Camera Obscura Technique Post

Camera Obscura Technique 

Definition - a darkened box with a convex lens or aperture for projecting the image of an external object on to a screen inside, a forerunner of the modern camera. 

What was camera obscura originally used for? 
The camera obscura or 'dark chamber' in it's Latin translation was used for centuries as a way of viewing a solar eclipse without damaging someones eyes. By the 16th century it was used as a drawing/painting aid as the subject or landscape would be on the outside and projected inside. The projection inside would be traced in order to produce the art, it made drawing very precise. A little while on portable versions were made, much smaller so that they could be moved around, many of these had an angled mirror fitted in order for the image to be projected the right way up. 

 

How have I produced a camera obscura? 

My transformations project is based around 'the transforming if rooms relevant to the landscape outside' this means that I am using the camera obscura technique in an artistic way to transform a room using the view outside the window. The way I am doing it is by using the room as the 'box' by eliminating any light that could get in to make it a 'dark chamber'. For example, when setting it up in my bedroom I covered my window in black paper in order to get rid of the light coming in. I then cuts small hole in the middle of the window to allow some light in. I kept this hole about the size of a 2p coin to keep the image sharp. Once this was done I made sure that the wall opposite the window was clear and bright (this is key in the quality of images), this is where the landscape was projected. 

At first the camera obscura in my bedroom wasn't very obvious, it just appear to be upside down shadows on the wall however when using my camera setting at a high shutter speed the resulting image showed the colourful and detailed landscape outside of my window. 

Contemporary Example of camera obscura 

The idea came from Belén González Dorao, the entrepreneur and founder of the project in Cádiz. Her brother, Ignacio visited during his holidays in Edinburgh a Camera Obscura and told his sister about the existence of this interesting optical effect. Later Belén started to think that the light in this region and the privileged situation of the Tavira Tower would be ideal to realize a similar project in Cádiz, which was right. 

Examples of my work