Pinhole

talras

talras

Messages
299
Name
Ian
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi Folks

I wasn't really sure where to post this so if it's wrong could a MOD move it please?

I've just started an AS photography course at college which will hopefully lead on to an A level. Our first project is pinhole photography and photograms. Last week was the first practical session and I must say it was really interesting. Completely different to the norm that's for sure.

Anyway, has anyone done anything interesting with these methods? I have to submitt work as part of the course and would welcome any ideas/methods for something unusual. :)
 
its pretty easy to make a big pinhole camera if you can shoot straight onto photographic paper, do you have access to a dark room?
 
Yes a darkroom isn't a problem. I'm making a camera now out of a beer can (just in the process of ensuring it's empty:))

I was after ideas for subjects really. The images are quite different to the norm so I was trying to get a head start. The tutor at college made a pinhole out of one of the small offices which was quite bizarre!
 
Sounds great fun, Ian.

I've seen a good few old pinhole camera photos of street scenes. Because the exposure time is so long people, if they show up at all, appear almost ghost like.

This could have been caused by the old film (or more likely, plates) being very slow, but scenes with moving objects may give some interesting images.

All the best with your course.

Dave
 
Thanks Dave

It is fun I must say. 48yrs old and back at college lol. I'll post some shots when I've 'mastered' the technique.
 
Justin Quinnell does a lot of pinhole work and some extremely long (6 month) exposures, he does a lot of lecturing on the subject, there's a lot of useful info on his website here... http://www.pinholephotography.org/

Also, if you're still doing pinhole work next spring why not take part in Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day http://www.pinholeday.org/

This was my entry for this years event

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Hi Nick

I was lucky enough to attend a lecture by Justin Quinell. He certainly takes things to another level in pinhole. Using a bread roll as a camera & then eating it after the exposure sticks in my mind! lol

I think our group at college are going to take part in 'pinhole day' so hopefully I'll get some results posted on TP.

Your picture is excellent - I'll be a happy chappy if I can get anywhere near as good.
 
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Since this isn't a C&C thread, I'm allowed to say great pic! Any details about it, like aperture and length of exposure? To my untrained eye, it looks like a small hole but the relative stillness of the hole would suggest a relatively short exposure. Love the doggy pawprints.
 
talras said:
Hi Nick

I was lucky enough to attend a lecture by Justin Quinell. He certainly takes things to another level in pinhole. Using a bread roll as a camera & then eating it after the exposure sticks in my mind! lol

I think our group at college are going to take part in 'pinhole day' so hopefully I'll get some results posted on TP.

Your picture is excellent - I'll be a happy chappy if I can get anywhere near as good.
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He is a bit off the wall and tbh I think he misses the point sometimes with his over-quirky methods but there's no denying he does produce some cracking images and has made the world of pinhole photography accessible to a whole lot of people.

Don't forget to post your shots up when you get them processed.

Nod said:
Since this isn't a C&C thread, I'm allowed to say great pic! Any details about it, like aperture and length of exposure? To my untrained eye, it looks like a small hole but the relative stillness of the hole would suggest a relatively short exposure. Love the doggy pawprints.
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Thanks Nod, It was taken on West Wittering beach, Sussex. Shot on outdated Fuji Superia X-TRA 400 film, the focal length is 40mm and the aperture is f235, IIRC it had an exposure time of about 2 elephants. It was processed by The Darkroom UK in Cheltenham and scanned on a Nikon Coolscan 9000.
 
RaglanSurf said:
Thanks Nod, It was taken on West Wittering beach, Sussex. Shot on outdated Fuji Superia X-TRA 400 film, the focal length is 40mm and the aperture is f235, IIRC it had an exposure time of about 2 elephants. It was processed by The Darkroom UK in Cheltenham and scanned on a Nikon Coolscan 9000.
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Thanks for the details, which leave me with just 2 further questions. Is the pinhole a purchased one or home brewed and just how long is an elephant in terms of seconds or can't you remember?
 
Nod said:
Thanks for the details, which leave me with just 2 further questions. Is the pinhole a purchased one or home brewed and just how long is an elephant in terms of seconds or can't you remember?
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No problem, always happy to answer questions. The camera is a Zero Image 6x9 which will take shots in 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7 or 6x9 format depending where you place the adjustable guides.

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Zero Image Pinhole-1 by Raglansurf, on Flickr[/IMG]

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Zero Image Pinhole-5 by Raglansurf, on Flickr[/IMG]

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Zero Image Pinhole-10 by Raglansurf, on Flickr[/IMG]

I bought mine from Silverprint a couple of years ago, they are a bit pricey, especially if you think that you can make one yourself for nothing, but they are nicely made and a thing of beauty.

And an elephant is a second, a measurement of time well known to folk of a certain age that can remember a film called Gregory's Girl :lol:
 
I am indeed of an age and can remember the film but not the elephant part!
I have a Science museum pinhole camera £%mm but the hole really is made with a pin so not sure hoe round it is or any idea of f stop, so exposure may be way off. Loaded with ISO400 print film so should have the latitude to get some result! Planning on getting a body cap converted to a pinhole - with a set of tubes, I reckon I should be able to get some 1/2 decent results, I think the D700 will even meter with it - will have to read the manual again!
 
Nod said:
I am indeed of an age and can remember the film but not the elephant part!
I have a Science museum pinhole camera £%mm but the hole really is made with a pin so not sure hoe round it is or any idea of f stop, so exposure may be way off. Loaded with ISO400 print film so should have the latitude to get some result! Planning on getting a body cap converted to a pinhole - with a set of tubes, I reckon I should be able to get some 1/2 decent results, I think the D700 will even meter with it - will have to read the manual again!
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The elephants come from them working out the exposure for a print in the darkroom :lol:

I made a bodycap pinhole a couple of years ago using a cheap body cap and tubes from ebay and just used an aluminium beer can for the hole, it was ok but I struggled to make the hole small enough and round enough. You can but ready made holes but they seem pricey for what they are.
 
RaglanSurf said:
. You can but ready made holes but they seem pricey for what they are.
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Vry true but they are of a known f stop which makes calculating exposure so much easier! £35 gets you your body cap converted and an exposure calculator. Might have to invest!
 
Nod said:
Vry true but they are of a known f stop which makes calculating exposure so much easier! £35 gets you your body cap converted and an exposure calculator. Might have to invest!
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That's very true I suppose knowing the f stop exactly is worth paying for.

Make sure you post your shots up if you do it.
 
RaglanSurf said:
That's very true I suppose knowing the f stop exactly is worth paying for.

Make sure you post your shots up if you do it.
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Might do! Although at the moment, I find the process of resizing for Flickr, uploading to Flickr and finding the link to the right file size a bit of a faff.
 
It does take a bit of getting used to but once you develop a routine it doesn't take too long at all.
 
RaglanSurf said:
It does take a bit of getting used to but once you develop a routine it doesn't take too long at all.
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Also, I honestly don't think you can do a photo justice on a computer monitor. I much prefer to hold a print in my paws and peruse that. Makes it harder to share photos but IMO, it's well worth it.
 
One of my first taken using a Monster drink can & photo paper. Not the best I admit but I'm pleased with it.

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