We would like to highlight the pinhole photography.
A pinhole camera is a simple camera without a lens and with a single small aperture — effectively a light-proof box with a small hole in one side. Light from a scene passes through this single point and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of the box. The human eye in bright light acts similarly, as do cameras using small apertures.
Up to a certain point, the smaller the hole, the sharper the image, but the dimmer the projected image. Optimally, the size of the aperture should be 1/100 or less of the distance between it and the projected image.
A pinhole camera’s shutter is usually manually operated because of the lengthy exposure times, and consists of a flap of some light-proof material to cover and uncover the pinhole. Typical exposures range from 5 seconds to hours and sometimes days. (source wikipedia. Complete article here)
As the fine art photographer Ralph HOWELL states, « virtually anything can be turned into a pinhole camera: a coconut, a muffin pan, a cowboy boot, a fishing float, etc. If a chambered object can be light-proofed, it can be transformed into a pinhole camera. I’m excited by the fact that pinhole cameras don’t restrict my creativity with a light meter, a clicking shutter, or a viewfinder. In particular, the absence of a viewfinder turns the process of pre-visualizing a shot into a serendipitous process where I can “point and shoot “ from the hip. I enjoy improvising the content and composition of the photo and risking unexpected and playful outcomes ».
Here some examples from this photographer
Eight O’Clock Coffee / © Ralph HOWELL
Mirror Reflection: Shoe as Pinhole Camera / © Ralph HOWELL
In 1998 Ann HAMILTON initiated a style of work by holding a canister containing a strip of film in her mouth and using her lips as an aperture to create each exposure.
Face to face / © Ann HAMILTON
Nice interview and video on Art:21 website
Justin QUINNELL with Mouthpiece also made a great set of pictures using this container
Dentist / © Justin QUINNELL
Bathtime / © Justin QUINNELL
What about capturing the world through a truck ? Shaun IRVING done it and the results are stunning.
© Shaun IRVING
If Pinhole photography is a good way to experiment various containers, it is also a way to experiment very long exposure. Justin QUINNELL made a great work with his serie of ’slow light’ in which he made photographs with 6 months exposure.
SS Great Britain / © Justin QUINNELL
Various containers, long exposure… What else ? We could talk about perspectives. John FOBES have some great photographs that show how you can play with distorsion.
Pittsburgh Pinhole Serie / © John FOBES
Pinhole Dreams Series / © John FOBES
We could end this post by focusing on an other great aspect of Pinhole photography : Colors. The great work of Imre BECSI drives us in a dream-like journey.
Alexa / © Imre BECSI
Let’s focus a bit on the work of a NOI Pictures’s friend, Albin MILLOT
New York. USA. 2007 / © Albin MILLOT
Pyramide of Gizeh, Cairo. EGYPT. 2008. / © Albin MILLOT
We’ll finish this non exhaustive overview of Pinhole photography by posting some Polaroïd 59 of Boris ZULIANI, one of NOI Pictures pool’s photographer
Essawira, Morroco / © Boris ZULIANI / NOI Pictures
Albatre coast, Normandie, France / © Boris ZULIANI / NOI Pictures
For those who appreciated this post, notice the nice blog of Chris Keeney who use to highlight every month a different Pinhole photographer.
And for those who feel handyman, a rough tutorial to build your pinhole camera is available on this website !