Because I love to experiment and explore the untried—especially when it comes to photography—I was drawn to try pinhole photography using photo paper. I had already experimented with pinhole on Polaroid and 6×9 negatives, so why not try this approach as well?
It wasn’t particularly difficult. I already had a handmade 4×5 inch camera originally designed for Polaroid film, and I had managed to take a few usable shots with it. I inserted Fomabrom C112 photo paper into the 4×5 Polaroid back. Since I had no subject or model to work with that day, I photographed myself again.
I have to admit—I didn’t measure the exposure time. I worked more or less by intuition, based on what I’d read on various websites. It was an indoor self-portrait near a window, and I settled on an exposure time of 1.5 minutes. I didn’t expect it to work perfectly, but I was curious. I also knew that I could fix a lot during development in the darkroom.
The second photo was taken outside, featuring an old school building in a nearby village—a historical structure now in decay. Just to keep things simple, I used the exact same exposure time. Why? Because although the self-portrait was shot in sunlight near a window, the outdoor scene was heavily overcast. Surprisingly, the second shot also turned out well—it was quite an interesting result.
That same evening, as I developed the photos, I was reassured that my research had paid off—the results both surprised and thrilled me. Since the photo paper produces a negative, I first scanned and digitally inverted the image on my computer. However, I later created positive prints the analog way using contact printing under an enlarger. I must say, the analog result feels more authentic and convincing.
Now to the “device” itself—or let’s call it a “camera,” since that’s exactly what it is.
It’s a DIY project I put together using whatever materials and tools I had on hand. It features a 90mm focal length with a 0.4mm pinhole. The original setup was calculated for Polaroid film, but with these tests, I plan to build an exposure chart tailored for FOMA photo paper.
In the end, I can say that the final result is not the most important part—it’s the entire process of shooting, creating, and bringing those images to life. It’s a suspenseful activity with an uncertain outcome, and no applause at the end. The journey itself is the reward—and honestly, I don’t care much what others think. But if someone appreciates the result, that’s just a bonus.