Pinhole Origami Camera

Pinhole photography, as it is called, has a pinhole which acts like a lens to focus light onto photographic paper. The paper is then developed into a permanent photo.

This pinhole camera is made for an origami water bomb. It has the benefit that it can be stored flat in a pocket until you want to take the photo. It is also easy to make different sized cameras which take different sized photos.

The water bomb Origami design was chosen for the camera body as it is a cubic shape and easy to make from a single sheet of paper.

International Pinhole photography day is held every year on the last day of April. In 2023 it's on 30th April.

• Piece of black paper
• Aluminum beverage can
• Light sensitive Photographic paper
• Photographic developer and fixer

Make an Origami water bomb using a square of black paper. Here the instructions for making a water bomb:

To the completed origami water bomb, a pinhole lens is installed. Do this by cutting part of an aluminum sheet for an aluminum beverage can. Then making a very small hole in it with a pin. Smooth the hole with some fine grade sandpaper.

Choose a good place to fit the pinhole lens so it is on the front when the water bomb is stacked flat.

Cut a small hole in the black paper and attach the lens using some glue and black tape. Place some black tape over the pinhole to act as a shutter. You could of course open up the paper, fit the lens and then remake the water bomb.

In a darkroom place a piece of photographic paper into the water bomb, opposite to where you fitted the lens.

Place a piece of black tape over the hole in the top of the water bomb to stop any light coming in.

Once the photographic paper has been placed inside, make the water bomb flat again. This way it can be kept in a pocket until you want to use it.

To take the photo, expand it into the water bomb shape again and remove the tape covering the pinhole. It needs to be kept still while capturing the image and this may take from 15 second to a few minutes depending on light conditions.

The image is developed in a dark room, using photographic developer and fixer. It will result in a 'negative' image, this can be converted into a positive image by scanning it and using photographic software.