365cameras.com

If you’ve ever wanted to build a 4×5 pinhole camera from scratch, here’s a set of online videos showing how to make one. I have not worked my way through the process yet, but this is another project that I want to do. It looks like a nice way to have fun with some simple woodworking and photography.

This looks pretty easy. You’ll need a film holder or two or three:
Film Holders on Ebay

For the holder, you’ll need some appropriate sheet film.
Sheet Film on Ebay

There are pinholes and pinhole cameras available:

How to Build a 4×5 Pinhole Camera – Part 1
Part 1. Sorry, I couldn’t embed this one.

How to Build a 4×5 Pinhole Camera – Part 2

How to Build a 4×5 Pinhole Camera – Part 3

How to Build a 4×5 Pinhole Camera – Part 4

How to Build a 4×5 Pinhole Camera – Part 5

How to Build a 4×5 Pinhole Camera – Part 6

How to Build a 4×5 Pinhole Camera – Part 7

How to Build a 4×5 Pinhole Camera – Part 8

How to Build a 4×5 Pinhole Camera – Part 9

How to Build a 4×5 Pinhole Camera – Part 10

How to Build a 4×5 Pinhole Camera – Part 11

How to Build a 4×5 Pinhole Camera – Part 12

How to Build a 4×5 Pinhole Camera – Part 13

I had a conversation with my friend, John Harrison, last night. One of the topics was camera obscura.

So to celebrate the long overdue conversation, here is a video of the creation of a camera obscura, a simple demonstration, and a link to wikipedia for some background information.

Here is the wikipedia article

Today’s site is f295.org

It’s focus has primarily been pinhole photography. Don’t let that scare you if you’re more of a lens person, there’s plenty here to love including some first rate photography like this panoramic shot.

As you can tell, some of these people have very interesting formats for their cameras. There is an air of experimentation here that I love. Their interests may take them to using homemade cameras or simply adding to a conventional cameras with a lens board with a hole in them.

There is a very good forum dealing with, yep, pinhole photography, but also zone plate photography and Hand Crafted, Historic Process, and Non-Conventional Images.

If that weren’t enough, they have forums devoted to both black and white and color within pinhole and zone plate photography. So you don’t have to weed through those pesky color pictures. 😉 Actually, I do like color, too.

I think pinhole photography, in particular, has had two strikes against it for too long. Some people think it’s only for kids and those too poor to afford a real camera. That’s not true. It’s fantastic for anyone as a way to experiment, get an alternative view and unlimited depth of field. The other strike against it has been the lack of control that budding Ansel Adams types don’t have. Get over it. Have some fun and find some images. There is something to be said for serendipity.

Chances are, you’ll find out that pinhole photography is worth some of your attention, too.

Pinhole and Zone Plate on eBay