Have you ever made a pinhole camera? We’ve been reading about them and discovered some interesting things – most interestingly – how popular they are.
A pinhole camera is a simple camera without and lens. The first pinhole photographs were produced in the 1850’s although the understanding of how they work goes back as far as the 5th century BC in China. How it works: effectively a light-proof box with a small hole in one side lets light from a scene pass through the single point (pinhole) and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of the box. Exposures can typically range from five seconds up to as much as several hours.
Pinhole cameras can be built out of almost anything. Popular materials are cardboard or wood, although oatmeal containers and Pringle cans have also been used. These cameras stayed popular through the 20th century when technology and mass production of cameras took over.
A revival of pinhole photography came in the mid 1960’s. There is even a Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day (WPPD). The next date is April 24, 2016. Submit your pinhole photos here.
You can find out how to make your own Pinhole Camera right Here!