We also looked at the earliest type of camera: the camera obscura.
It's really just the action of light.
And, you can even make one at home just using a cardboard box.
Before you grab your boxes, watch a short animation showing how a camera obscura works…
Pretty simple, right?
But what if you don't have a box big enough to get inside?
Well, there's a simple fix.
- Simply cut a large section from the back of the box.
- Tape a piece of vellum or tracing paper over the new opening.
- The vellum will act as a focusing screen (just like those large format cameras).
- You will also need to shield any extra light to see the image.
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| Image from: Edinburgh's Camera Obscura http://camera-obscura.co.uk/camera_obscura/camera_make.asp |
Aside from just being cool, camera obscuras are still used by lots of artists.
Abelardo Morell is one of the most well known artists who utilizes the obscura phenomenon.
Please visit his website to check out some more!
http://www.abelardomorell.net/posts/camera-obscura/w.abelardomorell.net/posts/camera-obscura/
Also check out this interesting local artist, Chris Fraser. Unlike Morell, who photographs the interior of a camera obscura, Fraser often uses the camera obscura phenomena as a projection device. Fraser's work is simultaneously about photography and the experience of the viewer discovering photography. Please look at some of his different installations.
http://chrisfraserstudio.com/portfolio.php?pid=31
Sometimes, you might notice an accidental camera obscura. It's pretty exciting when you do. A while ago I had some dark curtains in a room of my house. One day, I noticed that the curtains had parted just slightly to allow some light to come in. It created a projection on the ceiling that showed the rooftop of the building next door. Pretty cool.
Try this at home!
Here's a video that walks you through the process.
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