As DSLRs become more affordable and accessible, and all modern cellphones now come equipped with multi-pixel cameras, everyone’s got the tools to become the next photographic pioneer—the digital-age version of Louis Daguerre.The technological revolution condenses what used to take years and years of technique and training into simple workarounds or single apps, accessible with the mere click of a button. Anyone can be an expert… at least in theory. But you’ve got to know the rules in order to break ‘em. This week’s snapshot: pinhole photography.Where did it come from?
It’s been known since the beginning of mankind that light entering through a tiny hole (or aperture) can display pictures in a dark room, but it was 4th Century thinkers Aristotle and Euclid who were first credited with coining the phenomenon as such. In the 18th Century, pinhole devices were used to view solar eclipses, as the apparatus transfers imagery indirectly. At a later point in history, the technology was primarily used in astronomy.Aesthetics and Technique
Pinhole photography is characterized by its immediacy and the absence of any technical interfaces corrupting the image. As there is no lens attached to the camera, there are no optical distortions within the images. The shallow depth of field flattens the image by blurring the spatial perception of the motifs, resulting in a unique ‘painted’ look. Pinhole photographs often use longer exposures, especially in order to capture the movements of the sun.The only materials you need are a light sensitive material like film or photo paper and a so-called “camera obscura,” a box completely void of light. Through the aperture, rays of light enter and display an accurate but inverted copy of the image on the rear part of the box. This projection can now be captured on film. The smaller the pinhole, the sharper the image.Digital Applications
Pinhole photography is probably the easiest way to make pictures as it doesn’t require techy gear or fancy (and expensive) multi-coated autofocus lenses, and the digital world openly embraces this age-old aesthetic. With the latest cameras able to record video footage, you can also rig your camera to record stunning, vintage-style, pinhole clips. Here’s how to craft your own DIY pinhole lens for your digital camera.Next week: Tilt/shift photography.Photos courtesy of Diana Pinto, Erica Hampton, Smax, and Cathy.
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It’s been known since the beginning of mankind that light entering through a tiny hole (or aperture) can display pictures in a dark room, but it was 4th Century thinkers Aristotle and Euclid who were first credited with coining the phenomenon as such. In the 18th Century, pinhole devices were used to view solar eclipses, as the apparatus transfers imagery indirectly. At a later point in history, the technology was primarily used in astronomy.Aesthetics and Technique
Pinhole photography is characterized by its immediacy and the absence of any technical interfaces corrupting the image. As there is no lens attached to the camera, there are no optical distortions within the images. The shallow depth of field flattens the image by blurring the spatial perception of the motifs, resulting in a unique ‘painted’ look. Pinhole photographs often use longer exposures, especially in order to capture the movements of the sun.The only materials you need are a light sensitive material like film or photo paper and a so-called “camera obscura,” a box completely void of light. Through the aperture, rays of light enter and display an accurate but inverted copy of the image on the rear part of the box. This projection can now be captured on film. The smaller the pinhole, the sharper the image.Digital Applications
Pinhole photography is probably the easiest way to make pictures as it doesn’t require techy gear or fancy (and expensive) multi-coated autofocus lenses, and the digital world openly embraces this age-old aesthetic. With the latest cameras able to record video footage, you can also rig your camera to record stunning, vintage-style, pinhole clips. Here’s how to craft your own DIY pinhole lens for your digital camera.Next week: Tilt/shift photography.Photos courtesy of Diana Pinto, Erica Hampton, Smax, and Cathy.