The Pinhole Camera
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Fig.1
One of the most fascinating techniques for capturing an image is also one of the oldest and simplest.
Round about 330 BC the first mention of the rules that dictate pinhole cameras were made by Aristotle questioning why the sun appeared as a circle when passed through a square hole. In 1000 AD Alhazen invented the Camera Obscura (Pinhole Camera). Although his invention could not copy an image it was the first camera (Fig. 1). The first pinhole camera that recorded images was developed by Sir David Brewster in 1850.
Making a pinhole camera is easy. Basically all you need is a case and photo film. There is no need for a lens and there are no moving mechanical parts on a basic camera! Some people get creative using legos, match boxes and Starbucks coffee cups for their camera case. The camera shutter is usually detachable because of the extended time needed for exposure. Depending on the subject being recorded the shutter can remain open for days.
It was not until the 60's that photographs from this type of camera started to get noticed. The photos created can be very interesting and dreamy. There are places that make professional pinhole cameras out of wood. These camera's are not made for moving objects but take wonderful shots of landscapes and architectural subjects. Because of it's unique ability to capture images it is definitely a camera to look into.
Round about 330 BC the first mention of the rules that dictate pinhole cameras were made by Aristotle questioning why the sun appeared as a circle when passed through a square hole. In 1000 AD Alhazen invented the Camera Obscura (Pinhole Camera). Although his invention could not copy an image it was the first camera (Fig. 1). The first pinhole camera that recorded images was developed by Sir David Brewster in 1850.
Making a pinhole camera is easy. Basically all you need is a case and photo film. There is no need for a lens and there are no moving mechanical parts on a basic camera! Some people get creative using legos, match boxes and Starbucks coffee cups for their camera case. The camera shutter is usually detachable because of the extended time needed for exposure. Depending on the subject being recorded the shutter can remain open for days.
It was not until the 60's that photographs from this type of camera started to get noticed. The photos created can be very interesting and dreamy. There are places that make professional pinhole cameras out of wood. These camera's are not made for moving objects but take wonderful shots of landscapes and architectural subjects. Because of it's unique ability to capture images it is definitely a camera to look into.
References;
http://inventors.about.com/od/weirdmuseums/ig/Illustrated-History-Photograph/Camera-Obscura.htm
http://www.video-surveillance-guide.com/pinhole-camera-history.htm
http://www.google.com/images?q=pinhole+photo&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=yh4_TeqaCYq2sAPKzqX7BA&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CC4QsAQwAA&biw=1343&bih=583
http://www.ehow.com/about_5375166_pinhole-camera-theory-summary.html
Pinhole Photographs from;
http://myeeepcmylife.com.ph/infornography/wonders-of-eee-google-and-a-pinhole-camera/
http://www.photospace.co.nz/course5.htm
http://facweb.cs.depaul.edu/sgrais/pinhole_cameras.htm
http://inventors.about.com/od/weirdmuseums/ig/Illustrated-History-Photograph/Camera-Obscura.htm
http://www.video-surveillance-guide.com/pinhole-camera-history.htm
http://www.google.com/images?q=pinhole+photo&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=yh4_TeqaCYq2sAPKzqX7BA&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CC4QsAQwAA&biw=1343&bih=583
http://www.ehow.com/about_5375166_pinhole-camera-theory-summary.html
Pinhole Photographs from;
http://myeeepcmylife.com.ph/infornography/wonders-of-eee-google-and-a-pinhole-camera/
http://www.photospace.co.nz/course5.htm
http://facweb.cs.depaul.edu/sgrais/pinhole_cameras.htm
