Topic: Photographic Paper Pinhole Camera

[Mike (happyforest)]

Came across this site where the camera is constructed out of photographic paper.

http://www.papercams.com/gallery/photos.html

Interesting technique and images.

I was trying to understand how the cameras were constructed from the folds\cuts etc.

Mike

[sapata]

The Japanese magazine Gakken Vol 14 has some explanation (I could only understand the pictures) on how to do it but it's in B&W, some cut and fold in the dark room I supposed and that is as far I could understand...

[Mojave]

My sister built one of those Gakken cameras from scratch. I have no idea how she did it.

[Francois]

For those sensitive paper cameras, I'd start with the traditional origami water bomb design. It makes a small cube with a small opening on one side.

Probably hard to blow up since the paper is so thick but it should work

[jojonas~]

hah! now that I have to try
I'll post back here if I work out a design (can't see that origami site from where I'm at now)

[Francois]

Just google for Origami Water Bomb
It's a traditional design that's described on hundreds of sites and in thousands of books.

[astrobeck]

will definitely give it a try.....thanks for the link!

I have only folded cranes, lots of them, so the water bomb will be a fun diversion and if it takes a picture, that is icing on the box so to speak!

[LT]

I cant see how you could fold modern rc or fb papers into the origami cube/ water bomb - they're way too thick.

these pinhole paper cameras look amazing.

[Mike (happyforest)]

I must admit I had thought about the water bomb trick as well.

However I have been thinking a bit more about mark II version and have sketched out the attached as a template.  Cut lines are in bold and fold lines are dotted although I only get 8 cuts compared with his 12.

See:

http://86.20.29.246/temp/pinholepaper.pdf

This would be fun to do in the darkroom.

Mike

[jojonas~]

thanks mike! just downloaded the pdf~ I'm gonna print out andr bring to the darkroom next time I go

[Mike (happyforest)]

jojonas

I suggest that you have a look at how to make it up before going into the darkroom.

Unfortunately I don't have a darkroom so haven't really tried that bit was just intrigued how the camera was made up.

My example was made up using plain A4 paper and was quire flimsy but photographic paper will be stiffer.

I also think on reflection that the it might be easier to tape the wings to the side of the pyramid. It would certainly be easier to seal up to the top of this section in this case.

Good Luck.

Mike

[sapata]

I cant see how you could fold modern rc or fb papers into the origami cube/ water bomb - they're way too thick.

these pinhole paper cameras look amazing.

Leon, if you use the back of a blade from a cutting knife and a ruller very carefully you'll probably be able to do.

Apply the back of the cutting knife with no much pressure one or two times on the paper (try in a thick non photographic paper first and see) and with the help of the ruller you bend the paper.

I normally fold thick papers when doing pinhole cameras and other DYI with no problems using this technique.

[LT]

even into the origami cube though?  There are some tricky little folds and tucks toward the end, and then there's the inflation bit - and it would all be in the dark/ safelight .... I think I'd end up cutting my fingers off!