Pinhole Camera (grayscale)

Foot Bridge in the Mist - 4x5 Film Pinhole Photograph

I was able to find the picture of a “Foot Bridge in the Mist” through an image search for a pinhole camera photograph in Google.

This black and white picture was taken with a “4 x 5 film pinhole camera”. It is the view of a suspended bridge on a rainy and foggy day. The rails, fences, cables, and the reflection of the rails give a strong rhythm to this image. The use of a deep depth of field keeps the image in focus and forces us to look far and deep into the image.

I believe the photograph wants us to stop, look, and imagine how far the bridge goes. The foggy weather does not allow us to see the end of the bridge; we can only imagine the rest without certainty.

When I first looked at this picture I thought that the image looked perfectly symmetrical and that I was being shown where to draw the perfect line to find the middle. As my eyes followed that imaginary line and the rails into the back of the picture it created a great vantage point effect.

In my opinion this picture is a successful one. The photographer was able to achieve the vantage point effect he wanted to create by using symmetry and rhythm, thus, producing a visual effect that helped me march to the unseen.

Cyanotype

The solution is obtained by mixing the chemicals ferric ammonium (20%) and potassium ferricyanide (8%) into distillated water.

This solution is applied to the surface of a watercolour paper and is left to dry in a dark room. Once the watercolour paper is completely dry, any type of material can be added on top of the surface.

When exposed to an ultraviolet light like the sun, the watercolour paper will change gradually into a dark grayish colour. An imprint of the material used should be seen on the surface of the watercolour paper.

The print is rinsed with running water until no more solution is washed off and then submerged into hydrogen Peroxide 6% solution of the standard 3% until the print turns into a dark blue colour. The print will be washed for a second time and left to dry.

What worked?

I applied the solution previously mixed on my watercolour paper and let it dry. Once the paper was totally dry I placed a leaf on the surface and set it on the floor directly into the sunlight. Once the watercolour paper turned gray I took it back indoors and made sure that it was not exposed to the indoor lights. I washed my paper with water until I could no longer see color in the water and submerged it into hydrogen peroxide. I washed the print for a second time and hanged it to dry. I could partially see the form of the leaf I used.

What you discovered?

That it is possible to obtain a form of exposure without the use of a camera.

What you would do next time?

I would make sure that my watercolour paper is well exposed into a direct ultraviolet source. It will prevent moving the watercolour paper to a different location during the exposure process.