| Pinhole cameras may just be the simplest type of | | | | small dot created by the beam of the flashlight, |
| camera ever invented, and they have been | | | | shining through the hole. As your friend moves |
| around for a long time now. These cameras are | | | | the flashlight, the small dot will also move around |
| used for art, fun, science, and even surveillance. | | | | the wall. |
| You probably have one, or know someone who | | | | Now, imagine taking this large box outside and |
| does. But have you ever thought about the | | | | pointing it at your garden. On the wall opposite |
| mechanism behind a pinhole camera? | | | | the hole will be a reversed and inverted image of |
| Not Your Typical Camera | | | | the landscape. Each point in the garden emits light |
| The pinhole camera is not one of the conventional | | | | and the beam emitted from the point will pass |
| cameras you're used to in both its form and | | | | through the hole, creating its equivalent point of |
| function. Instead of the typical camera case, a | | | | light on the opposite wall. |
| pinhole camera makes use of a light-proof box - | | | | Every point of the landscape will do these |
| matchboxes and cereal boxes will do. And in place | | | | (emitting of light, passing through the hole, and |
| of the typical glass lens is a very, very small hole, | | | | reflecting to the wall) all at the same time so that |
| the size of that created by a pin. | | | | an entire image is created on the back wall. |
| But don't underestimate this cardboard camera. | | | | The bigger the scene and the smaller the hole will |
| The fact is the results are impressive and | | | | automatically mean a longer process. But this also |
| sophisticated works of art. The images you get | | | | means better results. The image will of course be |
| after exposure is a whole lot better than those | | | | dim, as the hole is very small. |
| you get from a conventional camera. It's soft, | | | | Small Camera |
| yet crisp at the same time, and the images have | | | | The actual pinhole camera comes in many |
| an almost infinite depth of field. | | | | different sizes. But all the same, it is a lot smaller |
| Simple Concept | | | | than the box mentioned above. And instead of a |
| This simple camera works on an equally simple | | | | bare wall opposite the hole, the pinhole camera |
| principle: Pinhole Optics. One side of the box has a | | | | makes use of a sort of film. The film, flattened |
| miniscule hole. Light from outside the box passes | | | | against the wall, records the light or the image |
| through the hole and an image is formed on one | | | | that passes through the hole. |
| side of the camera. | | | | The camera creates a nice, in-focus |
| For you to understand the concept better, | | | | representation of the scene where you point your |
| imagine being inside a big, dark box. On one side | | | | camera. The exposure time usually lasts from half |
| of the room is a small hole and outside the room | | | | a second to several hours, much longer than usual |
| is a friend holding a flashlight. Now this friend | | | | exposure time of your conventional camera. This |
| shines the flashlight through the pinhole, at varying | | | | is because the pinhole can only allow so much light |
| angles. | | | | to pass through, but the result is definitely worth |
| Imagine the wall opposite the hole. On it will be a | | | | the wait. |