Thirteen step guide to making a pinhole camera

» THIRTEEN STEP GUIDE » TO MAKING A PINHOLE CAMERAHIRTEEN STEP » PIN PINHOLE CAMERA

INGREDIENTS:

ONE MATCHBOX ONE COKE CAN (EMPTY) ONE ROLL OF BLACK TAPE A PIN ONE NEW FILM ONE USED FILM CELLOTAPE CARDBOARD SCISSORS A BLACK MARKER PEN A RULER A BLUNT PENCIL A NAIL FILE AND PATIENCE

» STEP 1

Cut Hole in the tray of the matchbox about 5mm from the edge.

» STEP 2

Color in the inside of the box and the outside being careful not to warpe the box or leave any white as this may affect the exposure of the film.

» STEP 3

Cut a smaller hole this time about 5mm by 5mm in the centre of the outer matchbox, then again without warping the box color as much of the inside as you can.

» STEP 4

Cut out a square, 1cm by 1cm of an aluminium can

» STEP 5Make a dent in the centre of the aluminium square by placing it on a soft surface i.e. a piece or cardboard and apply pressure with a blunt pencil.

» STEP 6

File off the protruding side of the indentation leaving the square flat, then use the pin to make a small hole where the indent is making sure not to push the whole pin through, just enough to make a piercing, it is best to do this on a hard surface and listen for the pop of the pin going through the aluminium.

» STEP 7Color in the piece of aluminium making sure not to get anything in the hole that may block it.

» STEP 8Tape the aluminium in place directly over the 5mm x 5mm hole on the outside box so that the hole in the aluminium is aligned over the hole in the box, tape this in place. Now cut out a cardboard frame for this, just slightly smalled than the box size and place over the hole and tape in place only on three sides leaving the top

» STEP 9

Cut out a long piece of cardboard roughly 1cm by 4 cm that can fit in the pouch you have just made, if done correctly this should be able to slide over the camera hole, this will act as your shutter, colour this in black as well.

» STEP 10

Take one of the plactics rings off the ring binder and tape in place around the new film so the thip over hangs into the holes on the edge of the film, if done correctly this should not hinder the film in any way but should produce a small clicking sound as the film winds on.

» STEP 11

Cut the end of the film off and then thread it through the matchbox making sure the glossy darker side is facing the hole (this should mean that the clicker you have just made is upside down, once this is in place use the black tape and tape the new film in place making sure not to tape the actual film, this woul prevent the film from flowing through the camera once it is all complete.

» STEP 12

Once the film is threaded through you may then replace the inside of the matchbox, if the side which you have cut out is against the side of the pinhole the entire of the current piece of film is open to exposure, however if you have the cut out side against the film itself you will end up with a frame around the edge of the picture. Next you need to tape the end of the new tape to the end of the old film.

» STEP 13

Once both films are firmly in place tape them both onto the matchbox again making sure not tape the actual film anywhere as this could create problems!! Next tape up the whole camera maing sure there are no places where light could penetrate, all the time being careful not to tape over the pinhole.Now you are free to decorate your camera as you see fit or personalise it in any way.

» Exposure Guide » 1 second = in the sun » 5 seconds = outside and cloudy » 5-10 minutes inside normal lighting