Gone are the days when epic scenes were described by poets and writers with their passionate words. Now if there’s something worth remembering, then all you have to do is take out the tiny camera phone in your pocket and click a picture of the scene in front of you. Imaging technology has grown by leaps and bounds, especially after the invention of the microprocessor technology. Cameras are becoming more and more advanced each year, but the first one ever to be used to click a picture comprised of just a pinhole and a film. Yes, the first camera known to the world was aptly named the ‘pin-hole camera’. Making it is very simple, so read on if you are interested.
A pin hole camera is a actually a light-tight box or can with a black interior and a tiny hole at the centre on the other end. If the interior is not black, it can be conveniently painted to fulfill the requirement. As is obvious, it is very simple to make a camera using household materials found commonly. Get hold of anything that has a tight fitting lid/top, like a shoebox or a 2-pound can of coffee. Paint the interior walls black or use black paper instead to make the container light-tight, so that there are no reflections of light inside it. If the lid is made of plastic, then paint it black as well. After painting the container inside out in black uniformly, allow it to dry. Make sure that the paint has not chipped off or peeled, because if any unwanted light enters your camera then it will ruin your pictures.
The second thing you need to do is to make a pinhole. Since the hole has to be made in the container itself, you might think against using aluminum containers. So here is an idea. Cut out a big hole in the bottom of the container, fasten thick black paper or heavy duty wrapping aluminum foil over it, and then pierce a fine pin hole in the centre, so that the hole is in the centre of the container’s bottom. How far the film has been placed from the pinhole and the diameter of the hole itself determines the sharpness and brightness of the picture. For example, if the film has been placed three to six inches away from the hole, then the best picture will be captured from a hole that is 1/75 of an inch in diameter. Make sure that the hole is perfectly round, which can be done by rotating the needle while piercing the hole. When using an aluminum foil or black paper, sandwich it between two cards before piercing it. The cards will make sure that the hole is made smoothly.
The film to capture the photo is placed opposite the pin hole, under the lid of the container. So it is very important to ensure that the lid is properly painted and no light enters it. Use an opaque paper flap for shutter. When you are done, simply place the camera in front of the subject and remove the shutter, then close it immediately to avoid over exposure.
