Teaching Pinhole Photography

How would you teach pinhole photography to another group? What kind of group? What would be the goal of such a project?

I would teach pinhole photography to high school students using the theme of architecture with specific objectives. The purpose of the assignment would be to familiarize oneself with the technical aspects of pinhole photography, as well as to observe one's city or infrastructure that surrounds them.

The objectives of the assignment would include to understand the process of making a pinhole camera and are able to make themselves, learn how to find the f/stop (f/stop: Focal Length /Aperture = f/stop number) and the math behind the pinhole camera. As well as to capture an image that relates to the theme of architecture and observation. 

The Finished Products

Architecture

Digitally produced Positive 

Mobile Capture



Portrait

Digitally produced Positive

Mobile Capture

Still Life

Digitally produced Positive

Mobile Capture

Making a Pinhole Camera: The Process

Materials:

• Electrical tape
• Scissors
• Black paper
• 1 Box, with an overlapping lid
• Brush
• Black acrylic paint
• Cover to protect the work area
• Brass plate, with 0.5 - 1.0mm wide puncture
• Xacto knife
• Ruler

#1. Cut a small square into the lid of your box with an Xacto knife.

#2. Place a brass plate, larger in surface area than the hole cut out of the lid, on the inside of your lid and tape the plate down with black electrical tape. 

#3. Cut two strips of black paper (width of 2 cm and length according to the box, make sure to measure). 

#4. Then place the two strips of paper on the inside of your box, and secure the paper strips with electrical tape. Do not tape the strips of paper to the bottom of your box, these strips will be used to secure you photo paper in place when loading your camera.

#5. To ensure that your pinhole camera is light-tight,  cut a long and narrow strip of paper to wrap the bottom of the lid of your box. Secure the paper with electrical tape.

#6. If you want to, you can cut out two areas in the paper strip to make loading and unloading your pinhole camera an easier process.

#7. Using matte black acrylic paint and a brush, paint the inside of both the box and the lid. Paint around the paper strips, and do not paint the electrical tape securing the brass plate on the inside of the lid. 

#8. After your pinhole camera is dry, make sure that both parts (the lid and the box) fit together well. 

#9. For the finishing touch, place a large square of electrical tape over the pinhole area. This is important to keep on the area especially when your camera is loaded with photo paper.