How to make a pinhole camera
Step 1:
Find a suitable container. For example, a cocoa tin or box. Make sure it has a removable lid and that the material is light proof Step 2: Paint or spray the inside of the box in black. This will prevent light bouncing around inside, ensuring that you get a clear image. Make sure that the lid of your box is light proof and relatively easy to remove and replace. Step 3: Cut a rectangular hole half way up the container (approx. 2 cm square) Step 4: Cut a 2.5 cm square piece of tinfoil and smooth it out. Use a pin to create a small hole in the centre of the tinfoil. You can also use a thin sheet of aluminium cut from a drinks can. If you're using aluminium sand around the pinhole making sure there are no rough edges. Step 5: Attach the tinfoil to the container making sure the pinhole is over the rectangular hole you already created. Step 6: Make a shutter flap out of card and/or tape that can open and close as you need it. Make sure that it completely covers the pinhole. Step 7: In the darkroom cut a piece of photographic paper to fit inside your container. Secure it in place with a small piece of tape if necessary. It should stay completely still throughout the exposure. Securely attach the lid of your container and close the shutter. Step 8: Take the camera outside and find a suitable subject. Ensure that the camera is stable and can't be moved during the exposure. Open the shutter and expose the paper. Depending on the size of the pinhole and the brightness of the light your exposure can be anything from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Make a guess and use your first image as a guide. Step 9: Close the shutter at the end of the exposure time and take the camera back to the darkroom. Carefully remove the paper and place it in the chemicals |
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