My New Toy … Walnut Pinhole Camera
Today I felt a little like Nicéphore Niépce as I shot photos from the top of a building on Main Street in downtown Franklin, Tennessee. My camera? A beautifully crafted 65mm f/130 pinhole camera made of walnut by Dennis Wilder.
This is such a contrast to my “normal” shooting with digital SLRs … and I LOVE the serendipity that this old technique allows. Digital is fast, immediate, highly controlled … where this is slow, clunky and far less control … all good therapy for me.
My first Polaroid pulled from my new pinhole camera. Niépce would be proud.
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One of my favorite Polaroid shots from my afternoon on the roof in 30 degree weather. The exposure time on this was about 6 seconds … as I counted in my head … one Mississippi, two Mississippi. Oh, and the shutter? … my finger.
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What next? Who knows, but one thing’s for sure, I’m having fun.
- Kyle Dreier
Nice!!!!
Great Photos! I found you via google alerts for ‘pinhole’. I can’t wait to see what else you shoot with this camera.
Ciao,
Sheila
Sometimes there’s nothing like going “old school.” I love the digital age and all it’s efficiencies. But there’s a certain quality from the old tools and techniques that you can’t get from digital.
Great work! Keep shooting and shraring.
I just bought one of these on Ebay from the same man! I am so excited for it to arrive. 6 seconds huh? That is a lot faster than I expected. Do you mind my asking what speed film you are using? I have so much trouble with exposure latitude in a regular camera that I am a little bit worried about this one. Do you use a light meter?
Milton, I do meter. It was a bright sunny day so my ISO 100 was happy with 6 seconds. I’m used Type 55 Polariod. I need to get out and do some more. It’s a little dusty these days. – Kyle