Lauren and Craig Make Pinhole Cameras

Ideas to Try

Make Sun Prints
The photographic paper used by Lauren and Craig changes when light shines on it. Light from the sun can change other materials too, though not as quickly…

You will need: sheets of sugar paper and tissue paper in different colours; some big green leaves; clear plastic folders; piece of thin white card; scissors and tape.

1. Cut out small shapes about 2cm long from the white card. You could make circles, stars, squares and triangles, or even the letters of your name.
2. Put a folded piece of tape on the back of each shape.

3. Place the white card shapes onto the different types of paper and leaves to make designs. Make sure the shapes are firmly stuck in place.

4. Slip each design into a clear plastic folder.

5. Tape each folder to a windowpane where there is plenty of daylight.

6. Leave the folders in place for at least 2 weeks.

7. Open up the folders and take off the white pieces of card. The daylight will have faded some of the materials, leaving a pattern behind.

8. Which material has faded the most? Which has faded the least?

Make a Camera Obscura
You will need: small cardboard box with a lid (a shoe box is good); square of tinfoil about 5cm by 5cm; lightproof tape such as dark masking tape; two sheets of tracing paper; black paint; PVA glue and brush; torch; pencil; scissors; ruler; paintbrush and a pin.

1. Make a small hole in the centre of one end of the box.

2. Cover the hole with a square of tinfoil. Put masking tape around the edges of the square to make a lightproof seal.

3. Push a pin through the centre of the foil square.

4. Now paint the inside of your box black.

5. Close up the box and check that it is lightproof. Take it into a darkroom or cupboard. Light a torch and put it inside the box. The only light you see should come from the pinhole. If light comes from any other place, block it out with masking tape.

6. Carefully cut a square hole about 10cm by 10cm in the box at the other end from the pinhole. Tape a sheet of tracing paper over this hole.

7. Give the sheet of tracing paper a coat of PVA glue. When the glue is dry, the tracing paper will be stiff. You have made a viewing panel.

8. Point your camera at an object that is in bright sunlight such as a house or a tree. An image of the object – back to front and upside down – can now be seen on the viewing panel.

9. Carefully put another sheet of tracing paper over the viewing panel.

10. Softly trace the outlines of the image with a pencil. Be careful not to press too hard!

Make a Pinhole Camera
You will need the same materials as you used for the camera obscura and also: a square of red cellophane and sheets of black and white photographic paper (from a camera shop).

1. Follow steps 1–5 for making a camera obscura. Instead of making a viewing panel to trace an image, you are going to put a piece of photographic paper inside the camera.

2. Cover the torch with red cellophane, holding it in place with masking tape. Red light will not harm the photographic paper. Any other light will damage it.

3. Working in red light and in a darkroom (such as a big cupboard), tape a piece of photographic paper inside your camera, opposite the pinhole. Then make sure the camera is sealed up tightly with masking tape so that no light can get in.

4. Before leaving the darkroom, put a piece of masking tape over the pinhole of your camera. Put any other sheets of photographic paper into a lightproof container before you turn on the main light or open the door.

5. The object you photograph must be in bright sunlight. Place your camera about 1m away from it. Make sure your camera is not going to wobble and that the thing you want to photograph will stay still.

6. Gently pull the tape away from the pinhole. Count to ten and cover the pinhole again with the tape.

7. Take the camera back to the darkroom. When there is no light in the room except for your red light, open the box and take out the photographic paper. Store it carefully away from the light.

8. When you have used up all the sheets of photographic paper, take them off to the camera shop to be developed. Remember – don't let any light get to your photos until they have been developed, or they will be ruined.