So a year ago I made a point to try and get into pinhole photography. After reading so much about how to put everything together it seemed like it would be a blast to experiment with. I assembled a rough box out of black foam core and hot glue and duct tape. The shutter is a piece of foam core covering a small brass plate with a drilled pinhole (.04 = f267). I then fixed up the back so I could pop 4X5 film holders into the box as needed which I figured would make shooting a little quicker. Sheet film wasn't happening when I started because of processing and scanning, which I've now worked out. So I decided to cut down 8X10 sheets of RC paper into 4X5's which I could then load up and tray develop in a recipe of Caffenol I found online. I already had a flatbed scanner so digitizing and inverting the shots later would be no prob, although I could probably contact print paper on paper and get a positive if I really had to. All the shots are about 30 seconds to 10 minutes (iso of 3)and RC paper is orthochromatic which can make them look a lot different depending on the day's light.

Here's a couple of the pinhole shots.

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From there I adapted my work flow to an estate sale Graphic View I was able to pickup for very cheap. Same developing process just sharper images and now movements which is something I will be experimenting with much more down the line.

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If anyone has any specific questions on stuff I didn't cover just let me know. This has been a big trial and error process and some tips can really cut down on error and wasted shots... although that's really part of the fun.

Wow man! Turned out really great! Sounds like a fun process.

It's a lot of fun. I made one in middle school with cardboard, craft-paper tape, black poster paint and a one-inch square of copper with a nailhole punched through it. I affixed the photo-paper with a masking-tape loop on the back and it was ready.

fan-fucking-tastic.

Count me as impressed too. Excellent set.

Extremely impressed too. GREAT work.

well done man! i have a toyo 45D 4X5 and have only used it a few times - shooting on polaroid film - but i love it! hard to lug that shit around but usually well worth the effort to do so. thanks for sharing!

how do you load the sheets? Do you put the whole camera in a dark bag?


Really interesting technique with good results.

these are so fucking awesome, now makes me want to do one again.

Dude, that's awesome. My girlfriends aunt lives right by those trains, I pass them all the time.

Thanks everyone. It's a work in progress.

Posted by Adv.Pack how do you load the sheets? Do you put the whole camera in a dark bag? Really interesting technique with good results.

Thanks man. The film holders are a friction fit with a light baffle on the back of the camera. I can load as many holders as I want and use as needed. I just remove the dark slides and shoot in "subdued light" as they say by placing my shadow over the rig.

Nicely done! I'll have to try a pinhole camera myself sometime.

Posted by OwlsFlight Thanks everyone. It's a work in progress. Thanks man. The film holders are a friction fit with a light baffle on the back of the camera. I can load as many holders as I want and use as needed. I just remove the dark slides and shoot in "subdued light" as they say by placing my shadow over the rig.

Can you show a photo of your setup?

Terrific shots, especially the trains. Wish I had the space to set up another darkroom!

Ultimate proof that you don't need a $5,000 camera to take good photos, just talent. Well done!

Very cool! 4&6 are my favs. Ive had some real fun with 4x5 lately

Those are some incredible pinhole photographs! The first 5 or so are really impressive.

Posted by randomesquephoto Can you show a photo of your setup?

Sure man, no prob.


Pinhole setup. by Owl's Flight, on Flickr


Pinhole setup. by Owl's Flight, on Flickr

And thanks again everybody.

these are awesome!