HOW TO - Transforming a room into camera obscura
Scientific mumbo jumbo :)
Camera obsura also referred to as pinhole image, is the natural optical phenomenon that occurs when an image of a scene at the other side of a screen (or for instance a wall) is projected through a small hole in that screen as a reversed and inverted image (left to right and upside down) on a surface opposite to the opening.
Rays of light travel in straight lines and change when they are reflected and partly absorbed by an object, retaining information about the color and brightness of the surface of that object. Lit objects reflect rays of light in all directions. A small enough opening in a screen only lets through rays that travel directly from different points in the scene on the other side and together form an image of that scene when they are reflected on a surface into the eye of an observer.
Simple explanation :)
A big dark room with only one small hole in it that lets light from outside and that hole behaves like projector. On the wall in your room opposite of the hole outside world will be projected (maybe not that simple :) )
We did this project as a part of an exhibition for Long Night of Museums (paradox, camera obscura will be probably impossible in the night :) )
What do you need?
- Room with desirable only one window (less windows easier it will be, we had like 7 :) )
- Something to cover the window so no light is entering the room. we used black nylon but to much light liked.
So we got smarter and used cardboard on top of it :) (so use cardboard right away)
Then you need to make a hole to let the light in. (smaller the hole more sharper the image, but less light is passing so it is harder to see, and it needs to be pitch black in the room)
Last thing is to sit, relax and let your eyes to adapt to the darkness. Few minutes later the magic begins.
click on the photo for full res
Video of us making Camera obscura
https://d.tube/v/bil.prag/5jbupjxz
oh and the weird sound in the video was a thick wire connected directly to the amplifier, and every time someone would step on it, it would make a weird creepy sound.
