The Definition of Camera Obscura
The camera obscura began as an early method of image projection, although modern units draw interest primarily as curiosities or visitor attractions.
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Definition
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Image taken with a pinhole camera, a type of camera obscura. A primitive optical device, a camera obscura uses natural light to project an image of an object or its setting, which the camera obscura can also capture as a photograph.
Word Origin
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The term comes from the Latin “camera,” meaning “chamber,” and “obscura,” meaning “darkened.”
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Mechanism
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Outside light enters a box or room through a small hole, creating an upside-down image of the camera's surroundings onto the facing wall. The use of mirrors turns the image right side up.
History
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The principles behind the camera obscura go as far back as ancient Greece and China. Over the centuries, it has allowed observers to watch an eclipse of the sun indirectly. In 1827, the camera obscura was first used to take a photograph, rather than simply to view an image.
Types
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Whether permanent or temporary, camera obscuras come as small as a shoe box to as large as a hall. Now, the most common type stays in its own chamber or stand-alone building.
Examples
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Outlook Tower, Edinburgh, Scotland The best-known permanent camera obscuras in the world include the Outlook Tower in Edinburgh, Scotland, and the Giant Camera, which overlooks Seal Rock in San Francisco.
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References
- Photo Credit Pinhole Valley image by firelover123 from Fotolia.com Camera Obscura image by Peter Helin from Fotolia.com
