What is pinhole photography?
Pinhole photography is the stripped down version of photography. Instead of an actual lens and a sophisticated system, pinhole photography makes use of a tightly-sealed box and a pinhole (also called an aperture) to capture light and create images.
In pinhole photography, light passes through a tiny hole and projects an inverted image on the paper or film on the inside of the box. Since very little light goes through the pinhole, exposure time often takes longer in this raw form of photography.
Also, as a result, pinhole photos can be blurry with noticeable vignettes (darker shadows around the edges of the image.)
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How to make my own pinhole camera
There are many ways to make pinhole cameras, from cardboard boxes to beer cans! Here’s a quick and basic guide for you.
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How long should I expose the frame for pinhole photography?
The answer, simply, is that it depends on many factors, including the image you want to create, the type of light-sensitive material you will be using, and the amount of light. Because of the small size of pinhole cameras' opening, these cameras take in less light so exposure usually takes longer.
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What is the optimal pinhole size?
A pinhole size ranging from somewhere between 0.2 – 1.00 mm should be good for creating your own pinhole camera.
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Do pinhole cameras need to focus?
Pinhole cameras do not need to focus. Their tiny aperture means the camera has a nearly infinite depth of field.
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What is the difference between a pinhole camera and a camera obscura?
A pinhole camera is a type of camera obscura that follows its namesake and uses a tiny pinhole as its lens.
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Which Lomography cameras can be used for pinhole photography?
A few Lomography cameras have pinhole photography function, namely the Diana F+, Diana Instant Square, LomoMod No. 1, and the Diana Multi Pinhole Operator.