Pinhole Photography, Third Edition: Rediscovering a Historic Technique [Paperback]

Eric Renner (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0240805739 | ISBN-13: 978-0240805733 | Publication Date: October 29, 2004 | Edition: 3

A respected guide for students, amateurs, and advanced photographers - inside you will find more varieties of pinhole cameras for beginners, expanded instructional information on pinhole and zone plate practices, and new information on where to get pinhole supplies throughout the world. With listings of workshops, pinhole photographer's web sites, pinhole books available, and a guide to commercial and individual suppliers of pinhole equipment, this is the one guide you'll need to navigate the industry.

Now in full-color, this classic offers a new chapter on camera obscuras, a more in depth "how-to" chapter for beginners as well as a new chapter for advanced photographers, and revised exposure guides and optimal pinhole charts.

*New information on where to get hard to find supplies
*More varieties of pinhole cameras for beginners
*Expanded instructional information on pinhole practices

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a great reference work for all those with an interest in pinhole photography, which I found hard to put down. The author's knowledge is only equalled by his obvious enthusiasm for the subject." - Royal Photographic Society Journal

"Put simply, this book is definitive. It gives you a fascinating historical background, images that will inspire you to start building your own cameras and all the information you need to do so, plus an invaluable list of resources. Whatever you interest in pinhole photography, regardless of whether you are a student wanting to build your first pinhole camera as part of a photography/science project, or a seasoned professional photographer, this book is a must have." - MC Rebbe, www.thetechnofile.com

"...this book is a must-buy for anyone fascinated with pinhole cameras." - Amateur Photographer

"An excellent book on this subject." - British Journal of Photography

Book Description

More camera varieties, supply info, and advice from practicing artists on this timeless technique!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 3 edition (October 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240805739
• ISBN-13: 978-0240805733
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,327,221 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful historical resource, not a "how-to" book., December 5, 2004

By 

Robert G. Hartley "buddhabob070" (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pinhole Photography (Paperback)

When I first received this book, I was a bit disappointed. I'm just starting out in pinhole photography, and I wanted my hand held while learning the ins and outs of this new skill. This book doesn't do that. After it sat around for a few days, I picked it back up and started actually reading it. What the book DOES, is give you a wonderful historical perspective of this most unusual and artistic art form...because that's what pinhole photography is, an art. Photography in general, especially digital photography, is SO controlled and SO exact, that it's lost a lot of it's magic. While certain scientific aspects of pinhole photography can exert a meaningful amount of control over the subject at hand, in it's heart of hearts it is still a wild and free spirit making images however and wherever it desires. Where else can you make an image by putting a piece of film in your MOUTH and using your lips as the aperture? Where else can you make a camera out of a shopping bag, a purse, a hole in the ground, a red pepper? (Dark red works best by the way.) This book gives you all these examples along with rich and varied historical perspective into this most fascinating aspect of the photographic world. If you are a serious pinhole photographer (...or have intentions of being one), you owe to yourself to read this book. It's not a "how to" book by any means, but it is a "where you came from" book of the 1st degree.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 'bible' of pinhole photography, December 10, 1998

By 

Gregg Kemp (Durham, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pinhole Photography (Paperback)

If you only buy one book on pinhole photography, this is the one to get. It provides the background, the basics of how to do it, and plenty of examples of the diversity and richness of expression within this area of photography.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ultimate history and reference, March 3, 2005

By 

Sam Hunter "SamHunter42" (Harrisonburg VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pinhole Photography, Third Edition: Rediscovering a Historic Technique (Paperback)

Fabulous book. I, like other reviewers it would seem, got a bit bogged down in the early chapters that cover the history and science that led to pinhole photography. I just really wanted to get to the "how to make a pinhole camera" part. However, having read all the other chapters, when I did get to the "how to" section, I now understood the physics behind the technique, and was therefore able to design a camera to do exactly what I want it to do - a clever way to get you there. The book is also loaded with diagrams and photos, both of equipment and of actual photography. Highly recommended.