What is a camera obscura and how does it work?
Camera obscura is an optical effect when the light penetrates through a pinhole and is reflected on the opposite surface or wall. The phenomenon by which a pinhole image is created can easily be explained by science and physics. Indeed, the light that penetrates the small hole is coming from all directions but will travel straight. It will therefore create a pinhole image projection in color, but upside down.
In detail, how does a camera obscura work? The objects naturally reflect light at different wavelength, which is also responsible for the colors that we see. The rays of light emitted by an object will therefore converge on the small hole and continue their trajectory until they reach a surface inside the box. As a result, the colored pinhole image is upside down.
How to make a pinhole camera or camera obscura effect?
It is super easy to make a camera obscura effect. You can do it in a room with a window, with a homemade pinhole camera box or buy one that uses photography films.
The first option is to find a room with a window and cover it completely, except for a small hole. If the sun shine on an object in front of the window, it will emit light towards the room that will penetrate the room and create a pinhole image on the wall or ceiling.
The second option is to make a pinhole camera device. You can use a shoebox and a mirror to build a camera obscura. All you have to do is to make a hole on the front of the box and another one on the top. After that, you can put the mirror or inside, at a 45 degree angle. Your homemade pinhole camera is now ready to use!
If you want to magnify the image produced and produce an even cooler effect, you can use a lense placed in the pinhole. This will project bigger and even more impressive pinhole images.
Finally, you can buy a pinhole camera online. This option is obviously the most expansive, but gives you the possibility to take nice pictures that you can share with the world! This option is the best for amateur or professional photographers.
Check this Ilford 1174025 – Pinhole Camera Obscura
Some nice pinhole camera images
There are some pretty amazing pinhole images out there! Wether they were taken from professional photographers, it’s always an amazing optical phenomenon. Here are some of my favorite pinhole images:
Woke up yesterday to an accidental camera obscura on my bedroom wall from r/mildlyinteresting
Check my previous posts to see how to use a prism to experiment with light refraction and dispersion or to see how water vapor artificial fireplaces create the perfect flame illusion!
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