Get Creative With Pinhole Cameras And Use Up All That Old Film
I am sure I'm not the only one with piles of film from my pre-digital days. I had half a fridge door full, and just couldn't bring myself to throw it out. I needed a fun project to put it to good use.
April 26 marks the 9th annual Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day, and what better way to use up old film than in a pinhole camera?
Pinhole photography is nothing new - the basic optical principles are mentioned in 5th century BC texts from China, and the first documented photos taken with a pinhole camera are from the mid-1800s. You can make a pinhole camera from just about anything, and people do, but in most cases, you have to load and unload the film in total darkness, which can be tricky. If you do want to give pinhole photography a try, but prefer not to hide in a closet to put the film in, check out these cameras:
Pinhole Blender's Cameras The "cookie and tea tin" cameras from Pinhole Blender accept 35mm, 120 and 4x5 film (although you do have to load the 4x5 in darkness) and come in several different configurations with 1, 3, or 6 pinholes. They all have 2 knobs on top to advance the film, and they also take a little bit of the guesswork out of shooting pinholes by providing you with exposure suggestions. These are great, affordable cameras ($20 to $80) for anyone who wants to give pinhole photography a try.
Holga The plastic, inexpensive Holga cameras first saw the light of day in Hong Kong in 1982, and quickly gained an almost cult-like status among photographers all over the world. The Holga pinhole cameras come in two sizes: small and medium format (for 35mm and 120 film). The 35mm version has an aperture of f/175, the medium format f/192. Both have only one shutter speed - B - which stands for Bulb and means that the shutter stays open for however long you press the shutter. Thankfully, they have standard cable release and tripod threads and come with (optional) cable releases, both of which are essential to shooting with these cameras. You advance the film at your own whim - make panoramas, double (or triple) exposures, or shoot "normal" one-frame images - it's up to you. The deluxe package, which includes either camera, 10 rolls of film and a cable release is $100.
The Hexomniscope Camera This limited edition, state of the art, all metal pinhole camera is not cheap ($1,590) but the photos it produces are quite extraordinary - dreamy, wavy, distorted and beautiful. There are 6 f/180 pinholes (with 6 individually operated shutters) equally distributed around the camera's cylindrical body which gives you 6 overlapping 60-degree images on 120 film.
Digital SLR Pinhole Camera If you have a digital SLR and would rather work with what you've already got, you're in luck. Doing pinhole photography on a DSLR is really easy - just buy an extra body cap (roughly $3), drill a tiny hole in the middle, and put it on your camera. Instant pinhole!
So What Is Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day? It's a worldwide annual event, held on the last Sunday in April, to encourage people to take some time off from technology and get back to basics for a day. You can use any pinhole camera (homemade is fine) but you have to take the pictures on that particular day (April 26 this year). Then upload your photos (so if you use film, you need to have it developed and scanned) and submission form, and if the "Coordinating Team" selects any of your photos, they will be displayed online. - 23812
April 26 marks the 9th annual Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day, and what better way to use up old film than in a pinhole camera?
Pinhole photography is nothing new - the basic optical principles are mentioned in 5th century BC texts from China, and the first documented photos taken with a pinhole camera are from the mid-1800s. You can make a pinhole camera from just about anything, and people do, but in most cases, you have to load and unload the film in total darkness, which can be tricky. If you do want to give pinhole photography a try, but prefer not to hide in a closet to put the film in, check out these cameras:
Pinhole Blender's Cameras The "cookie and tea tin" cameras from Pinhole Blender accept 35mm, 120 and 4x5 film (although you do have to load the 4x5 in darkness) and come in several different configurations with 1, 3, or 6 pinholes. They all have 2 knobs on top to advance the film, and they also take a little bit of the guesswork out of shooting pinholes by providing you with exposure suggestions. These are great, affordable cameras ($20 to $80) for anyone who wants to give pinhole photography a try.
Holga The plastic, inexpensive Holga cameras first saw the light of day in Hong Kong in 1982, and quickly gained an almost cult-like status among photographers all over the world. The Holga pinhole cameras come in two sizes: small and medium format (for 35mm and 120 film). The 35mm version has an aperture of f/175, the medium format f/192. Both have only one shutter speed - B - which stands for Bulb and means that the shutter stays open for however long you press the shutter. Thankfully, they have standard cable release and tripod threads and come with (optional) cable releases, both of which are essential to shooting with these cameras. You advance the film at your own whim - make panoramas, double (or triple) exposures, or shoot "normal" one-frame images - it's up to you. The deluxe package, which includes either camera, 10 rolls of film and a cable release is $100.
The Hexomniscope Camera This limited edition, state of the art, all metal pinhole camera is not cheap ($1,590) but the photos it produces are quite extraordinary - dreamy, wavy, distorted and beautiful. There are 6 f/180 pinholes (with 6 individually operated shutters) equally distributed around the camera's cylindrical body which gives you 6 overlapping 60-degree images on 120 film.
Digital SLR Pinhole Camera If you have a digital SLR and would rather work with what you've already got, you're in luck. Doing pinhole photography on a DSLR is really easy - just buy an extra body cap (roughly $3), drill a tiny hole in the middle, and put it on your camera. Instant pinhole!
So What Is Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day? It's a worldwide annual event, held on the last Sunday in April, to encourage people to take some time off from technology and get back to basics for a day. You can use any pinhole camera (homemade is fine) but you have to take the pictures on that particular day (April 26 this year). Then upload your photos (so if you use film, you need to have it developed and scanned) and submission form, and if the "Coordinating Team" selects any of your photos, they will be displayed online. - 23812
About the Author:
DeeDee Dobson adores the color pink. On her blog, she talks about compact pink digital cameras and creative photography
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