How to Build a Paper Pinhole Camera
The simple pinhole camera has a surprisingly long history, originating in the ruminations of Greek philosophers and solidifying as a design in the hands of Leonardo da Vinci. According to graphic designer and large-format photographer David Balihar, even the most unexpected and ordinary objects can be transformed into pinhole cameras, and you can experiment with various techniques, such as panoramic film planes and the use of multiple pinholes on a single camera, as your experience progresses. But for your first attempt, the steps that follow are a basic, functional method of construction.
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Things You'll Need
- Ruler
- Sturdy cardboard box
- Black tape
- Black paper
- Black paint
- No. 10 sewing needle
- Craft knife
- Aluminum foil
- Film or photographic paper
Instructions
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Make sure your container is light-proof and allows no light leaks. Cover up any holes, cracks or crevices with black tape, but leave an opening such as a flap to insert and remove film. Boxes should be made of durable cardboard or stiff paper, and lids and flaps should close securely.
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Black out your camera. Line the inside of the box with black paper to prevent reflections and to protect against unwanted light filtering through. Preventing light seepage is important, as the light you do allow in to the camera should be very controlled.
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Cut a ¼-inch hole opposite the box opening with a craft knife. Make the pinhole by puncturing a number 10 sewing needle through a small square of aluminum foil measuring about 3-by-2 inches, rotating the needle as you push it through. Stop pushing the needle through when it is halfway in. Tape the foil over the ¼-inch hole on the inside of the box. Kodak recommends positioning the pinhole 3 to 6 inches from where the film will be placed.
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Make the shutter by taping a piece of opaque black paper over the pinhole. Alternatively, see Balihar's website, Pinhole (see Resources), for a variety of design ideas; for example, you can make a shutter from wood or plastic by screwing it onto the body so that it covers the pinhole completely when not in use.
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Load the film into the box in a completely darkened room. Use a small square of photographic paper or sheet film like Kodak Tri-X Pan Professional Film. A typical box larger than 3-by-4 inches will need film or paper that measures about 2¼-by-3¼ inches; simply cut to size. Load the film so that the shiny (emulsion) side faces the pinhole. Tape the film or paper down at the corners so that it does not come loose.
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Exposure refers to the amount of time that film or paper is exposed to light when taking the picture. Keep your camera as steady as possible when taking the picture; you may need to set it down on a flat surface. The exposure time varies from 2 to 8 minutes for photographic paper and from 1 to 8 seconds for film. Choose the lower end of the spectrum for bright light conditions and the higher end for a cloudy day or dim lighting. Develop as normal.
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Tips & Warnings
The Pinhole website (see Resources) offers a software program, Pinhole Designer 2.0, which is useful for calculating exposure times according to the specific measurements of your camera and for guidance with measurements when making a pinhole camera. Experiment with different films, paper, exposure times and lighting conditions. The pinhole camera is less exact and predictable than a traditional camera but can yield interesting results. See the Pinhole website for information on how to create a pinhole enlarger, which is used for developing pictures taken with a pinhole camera.
If you have painted or taped over any part of the camera box, check often for chipping or flaking paint or loose tape. Any paint or tape removed from the inside or outside of the box may allow unwanted light leaks. Take special care not to expose your film or photographic paper to light prior to taking the picture.
Resources
- Photo Credit Diagram - Bob Mellish - fair use, photograph - Superior Sub Station by Matt Callow - fair use
