GTKYC - Making a Pinhole Camera (Lesson)
Making a Pinhole Camera
Now that you have a better understanding of what focal length is and how it affects your photographs and the camera, it’s time to put your knowledge to use! You must take two photographs of the same composition and subject using a pinhole camera with two different focal lengths. You can achieve this by either creating one pinhole camera that has two different focal lengths (3” and 7”) or by creating two pinhole cameras, one a 3” and the other 7”. You can create cameras from scratch by using cardboard, paint, and tape, or you can convert existing objects into pinhole cameras. Each method has its pros and cons – ultimately, it’s up to you!
There are some basic requirements regardless of which method you choose.
- The camera must be light-tight. This means that absolutely no light can enter the camera once it’s closed. No cracks, nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch.
- The camera must have a shutter. This can be something as simple as a piece of black electrical tape. It needs to simply cover the aperture (pinhole in this instance) to maintain a light-tight space until the photographer chooses to expose the photograph. It must be able to open and close the aperture.
- You must have a pinhole aperture. This is easily created with part of a soda can, scissors, and a push pin.
- You must be able to open and close the camera to load paper/film into it. When closed, the lid and shutter should create a light-tight space that protects the paper/film until the photographer chooses to expose it.
- You must have a 7” and 3” focal length. This is only a requirement for this module, and not all pinhole cameras. Because a pinhole camera’s aperture (pinhole) is fixed and not adjustable, this means you must have a pinhole and shutter for each focal length.
Found Object Pinhole Camera
A quick internet search on creating pinhole cameras will return a wide range of results, including many objects that have been converted into pinhole cameras. Watermelons, shipping containers, buses, canisters, tins, shoe boxes – if you can make it light-tight, it can be a pinhole camera! But not all objects are created equal. The first requirement above tells us that the camera must be light-tight. Don’t waste your time trying to make an object that’s transparent (see-through), semi-transparent, or has a poorly fitting lid. When selecting an object, first open it and hold it up to a light source. If it blocks the light completely, continue on. If you can see light through it, abandon it for something else that does block the light.
Pros and Cons of Objects Often Used for Pinhole Cameras:
| OBJECT | PRO | CON |
|---|---|---|
| Oatmeal Container | Can easily have 2 focal lengths, cheap, easy to find | NOT LIGHT-TIGHT! Clear lid. Often doesn’t work |
| Popcorn Tin | Light-tight, sturdy, almost always works on the first try | Must have drill to create opening for aperture, can be difficult to find |
| Coffee/Tea Tin | Metal ones are excellent! Light-tight, sturdy, almost always works on the first try | Must have drill to create opening for aperture, can be difficult to find; Plastic ones are often not light-tight |
| Shoe Box | If it’s thick with a removable lid that fits tightly, it’s almost perfect! | Some are thin with ill fitting lids and therefore prone to light leaks |
| Fruits and Vegetables | Easy to find, inexpensive, usually light-tight | Messy, messy, messy, rots, smelly, lots of trial and error |
| Make Your Own From Scratch | Can be custom made for any size focal length and paper | Lots of effort to create it, but almost always function more consistently and easily when taking photos |
Let’s take a look at how to convert an object to become a pinhole camera.
- Select a light-tight object. Choose something with an approximate depth of 7” or 3” (from aperture to film plane). Or maybe you’ll get lucky and it can have both!
- Paint the inside black.
- Create an opening for your pinhole.
- Create a pinhole.
- Add a shutter.
- Check for visible light leaks. In depth testing will happen in the next lesson.
Please watch the following videos to learn more about making your pinhole camera once you have selected your object. Be sure your volume is turned up!
Custom Pinhole Camera
Making a pinhole camera from scratch isn’t so different from converting an object. The easiest way to achieve 3” and 6-7” focal length cameras is to use your camera obscura from Photo I and create a new 3” camera as well. Below is a video demonstrating how to create a 3” camera from scratch. If you do not use black foam core and use cardboard instead, be sure to paint the inside of your camera black. Convert your camera obscura into a pinhole camera by cutting a piece of cardboard large enough to cover the opening at the back and using black electrical tape to attach it. This can be used to load and unload paper, instead of having a box with a lid.
Please watch the following video to learn more about constructing a pinhole camera. Be sure your volume is on!
You’ll also need to create a 6”-7” focal length camera, which can easily be done by converting your camera obscura from Photo I into a pinhole camera.
Please watch the following video to learn more about converting your camera obscura.
If you no longer have your camera obscura, or you just want to create a new camera, you can use the template below to create one cardboard camera that has both 7” and 3” focal lengths. This camera is designed to use 3.5” x 5” paper. The silver gelatin paper in your supply kit is 5”x7”, so you’ll have to cut it in half to use this camera.
Once you have both focal lengths completed, document your camera by taking a photo of you holding it and pointing out each of the focal lengths. Then move on to the next lesson to test whether or not it’s light-tight and can successfully create a photograph!
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