National Geographic May 2011

[Brad Rippe]

If you have a chance to see the new National Geographic, there is a fabulous article about Abelardo Morell, a photographer who has photographed the camera obscura effect in incredible ways.

I remember my photography teacher, William Garnett, turned our classroom into a camera obscura, projecting a highly detailed image of the outside world on the entire back wall of the room. If you have never seen this done on a room size scale, it will blow you away. Morell has figured out how to photograph the projected image, you will be blown away.
Check it out!

-Brad

[Mark Woods]

Hey Brad, did you go to Cal? Penny Dhamers was my teacher, although I did all of Bill's assignments too. BTW, there was a hanger that was turned into a camera obscura. I saw the "neg" on muslin at ArtCenters South Campus in Pasadena.

[Brian Ellis]

There's a video out there somewhere about Morell and his use of room windows as pinholes, it was shown in a class I attended about ten years ago. He really does produce same amazing effects.

[andreios]

I came across his work a couple of weeks ago and was surprised to find it in the NG this morning. The play of objects, shapes, images and colours is marvellous indeed!

[Gudmundur Ingolfsson]

There is a BBC program on photography called The Genius of Photography and a part of the 1. episode (of 6) shows Abelardo Morell and family built a camera obscura in a room at a famous scene in Venice.

[Stephane]

The room of my son is "transformed" into a pinhole camera because he has a nice view, with a busy pedestrian street bellow: you can see people walking on the ceiling.

I am moving apartment in 3-4 weeks, and my bedroom will have a similar view, so I will do it again, maybe using an iris from a broken shutter. This is so romantic too!

There a flickr group on pin hole rooms here (http://www.flickr.com/groups/bigroomcameraobscura/)...

[Steven Tribe]

Anyone visiting Edinburgh should take time out to see their antique camera obscura mounted through the roof. I think it is on the castle rock site (the remains of the core of a vulcano) - but it was over 40 years ago.

[Tintype Bob]

I met him a few months ago at the Univerisity of Kentucky, his work is really amazing

http://www.uky.edu/ArtMuseum/morell_rcmay.html

[Chilidog]

I really want to try that.

Any ideas on how to set up a prism to flip the image?

[Doug Howk]

Abelardo Morell's DVD is excellent (film by Allie Humenuk). Should be available at his website (http://www.abelardomorell.net/film_media.html)

[Larry Wright]

Cadiz, Spain has an 18th century watchtower, the Torre Tavira, that has been converted into a camera obscura. It is worth a visit. The tower also has a great view of the city.