Pixiq

So, you are a photographer but have never produced a pinhole image. I would say you don't know what you are missing. Pinhole is the simplest form of photography there is and can be both educational and inspiring to make and to use.

In preparation for the upcoming Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day event at the end of April, I have decided to do a how-to post on making a very easy and fun to use pinhole camera. The camera is constructed using not much more than a roll of film, a small piece of metal with a tiny hole and a matchbox. Thus the name - Matchbox Pinhole Camera.

Made from items that are commonly found around the house, anyone can make them in no time at all. The required items used to make these cameras are as follows:

• Matchbox
• A roll of 35 mm film
• An empty 35 mm film canister
• A roll of black tape (electrical is good)
• a sewing needle
• A small thin piece of metal shim (small piece cut from the side of a pop can)
• A large paperclip
• You may also need a pair of scissors, xacto knife, a black sharpie, a small piece of cardboard and a thimble.

The matchbox pinhole camera has been around for awhile. Rather than taking you through the entire process, I have decided to point you to a few sites where you can follow the making of these unique cameras. One of the best websites for seeing the photographic results of these cameras is a Flickr group called Matchbox Pinhole.

Here is the tutorial for the Matchbox Pinhole Camera  - Tutorial  

Pinhole calculators can help you with exposure decisions as well as help you decide the pinhole size. Two common versions are available Pinhole Camera Design Calculator PC and PinholeCalc MAC.  You may also want to go to one of my earlier posts to learn about the use of PinholeCalc.

For the most part, the tutorials vary only slightly in the construction techniques but the concept is the same. You might very well have a few ides of your own that could improve the design or to customize your particular camera.

There are a number of other pinhole cameras that can be made from similar materials. Here are a few websites for other fully functional pinhole cameras that you can build with ease.

• The Populist
• The Dirkon

Due to the simplicity of the pinhole concept, almost any container that can be made light tight can be made into a pinhole camera. All that is required is a box, film or photo paper and a pinhole.

Please mark April 24,2011 on your calendar and participate in the 2011 WPPD. go to the official WPPD website for additional information.

For more of my posts on photography please see pixiq.com.