Pinhole Camera Project

The purpose of this project was to make a simple, very basic camera. Then, we can understand how a camera really works. We can also learn how photographs are made and all the requirements to take a good photograph.



This is the basic design we used for our camera.





The materials we used were:
An empty Pringles can
A sharp utility knife
Aluminum foil
Black paper
A black permanent marker
A film transfer bag
Tape




These are the garbage bags we were going to use for the film transfer before we had the film transfer bag.








This is Kecia cutting the Pringles can.












This is the Pringles can.












We put foil on the lid.










This is when we tested to make sure that no light could get through the garbage bags.









We covered the camera in tin foil and colored the lid black.












The aluminum foil.











The pinhole.












The finished camera! Hooray!!









This is how a pinhole camera works: When you open the shutter, light enters the camera through the pinhole. The light hits the photo paper and produces an image, which you can see when you develop it.


Procedure: First, you use the knife to poke a hole in the bottom of the pringles can. This is the pinhole. Then, you color the lid black and tape black paper onto it and cover it with aluminum foil, so that no light gets in. Next, cover the entire outside of the Pringles can with aluminum foil. Then, tape a small piece of black paper over the pinhole to make the shutter. Next, put the camera into the photo transfer bag. Take the lid off of the Pringles can and tape a piece of photo paper to the top of the lid. Put the lid back on the Pringles can and take it out of the photo transfer bag.

To take a picture, the camera must be VERY still, so you cannot hold it. So, set it on a table or another flat surface and open the shutter. For a high quality picture, the shutter should probably be open for 18-20 minutes. Then, close the shutter and put the camera in the photo transfer bag. Take the lid off and take the photo paper out and wrap it in aluminum foil. Take it out of the photo transfer bag and develop it.


The picture my group and I took just turned out black. This means that there was too much light.


I think that the project went pretty well for my group. We worked together and shared our ideas. When we built the pinhole camera, we tried to make sure that it was lightproof. But because our picture turned out black, we know that the film paper was exposed to too much light.

So, I think that next time we could line the inside of the Pringles can with black paper. This would make sure no light got in. Also, I was holding the camera so it was probably not still enough to take a good picture. Another thing I would change is that before, I only kept the shutter open for 10 seconds. Next time, I would keep it open for 18 to 20 minutes.