Erasmus+ project "Arts for life: developing life skills through the arts"

1. Photos taken by Pinhole camera
“Arts for life: developing life skills
through the arts“
2018-1-LV01- KA229 – 047004_1
Silutes r. Katyciu pagrindine mokykla

2. Subject Photography
Grade 5 - 10
Number of the pupils 34
Teacher
Educational workshop at the Museum of Photography
Topic
Photos taken by a pinhole camera.
Objectives To introduce pupils to the history of photography.
To develop practical skills of making photographies.
To foster creativity and imagination.

3. Methods Workshop, individual work
Materials A pinhole camera.
Special materials to reveal the images.
Short description
1. The pupils are acquainted with the technique working
with a pinhole camera.
2. The pupils take the photographies of themselves using a
pinhole camera.

4. A pinhole camera is a simple camera without a
lens but with a tiny aperture instead of it.

5. A pinhole camera is a light-proof box
with a small hole in one side.

6. Light from a scene passes through the aperture and projects an
inverted image on the opposite side of the box, which is known
as the camera obscura effect.

7. The first known description of pinhole photography is found in the 1856 book
The Stereoscope by Scottish inventor David Brewster, including the description
of the idea as "a camera without lenses, and with only a pin-hole".

8. The image of a pinhole camera may be projected onto a translucent screen for a real-
time viewing (used for safe observation of solar eclipses) or to trace the image on
paper. But it is more often used without a translucent screen for pinhole photography
with photographic film or photographic paper placed on the surface opposite to the
pinhole aperture.

9. Up to a certain point, the smaller the hole, the sharper the image, but the
dimmer the projected image. Optimally, the size of the aperture should be
1/100 or less of the distance between it and the projected image.

10. Exposure times are usually long, resulting in motion
blur around moving objects and the absence of objects
that moved too fast.

11. Pinhole cameras can be handmade by the
photographer for a particular purpose.

12. In its simplest form, the photographic pinhole camera can consist
of a light-tight box with a pinhole in one end, and a piece of film
or photographic paper wedged or taped into the other end.

13. A flap of cardboard with a tape hinge can be used as a
shutter.

14. The pinhole may be punched or drilled using a sewing needle or
small diameter bit through a piece of tinfoil or thin aluminium or
brass sheet.

15. The interior of an effective pinhole camera is black to avoid any
reflection of the entering light onto the photographic material or
viewing screen.

16. Taking Selfie by a Pinhole camera:

17. Put a pinhole camera in front of you on a steady
surface.
Make sure that there is a good artificial lighting.

18. Very slowly and carefully open the aperture.
Sit quite and steady looking at the camera for at least 1
minute and forty seconds.

19. • You need the special room (“red light room“)
and chemicals to reveal your image on the
photographic paper.
• If you succeed you‘ll get a clear negative
image.