Pinhole photography

Next week, we'll be making pinhole cameras!

I just love pinhole cameras because they really bring to life the science of photography.  You can make a camera out of just about anything: a box, a tin, a shoe, some cardboard, a fruit, a car, etc.

So, next week (or this weekend if you want to start sooner), you'll need to bring in your camera making supplies.  I'll provide some tin and tape.

Still wondering how this all works?  Well it's pretty similar to the camera obscura.  Remember this?

Making a camera obscura into a working camera isn't hard at all.  You really just need to create a shutter and put some film or photo paper in the camera to make a negative.

Here's a cool video showing how to make a camera from a match box.




http://sciencefriday.com/video/07/01/2011/how-to-make-a-pinhole-camera.html


And here's some cool images made with pinhole cameras…

See more by clicking this link: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/25/the-showcase-of-beautiful-pinhole-photography/

And here's a cool camera you can print from the internet and build at home!

http://www.diyphotography.net/the-best-paper-fold-pinhole-ever/

Here's a couple of my own pinhole camera images.  

The first one is a paper negative I made in a camera I made from black foam-core board.  I just glued it together with hot glue and used black tape around the endues to make it "light-tight."

By making a contact print, a positive can be made.

And here's a cool one I made with a camera made from a plastic film can.  It's the old photography classroom from when I was in college.

Nikon D5200: DSLR Haul Video

What's better than unwrapping a new camera?  Of course, lots of things!

But getting a new camera is pretty exciting too.  And, today I unwrapped my new Nikon D5200 from Amazon.com.

I had borrowed a Nikon D5100 a while ago and I really enjoyed using it.  So I decided I wanted to purchase my own.  When I started to shop around, I found that the price of the D5200 was pretty close to the D5100.  In fact, I just checked the Nikon website and the 5200 is actually cheaper!  I sense a new model on the horizon...

Anyway, both the 5100 and the 5200 are considered entry level DLSRs, but great results can be achieved with both.  I don't really need a multi-thousand dollar pro model model because I primarily use film.

I'll certainly be posting about (and with) this camera as I get to know it.  Until then, enjoy this haul video where I unwrap the camera for the first time.

PhotoAlliance Lecture: Robert Cumming

So you want to be a artist, eh?

Well, being an artist involves a lot more than just making art.  There's also a business side, time management, reading, and lots and lots of writing (yes, even after you graduate).  You also need to have good communication skills, meet other artists and stay up to date on contemporary work.

Fortunately, there's lots of ways to get connected and move toward your goals.  One great way to get going is to get involved with PhotoAlliance.  Photo Alliance is a non-profic organization that promotes photography and organizes all sorts of fun things to do: workshops, lectures, portfolio reviews, etc.

Sign up for the PhotoAlliance email list to stay up to date.  You can also join me for a PhotoAlliance lecture at SFAI next week.  Come early and check out the view, SFAI's galleries and the famous Diego Rivera Mural.  Follow the link for a full description:

ROBERT  H. CUMMING WITH INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION BYTHOMAS JACKSON

October 10, 2014 at 7:30 pm 

San Francisco Art Institute Lecture Hall
800 Chestnut Street
San Francisco, Ca (at Jones Street) 

Tickets available at the door 7:00 pm

Suggested Donation: $10.00 general admission, $5.00 students with ID