{"id":263,"date":"2024-09-30T10:38:06","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T10:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/reframingphotography\/?post_type=content&#038;p=263"},"modified":"2025-02-10T08:56:48","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T08:56:48","slug":"the-portable-camera-obscura","status":"publish","type":"content","link":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/reframingphotography\/photo-tutorials\/vision\/the-portable-camera-obscura\/","title":{"rendered":"The Portable Camera Obscura"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">On this page<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-portable-cameras-obscura\">Portable Cameras Obscura<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-camera-head\">Camera head<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-pinhole-pedallers\">pinhole pedallers<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-bigger-than-a-bread-box\">bigger than a bread box<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>In the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reframingphotography.com\/content\/buy-book\">Reframing Photography<\/a>&nbsp;book, the&nbsp;<em>camera as viewer<\/em>&nbsp;describes how camera viewfinders, viewing systems and lenses enable us to see. Instructions teach how to make a camera obscura, a darkened room that allows you to visualize the exterior world. You can also learn how to make portable camera obscuras (see some examples below). Next, our focus is on handheld cameras and how to use the viewfinder to orient the visual world vertically or horizontally; how a lens affects how much we can see, how much is in focus, and the scale or proximity of objects in relation to one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-portable-cameras-obscura\">Portable Cameras Obscura<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A camera obscura is a light-tight chamber with a small pinhole in the middle of one wall. Light enters through this hole, projecting a moving image of events occurring directly outside the room. You can make a camera obscura by modifying any enclosed space, or by building a new room in any location. You can make small or portable cameras obscuras out of any light-tight container: cardboard or wooden boxes, books, tents, etc.. Directions in the book explain how to turn a cardboard box into a portable camera obscura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/web_15_cam_obscura_group.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-494\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/web_15_cam_obscura_group.jpg 545w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/web_15_cam_obscura_group-300x159.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>photo<\/strong>: R. Modrak.\u00a0<em>Group viewing with portable camera obscuras<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-camera-head\">Camera head<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Andy Mattern and the Camera Head team (Joe Kaercher, Mark Kritz, and Brady McClaran) created the&nbsp;<em>Camera Head Shanty<\/em>&nbsp;at Art Shanty Projects on Medicine Lake, Minnesota. Their mobile laboratory gave participants the opportunity to view the lake and fishing houses behind them via a camera obscura worn over their heads. Their tricked out version of the Reframing Photo portable camera obscura design (pages 52 &#8211; 53 in the book) includes a headstrap and pinstriping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All&nbsp;<em>Camera Head<\/em>&nbsp;photos courtesy of Andy Mattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_1.jpg 545w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_2.jpg 545w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_2-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_3.jpg 545w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_3-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_4.jpg 545w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_4-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_5.jpg 545w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_5-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_6.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_6.jpg 545w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/mattern_camera_ob_6-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-pinhole-pedallers\">pinhole pedallers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sam White built a large camera obscura and packed it onto bicycle trailers, then took it to the road with his team to share the magic of photographic projection with the UK. Via their educational resources, locals on their tour get the opportunity to look at the projections, have their portrait taken, and participate in related imagery-making.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All&nbsp;<em>Pinhole Pedaller<\/em>&nbsp;photos courtesy of Sam White.&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/pinholepedallers.org\/\">http:\/\/pinholepedallers.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_1_with_bike.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-502\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_1_with_bike.jpg 450w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_1_with_bike-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"361\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_2_camera_obscura.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-503\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_2_camera_obscura.jpg 545w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_2_camera_obscura-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"409\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_3_landscape.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-504\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_3_landscape.jpg 545w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_3_landscape-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"409\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_4_portrait.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_4_portrait.jpg 545w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_4_portrait-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"409\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_5_camera_in_store.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_5_camera_in_store.jpg 545w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_5_camera_in_store-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"409\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_6_portrait_upside_down.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-507\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_6_portrait_upside_down.jpg 545w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/white_6_portrait_upside_down-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-bigger-than-a-bread-box\">bigger than a bread box<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Led by instructor Samantha Johnston, students at Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado spend a day outside viewing the world from inside their handmade box camera obscuras. Check out the box so big, it&#8217;s supported by two people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Photos courtesy of Samantha Johnston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"458\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/johnston_camera-obscura-box_1259.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-508\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/johnston_camera-obscura-box_1259.jpg 458w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/johnston_camera-obscura-box_1259-229x300.jpg 229w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 458px) 100vw, 458px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"443\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/johnston_camera-obscura-box_1273.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-509\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/johnston_camera-obscura-box_1273.jpg 443w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/johnston_camera-obscura-box_1273-222x300.jpg 222w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 443px) 100vw, 443px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"406\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/johnston.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-510\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/johnston.jpg 545w, https:\/\/cdn-staging.routledgelearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/assets\/sites\/16\/johnston-300x223.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On this page In the&nbsp;Reframing Photography&nbsp;book, the&nbsp;camera as viewer&nbsp;describes how camera viewfinders, viewing systems and lenses enable us to see. Instructions teach how to make a camera obscura, a darkened room that allows you to visualize the exterior world. You can also learn how to make portable camera obscuras (see some examples below). Next, our [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"parent":217,"menu_order":0,"template":"wp-custom-template-tutorial","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"topic":[],"class_list":["post-263","content","type-content","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/reframingphotography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content\/263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/reframingphotography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/reframingphotography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/content"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/reframingphotography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/reframingphotography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content\/263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":511,"href":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/reframingphotography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content\/263\/revisions\/511"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/reframingphotography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content\/217"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/reframingphotography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/reframingphotography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=263"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/reframingphotography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}