Skip to main content

Photographer turns daughter’s room into pinhole camera, makes time-lapse video

creative photographer turns daughters room camera obscura makes time lapse video draperia
Image used with permission by copyright holder
If you know your photography history, then you should know the camera obscura – Latin for the “dark room” – is the oldest known way of projecting an image onto a surface. Even before the invention of glass lenses that bundle rays of light, camerae obscurae were built with a simple hole to let in light – the precursors of later pinhole cameras.

Even today, you can still find it used in many places, some even in public locations for everyone to enjoy. Of course, since the basic design of a camera obscura is so simple, anyone can theoretically build their own. Which is just what photographer Daniel Tellman of Timişoara, Romania, did with his daughter’s room.

By covering the window with a large piece of cardbord fitted with a small pinhole in the center, he transformed the room into a camera obscura that projects the outside world onto a surface opposite of the window. For lack of a proper projection screen, Tellman simply made use of the drapes that were already in his daughter’s room – quite ingenious. (Tellman calls it, the “Draperia Obscura.”)

The result was not only the beautiful time-lapse video of the world outside the room that you can watch below, it was also a lesson for his daughter on some of the most basic principles of optics and photography. So, here’s a fun way to teach your kids about photography: turn their room into a camera obscura, and let them gaze in awe.

(Via PetaPixel)

Editors' Recommendations

Felix Esser
Felix is a freelance tech journalist with a strong focus on photography. Based out of central Germany, he contributes to…
‘Photoshopped’ royal photo causes a stir
The Princess of Wales with her children.

[UPDATE: In a message posted on social media on Monday morning, Princess Kate said that she herself edited the image, and apologized for the fuss that the picture had caused. “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she wrote, adding, "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused."]

Major press agencies have pulled a photo of the U.K.’s Princess of Wales and her children amid concerns that it has been digitally manipulated.

Read more
Nikon sale: Get up to $700 off select Nikon cameras and lenses
nikon d780 review product  1

Crutchfield has a huge sale on many different Nikon cameras with some of the best camera deals that we’ve seen in a while. With nearly 30 different items in the sale, the best thing that avid photographers can do is take a look for themselves. However, if you want a little insight before you dive in, take a look at what we have to suggest below.

What to shop for in the Nikon sale
Nikon makes some of the best DSLR cameras around with our overall favorite -- the -- available for $2,197 reduced from $2,297. The camera is perfect for both photographers and videographers with a 24.5-megapixel full-frame image sensor. Its rugged magnesium-alloy body is weather-sealed against dust, dirt, and moisture so it’s great for all occasions. The Nikon EXPEED 6 image processor is optimized for low-light performance while maintaining long battery life with an autofocus sensor module with support for 51 focus points. You just need to add a lens to reap the benefits with features like the 273-point phase-detection AF system detecting and tracking subjects throughout the entire frame.

Read more
Best camera deals: Save on DSLR, action cameras, point-and-shoot
Best DSLR cameras for beginners Canon Rebel T7i

While utilizing one of the best camera phones can be nice for capturing everyday happenings on the fly, a more traditional camera offers superior optics, sensor size, and overall image quality. A camera by a brand such as Canon, Sony, or Nikon is a great way to more deeply explore the photography process, or to simply ensure you’re getting higher quality photos of the moments you don’t want to miss. Right now there are a a lot of savings out there if a traditional camera interests you, and there’s big savings to pounce on whether you’re looking for a DSLR camera, an action camera, or a point-and-shoot camera. We’ve rounded up all of the best camera deals out there right now, so read onward for more details.
Best DSLR camera deals

DSLR cameras are bulkier than mirrorless cameras, but they produce high-quality images that will let you capture the most beautiful moments. You'll be able to see directly through the lens with the mirrored optical viewfinder while composing your shot, and you've got your pick among years' worth of lenses, depending on what kind of pictures you want to take. DSLR camera deals are always in demand because they're expensive though, so hurry if you want to pocket the savings from the bargains we've gathered below.

Read more