Pinhole Photography, Fourth Edition: From Historic Technique to Digital Application [Paperback]

Eric Renner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0240810473 | ISBN-13: 978-0240810478 | Edition: 4

A respected guide for creatives, artists and photographers alike, Pinhole Photography is packed with all the information you need to understand and get underway with this wonderfully quirky, creative technique. Covering pinhole photography from its historical roots, pinhole expert Eric Renner, founder of pinholeresource.com, fully explores the theory and practical application of pinhole in this beautiful resource.
Packed with inspiring images, instructional tips and information on a variety of pinhole cameras for beginner and advanced photographers, this classic text now offers a new chapter on digital imaging and more in depth how-to coverage for beginners, as well as revised exposure guides and optimal pinhole charts.
With an expanded gallery of full-color photographs displaying the creative results of pinhole cameras, along with listings of workshops, pinhole photographer's websites, pinhole books and suppliers of pinhole equipment, this is the one guide you need to learn the craft and navigate the industry.

* Discover the history, theory and practical application of pinhole photography in this unique guide by worldwide pinhole expert, Eric Renner
* Packed with large, full-color photographs showcasing the most original and imaginative ways to use pinhole photography, including digital application of pinhole techniques
* Includes extensive resource section with reliable information on pinhole suppliers, websites, books and workshops that no pinhole photographer can do without

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[O]ne of the greatest photography reference books I have seen in a very long time. [T]his book is absolutely bursting with information. Even just taking a quick flip through the pages and seeing the over 300 images by more than 100 artists, it is almost daunting to think that the entire book is written solely on the topic of pinhole photography. But Renner does skimp on anything.. If you are looking for an in-depth explanation of pinhole photography, a detailed show-and-tell of how to create your own pinhole camera, or would like to advance your pinhole photography to the next level, this book is an incredible resource and certainly one every photographer should have."---HolgaBlog.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 4 edition (November 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240810473
• ISBN-13: 978-0240810478
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #549,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad book, but not for pinhole novice, January 4, 2010

By 

C. Kou (Shanghai, China) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pinhole Photography, Fourth Edition: From Historic Technique to Digital Application (Paperback)

If you're a complete novice in PINHOLE photography looking for instructions to start a little project (making a simple pinhole camera), then this book is not for you. However if you've started pinhole photography for a while and want to enter the next level and seek some more inspirations, this book is a pretty good one. It starts from the history of the camera obscura, and the origins of the perspectives devices...

Why I rated 3 is because I think the overall text is a bit boring and theoretical......

The last section which contains examples from other pinhole photographers are worth looking though. You'll be inspired to read some other books and construct your camera. As I said, this book is too technical for a novice.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 4th edition really moves fully into the modern, rather than the historical, technique, October 11, 2009

By 

Michael A. Duvernois (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pinhole Photography, Fourth Edition: From Historic Technique to Digital Application (Paperback)

"Rediscovering a historical technique" was the old subtitle for the earlier editions. Now it's "From historical technique to digital application." And that change of subtitle is revealing. There's a lot more here on pinholes and zone plates for digital cameras, and a lot less on early camera obscura experiments. There's still a good emphasis on the do-it-yourself aspects which is a good thing with pinholes as you really can make and modify good quality instruments. No matter how hard you work if you make wine it's not likely to be better than the $7 bottle at the corner store, but your twenty minute camera construction can work as well as a Holga. And your modifications to an old box camera can produce brilliant images.

The essential pinhole camera reference, and exhortation to action, has been updated, expanded, edited, and made higher-tech. And it's all a good thing.

4.0 out of 5 stars very historic, January 19, 2012

By 

J - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pinhole Photography, Fourth Edition: From Historic Technique to Digital Application (Paperback)

Not a book if you want a step by step guide. informative and full of inspiration. Very interesting history on how / were pinhole developed. if you like pinhole, this is a must. It will give you loads of ideas. Its a big book full of photos.