PHS Publishing Students Learn About Pinhole Cameras

Publishing learners at Pocatello High School explored the inner workings of cameras this week. After studying how light behaves and the basic principles of optics, they created pinhole cameras using Pringles cans. Learners then exchanged their homemade cameras to observe how the size of the hole affected the brightness and sharpness of the image projected inside the can.

The following day, learners stepped inside a large-scale pinhole camera they made from their classroom. By covering the windows with black material, except for a small hole about the size of a dime, learners were able to observe the same visual effects they had seen inside their Pringles cans, but on a much larger scale. This setup, known as a “camera obscura,” allowed learners to experience the camera’s mechanics firsthand. They adjusted the clarity of the image by moving a white backdrop screen closer to or further from the hole. Meanwhile, small groups of learners went outside to dance, play games, and create motion for those inside to capture. Learners in the classroom manually adjusted the settings to achieve the best possible image.

One of the key challenges was figuring out how to photograph what they saw inside the camera obscura. Learners experimented with manual camera settings to capture the images projected onto the screen. They discovered that there wasn’t enough light to photograph people watching the screen, but by using the most light-sensitive settings and a 30-second shutter speed, they were able to capture the inverted images projected on the backdrop.

The images produced by light passing through a small hole—whether in a camera or through the eye—are naturally inverted, meaning upside down. As a result, the photos taken inside both the Pringles cans and the classroom camera obscura appeared upside down.

Through this hands-on exploration, learners not only gained a deeper understanding of the science behind photography but also experienced the wonder of seeing their world from a new perspective—upside down and inside out. The project sparked curiosity and creativity, illustrating that learning isn't just about understanding theories but also about experimenting, observing, and discovering the unexpected ways that light, lenses, and imagination can shape how we see the world.