was over-exposed to the light, however it was a good introduction to the basic process of photography.
WHAT I LEARNED...
Before this part of the course, I had heard about pinhole cameras, but I didn't know how they worked, or what they could achieve. As well as finding out that this was the first form of photography, it also made me realise that photography in its most basic form is about light.
I have also learned that I have actually been inside a pinhole camera! The Victorians were fascinated with pinhole cameras and some were created on a large scale, taking up whole buildings, known as camera obscuras. These became tourist attractions and a few remain today. The one I visited overlooks Aberystwyth in Wales.
WHAT IS PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY?
Pinhole photography is lensless photography, in which a tiny hole replaces the lens. Light is passed through the hole, forming an image on the photographic paper, which has been placed inside the camera. Photographs taken with pinhole cameras, are usually much softer than the sharper images, which we normally associate with those captured by a conventional camera.
The images, formed on the photographic paper or film, may have been exposed to light from anything between half a second to several hours. The most important thing about a pinhole camera is the pinhole itself; the hole, which is made with a needle, should be sharp and regular, in order to achieve an effective end product.
Here are some examples of pinhole images:
WHAT WE DID...
In our class, we used an empty drink can with a pinhole in it, obscuring the pinhole with duct tape. We then exposed the hole for approximately 7 seconds, before developing the the photograph in a darkroom. Unfortunately, the outcomes were disappointing, as the end products were just silhouettes, which lacked clarity. We think this may have been because the photographic paper was over-exposed to the light, however it was a good introduction to the basic process of photography.
WHAT I LEARNED...
Before this part of the course, I had heard about pinhole cameras, but I didn't know how they worked, or what they could achieve. As well as finding out that this was the first form of photography, it also made me realise that photography in its most basic form is about light.
I have also learned that I have actually been inside a pinhole camera! The Victorians were fascinated with pinhole cameras and some were created on a large scale, taking up whole buildings, known as camera obscuras. These became tourist attractions and a few remain today. The one I visited overlooks Aberystwyth in Wales.
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