Question

1. What is pinhole photography? 2. What materials are needed to create a pinhole camera? 3. What are the three ways that a person can manipulate light? 4. Explain why the image is projected upside down. 5. Why did artists use pinhole cameras during the Renaissance?

Answer 1

Pinhole photography is a very basic and different form of photography than you are used to. You must think of the photograph you are creating not of the equipment. I don’t believe you can get a bad picture with a pinhole camera. The exposure is not that critical. You are dealing in a different time frame with this type of camera. The difference in a 10 to 25 second exposure is less than one 1 stop and the difference in 25 and 60 seconds is again 1ess than one f stop. Reciprocity factor is working here in the films. In a regular camera and a modern high speed lens. these times are equivalent to 1/125 sec. to 1/60 sec. and 1/60 sec. to 1/30 sec. (not much time difference). So if you are off on your times somewhat, it probably won’t show in the final photo. Every picture is a time exposure. All motion will be a blur, even very slow motion. Fast moving objects just don’t show up in the film.

So have fun with a pinhole camera and enjoy a different form of photography!

-Roger Foote

Hope this helped!