Pinhole Camera

MS (2015) Final Photo

This course is titled Light, Sound, and Time and examines the ways in which we perceive the world. We learn how certain concepts function regardless of human interaction or influence. The course dives deep into how we perceive the natural universe and why things are the way that they are. Unit 1 of the course was titled Light and broke down the many complexities of the subject and explained it in the languages of math and science. We learned about the properties of light and how it acts both as a wave and a particle. We spent time examining the electromagnetic spectrum and experimented with the visible light spectrum. The functions of the human eye and cameras were observed and the vast similarities between the two were noted. In this unit I learned a tremendous amount about such an integral part of our lives. I learned about light in a way I’ve never previously experienced. Topics such as light existing both as a wave and a particle were touched on that resonated with me and sparked the initiative to dive deeper and continue asking questions. This unit illuminated a light within me that inspired me and provided me with a new understanding of light in the context of math and science. For the unit 1 action project we were asked to design and build our own pinhole cameras. In addition to the construction of the cameras, each student took a photo and then processed it in a dark room. I am most proud of my genuine interest throughout the entirety of the unit. It has allowed me to really progress and dive deep into the content. I’m so happy and thankful for all the connections made to photography and cameras. My passion for photography caused me to feel additionally attached and invested with the project.

MS (2015) Pinhole Camera

The device captures light when a very small pinhole is exposed to light. A black tape cover is removed and the only source of entry for light is exposed. Light waves flood the small hole and hit the film on the inside. After a fairly long exposure, ranging from one to two minutes, the black tape cover is once again put over the pinhole to stop the entry of light. The pinhole camera doesn’t illustrate the idea of refraction. Refraction is the bending of light waves as the result of going from one medium to another. There isn’t any point where the light waves involved with my camera traveled between mediums. The inside of the camera is black rather than white because black absorbs while white reflects. The inside is black because it is essential for light to be absorbed into the camera and hit the film when the pinhole becomes exposed. If it were to be white the light waves would enter and then reflect rather than absorb leading to light waves bouncing all around inside. The pinhole camera I created demonstrates a variety of the key science principles covered in the internal investigation of unit 1. The electromagnetic spectrum, in specific the visible light spectrum, is a concept demonstrated by the device. The concept is demonstrated because light waves of varying frequencies and wavelengths enter the pinhole and expose the film to light which in turn creates the image. The idea of light absorption rather than reflection is an additional concept demonstrated by the pinhole camera. Similar triangles and the pythagorean theorem were also covered. Measurements related to my camera are the distance from the lens to the photo paper which is 3.5 inches and the height of the pinhole 2 7/8 inches. The M I took a photo of is 4 inches tall. The minimum distance between my subject and camera should be is 1.37 inches apart. My shutter speed for my final photo was 1.5 minutes. The pinhole was exposed to the light for just over a minute and a half and then the black tape was immediately reapplied to deny the entry of any more light. If I had the ability to do this project over I would change a variety of things. I had a few issues with my pinhole camera such as it allowing an almost undetectable amount of light in which ultimately caused the first images to be over exposed. I wish I would have spent more time when building the camera to focus the design on being a durable product that could last long and be utilized multiple times. While attempting to capture the photo I encountered several challenges. My first few shots were overexposed and showed nothing on the developed film. After figuring out the correct exposure I still needed to figure out the correct distance between my subject and camera in order to fully capture it. The unpredictability of my camera pinhole made the focal length difficult to gauge. Overall I think I completed this project in a positive manner. A few times along the way I faced difficulties but I continued on with the project and worked towards overcoming the adversities. I’m delighted with my final photograph!

MS (2015) Calculated Image

MS (2015) Similar Triangles