In a few words, pinhole photography is a way of taking shots with a homemade device instead of with a $ 1000 camera.The basic principle is that of using a light-tight box with a light sensitive material (film or photographic paper) fitted to the inside and a very small hole at one end of the box to "let the image in"

Why do people do such strange things ?

Some just for fun, some as an expression of art, some others as a way of protest against our consumption mentality and still others just because they don't have the money to buy a real camera, enlarger and other equipment.

Renner's Opinion

In his book "Pinhole photography - Rediscovering a Historic Technique" Eric Renner wrote on p.67 the following:

THE PETER PAN PRINCIPLE, OR "I CAN FLY"

"Pinhole photography can be the art of surprise, like looking at the world through a child's eyes. It is a continual wonder, and surely magical, that time after time pinhole cameras can make an intriguing image. This curious attribute is the pinhole camera's greatest gift to its user. I truly appreciate that something as easy to make as a pinhole camera performs such a seemingly complex task as producing an image. Here, within mere minutes is a camera and in a few more minutes an image! Some people have tried to make pinhole photography complicated, but it is not, and it should not be. Knowing f/stops and exact pinhole diameters, making view finders and using light meters are not necessary considerations. A pinhole camera's inherent simplicity is the basis of its character. The excitement of making and using something so simple appeals to a childlike innocence within all of us."
© Eric Renner

How to build a pinhole camera ?

Even Kodak has a page describing how to make one, and for an interested beginner it's not so bad ! A similar one can be found at Pinhole Cameras My own first one was just a shoe box.

Pinhole photography on the net

Using a search engine like Altavista, you will find quite some stuff under the keyword "pinhole photography". Some of the better sites are:

The Pinhole Resource ("The Bible")

Oatmeal Box Pinhole Photography (A good site for beginners !)

The Penultimate Pinhole Photography Site

Jon Grepstad's Page (very good !)

Sal Surface

Peter's Pinhole Page

Mabel Odessey - Through a tiny hole

Jeff Hanauer has a funny site ! Click on the last door to the left for pinholes or any other door for related stuff

My own very first trials

Isn't it strange, how many pinhole freaks hang around in Geocities SoHo ?

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Please also visit our local club "Fotokring Bosstraat"

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