Positively Pinhole

By Faye Mollberg

The Klondike Institute of Art and Culture hosted a pinhole photography event from July first to fourth. The event coincided with the Odd Gallery exhibit, The Underwater Pinhole Camera Project by Donald Lawrence. Workshops were taught by K.I.A.C. instructor Mario Villeneuve and Donald Lawrence. Over twenty people attended the workshops and competition to learn about this ancient technique.

A pinhole camera can be made from any size light proof container. The lens is made simply from a thin piece of brass. A pin sized hole is punctured through the brass and then covered with tape. Light sensitive paper is placed on the opposite end to the lens. After making an exposure the paper negative is contact printed to obtain the positive image. The results can be entirely unpredictable making pinhole

Erin Nordin holds up a pinhole photo of her cabin. Photo by Faye Mollberg.

photography mysterious and magical.

Most popular during the late eighteenth century, pinhole cameras have existed since the fifteenth century. Leonardo da Vinci included drawings of a camera obscura or pinhole camera in his books. As well, pinhole cameras were used during the Renaissance to view solar eclipses. Presently, pinhole cameras are used for astronomical exploration, scientific applications and art entertainment.

Pinhole photographs often look distorted and have a painterly quality. There has been an increased interest in pinhole photography over the past few years possibly due to a backlash against digital photography. The technical flaws force you to move forward and challenge mainstream photography.

The event started with a pinhole camera building workshop. Students were required to bring their own materials to build their camera with. Some inventive choices included a rubber boot, an old fifty millimeter ammunition box, a poster tube and a mini-van. After building their pinhole camera participants began shooting for the forty eight hour competition.

Everyone persevered until the last minute to have their final images judged by Mario and Don. Participant Erin Nordin spent all weekend playing with her camera made from an oval shaped tin. "It is amazing to take a picture with a homemade camera and get incredible detail," Erin said. Other pinhole enthusiasts included Lulu Keating and Leslie Piercy. These two were ambitious enough to transform their mini-van into a pinhole camera. Lulu and Leslie drove the van up the Dempster Highway to Tombstone. After many hours and layers of garbage bags, tar paper and cloth Lulu and Leslie put their camera to test. One person drove around slowly while the other looked out the pinhole. Unfortunately, the wind blew smoke from forest fires up the valley obscuring the anticipated picture.

Cheryl Cook, another pinhole participant, converted her 35mm camera into a pinhole camera by removing the camera lens and replacing it with a piece of brass. Cheryl is scheduled to teach pinhole photography at the Kids Art Camp on July fifth.

Mario Villeneuve has been practicing pinhole photography seriously for six years. While primarily working on commercial photography projects, Mario has discovered pinhole photography to be liberating. Furthermore, his interest in pinhole photography has been influenced by his love for history and archaeology.

Donald Lawrence teaches art at the University of the Caribou and builds unique pinhole cameras capable of shooting underwater. He believes, "the camera is just as important as the image". While traveling in Newfoundland Don stumbled upon some shipwrecks on the beach. He photographed the shipwrecks using one of his pinhole cameras and notes the historical connection between the shipwrecks and the simplicity of the pinhole camera.

Don is amused by pinhole photography as an inventor, sculptor and also because of his love for sea kayaking and the ocean.

Both Mario and Don were impressed by the amount of dedication students showed. "Everyone followed through, which is rare", said Don.