B5, Camera Obscura

"CAMERA OBSCURA"

Camera Obscura dates back to antiquity. The earliest types were big enough to enclose the artist as well as his canvas or other medium. Before the development of the lens, a simple hole in one side of the box was sufficient to let in enough light and project it naturally on the other wall. Of course, the image was upside down.

For my Camera Obscura project, I chose to go mobile... My camera is approximately 18" x 18" x 24" with the hood. I used a mirror on the inside to flip the image right side up. This makes it easier to use. I also used acrylic sheeting for the viewing screen. It is cover with 2 layers of wax paper, which makes the image visible when reflected from the mirror.

The "Oracle" (aka, google) was quite useful when researching ideas on how to construct the project. My design is a combination of several designs that came up when doing a simple google search. The resources helped me more with concept than anything else though... I incorporated the use of an old Nikon telephoto lens to achieve the aesthetic look I was searching for. The construction of the box also had to be reinforced with more plexiglass and hot glue to support the weight of the lens and mirror. I've also incorporated a sliding tray design to allow the user to move the mirror and focus the image.





Several obstacles were encountered when construction my camera obscure.  The biggest problem was figuring out the distance for placing the viewing screen and mirror in relation to the lens. In order to figure out the focal point of the lens, I used a light bulb to project a focused beam of light on a wall. By moving the lens closer or farther away, I could see when it comes in to focus. The focal point for my lens was
approximately 18".










My Camera Obscura is quite useful even by todays standards. I used my camera to capture images of my drum set, the front yard, and my wife's massage room. I was happy with the level of detail I was able to capture, as well as the aesthetic of the color. I did have to experiment with camera distance from my subject in addition to mirror position in order to achieve an acceptable level of focus. However, the extra work was well worth it. I really like the natural vignette that seems to occur with the camera. I plan on using my camera on other project in the future to include still images, stop motion, and film.