Beer canmeras
DO NOT OPEN THE CAN OR REMOVE ANY TAPE YET
What is this?
This can is a pinhole camera. It doesn't have a lens, just a tiny pinhole to let light in. It takes solargraphs, photos that record the path of the sun moving across the sky.
There's a piece of light sensitive photo paper — the kind you'd use in a darkroom — inside the can.
If you open the can, the paper will be ruined!
So what do I do with it?
- Pick a spot where the can won't be disturbed for a few weeks.
- Your spot should face south if possible. That will help the can capture the sun moving from east to west across the sky.
- Fasten the can to something sturdy so it won't move around.
- The pinhole is under the square of electrical tape so point that in the direction you want to shoot, but don't take the tape off yet!
- Fences, fire escapes, or poles make great anchors.
- Zip ties around the top and bottom will hold the can to most things. Just be sure not to squeeze it so tight it crumples.
- Take off the electrical tape.
- Once you have the can stable and looking where you want it, take off the electrical tape
to expose the pinhole.
DO NOT TAKE THE TAPE OFF THE TOP OF THE CAN - Leave it alone awhile.
- Let the can chill for a couple weeks (minimum) to five years (my max so far).
- Put a piece of electrical tape over the pinhole, and take the camera down.
- Covering the pinhole finishes the photo.
- When you're ready to see what it's gotten up to, send the whole thing back my way and I'll process it for you.
Wanna see some photos taken by beer cans?
Check out my canmera gallery on are.na
Contact
PO Box 190642
San Francisco CA 94119