/// LOVE A-BLOG ///

The Magician: Tarot Pinhole Camera

Posted on 25 April 2010

It’s Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day, yay! In celebration, I made a pinhole camera out of a tarot deck box that perfectly fits 120 film. I really love that The Magician is on the front as there’s always an element of magic and illusion in photography, making pictures appear out of thin air. And the Magician card represents the power of creation, resourcefulness, vision, a mastery of skill and slight of hand.

I found the Rider-Waite tarot box to coincidentally be just about the right height and depth as a 120 film spool. And I used the cardboard from film packaging for the interior chamber which also fit perfectly. Then I used a Pocky box for the camera back flap, but I think I was merely looking for an excuse to eat some delicious Pocky. (My tummy says it was a good call.)

You can see the whole “making of” process in my Tarot Pinhole Camera Flickr set:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovebyte/sets/72157623805791497/

Here are the mats, which were all items I already had laying around:

- Cardboard (1 tarot deck box, 1 120 film container box, 1 box of Pocky)
- Leftover black foamcore scraps
- 2 screws
- Black acrylic paint
- Scotch tape
- Black electrical tape
- Coca Cola can
- 1 rubber band
- 1 tarot card to serve as shutter
- 1 sewing needle and an emery nail file to make the pinhole lens
- 1 metal picture hanger as winding knob
- 1 spare 120 spool
- 1 roll of 120 Fujicolor NPH* 400 film (expired: 2005)

*I call this “Neil Patrick Harris” film.

This is my first pinhole camera and it was really easy to make. I didn’t even do any math or measuring, just eyeballed it. The only thing that was time intensive was literally waiting for the paint to dry. It took about 3 coats to make the thin cardboard opaque enough (you can see where the light streaks through by holding it up against a lamp). And then I just used electrical tape to fill in any light leaks in the corners. Though I think the next time I make a pinhole, I might leave a few more leaks here and there just to see what strangeness happens.

Here’s some shots from my first test roll. Voilà! It’s MAGIC!

I estimate it was something like 15-25 seconds of exposure to get a decent outdoor shot. 30 seconds to 1 minute to get a decent indoor shot, in the middle of an overcast afternoon. And there ya have it. Super easy. I’m sure I’ll shoot more with this camera in the future as I’ve grown quite fond of it. Maybe I’ll try some b&w next time.

Anyway, should you be inspired to participate in Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day, check out the official site. And take a look at this neat link, featuring 23 Pinhole Cameras That You Can Build At Home. (I really dig the peanut shell camera — that is SO awesome!) Send me a link if you wind up making one, I’d love to see it!