Camera Obscura

See the world through a pinhole viewer!

Collect
• 2 Pringles cans or similar
• Wax paper
• Rubber band
• Black construction paper
• Scissors
• Tape (duct or electrical)
• Pushpin

Construct your viewer.

1. Use the pushpin to poke a small hole in the bottom of one of the cans.
2. Roll up two pieces of black construction paper so that they form tubes.
3. Place one rolled paper inside each of the cans and allow it to unfurl so that the paper fits snugly inside the tubes.
4. Cut a piece of wax paper and wrap it over the top of the can that has the pushpin hole on the bottom. Secure the wax
paper with a rubber band.
5. Use scissors to trim the bottom off of the second can.
6. Align this new opening with the wax paper end of the other tube.
7. Tape the two ends together to create one long tube, making sure that no light can get through the space between the
two cans. The wax paper will now be secure at the middle of this long tube.

Head outside.
8. Bring your camera obscura outside on a sunny day.
9. Look through the open end and cup your hands around the tube to block excess light from entering. You should see
an upside down mirror image on the wax paper inside of your camera obscura.
Tip: You may want to throw a towel or jacket over your head to help block the light.

What is a camera obscura?

A camera obscura is essentially a lightproof box with a small hole cut into one side. As light passes through the hole,
the image projects onto a screen as an upside-down and backwards image.

Take it further!
The size of the hole has a great effect on the picture that is being projected. A small hole produces a sharp image,
which is dim, while a larger hole produces a brighter picture which is less well focused.

• Experiment with different sized holes. Instead of using a pushpin, try a thick roofing
nail or a very thin sewing needle.

• Experiment with the number of holes. What happens when you add more than one
hole to the end of your camera obscura?

601 Light Street Baltimore, MD 21230 • www.marylandsciencecenter.org