A lot of the pinholes on this website are from when I was a photography teacher at Bainbridge High School. I really started the Project in order for my students there (and at PCNW where I was also teaching) would have a way to experience the pinhole camera without a darkroom. The students at both places made wonderful images for several years and I felt so good that they loved the process as much as I did. Now almost two years since I left BHS, the Pinhole Project thrives, despite what the naysayers utter. I get about 4 or 5 cameras in the mail each week and people often stop by the studio unannounced to bring me a camera. (Which is always a great surprise). I feel fortunate to be the director of the Project and that so many people want to continue making images.
I make images in this fashion as well.. It requires patience because the longer the exposure in general the better the sun trails and the better the image. It is so tempting to take down the camera sooner than later. I exposed one camera two years. Not because I wanted to but because I just did not get back to it where it was under a bridge in California. When I went back, the camera had not been touched. Pretty cool. So I am happy with the number of people willing to give this a try, happy with the images and happy to continue to make cameras and hand them out. I post today to show off some recent arrivals. I try to process them ASAP and post immediately to the website.
This is just a sampling and if you want to see more, feel free to look at all the folders in the Gallery. In the meantime here are some pretty wonderful images: People have photographed their homes, leaving the cameras up for six months or more, have used two hole cameras, been first users and also shot enough to earn their own folder on the website (10 or more images). Round cameras are always popular. If you have a special metal can, bring it on over and we will make it into a camera. I have paper up to 11 x 14 inches. Bigger cameras need more holes. Two, three and four cameras are awesome. So if you would like a camera or have a tin you would like to bring by, contact me via email and leave a street (land) address and we will send one out to you. . Donate to the Project or not, we will still send you a camera!
Recent arrivals:
The images in the grid above are by the following pinhole photographers, left to right
Top Row:
Eric Riedel and Barry Christensen: two hole camera, take a look at their folders!
Alan Marrero: First time user, exposing a second camera now.
Laura Brodax: This one was placed on a wall outside her home
Henry Glovinsky: Inside his new house in LA; a crazy pinhole that works!
2nd Row:
Mario & Luciana Colafrancesco: Made in Rome, Italy. by this awesome husband and wife team.
Kirsten Wilhelm A street, I think in front of her house.
Jesse Tampa: From the series of the inside her apartment; Look closely and you can see her white cat
Louisa Williams: She just did her tenth pinhole and now has her own folder on the website
Third Row:
Meghan McNeil and John Barcarro: A round pinhole exposed only 19 hours. A record for a short exposure
Kenneth Loen: Sent in while I was in Italy. Wonderful pinhole from down town Seattle.
Meghan McNeil and John Barcarro: Their front door. These two collaborators now have their own folder
Jenny Riffle: Made while she was on a fellowship in White Salmon, WA