THE PINHOLE CAMERA

The pinhole camera, or camera obscura, was a box shaped device with a small hole punctered in one of the walls. The earliest description surviving of this camera dates from the 5th century BC. Light entered from this hole projecting the external image onto the photosensitive paper on the opposite wall upside down and smaller.

In order for the image to be sharp, the hole had to be quite small, but not too small, otherwise the image would be out of focus.  This opening would remain opened for a long time in order to let enough light in, so, of course, images in motion couldn't be captured.

In the beginning the pinhole camera was used to observe the solar eclipse and the laws of pojection.  It was then used by artists to help them in their paintings, and finally it was used as the basis for the construction of the camera as we know it today.


                                                                                 Gabriella Di Benedetto AS 199-1