Pinhole photography with paper negatives.

[Cluster]

I have a wish to play with pinhole photography. I had a go many years ago on modified folding cameras on 120 film. It was fun and I've still got one camera.
I'm wondering about trying again on a home made camera (box with hole) but using paper negatives, maybe 5x4, 5x7 or however I can buy paper.

Will multigrade paper be a problem in this use? Are there drawbacks that make it not worthwhile?

 

[Mostly Vintage Cameras]

I used to do this as a kid and will be doing it again at some point!
Multigrade paper works just fine, in fact if you have a filter set why not trying two shots same subject but with one hard and one soft filter on each. Sort os moves a little way away from lensless photography but might be fun.
I used a "solarcan" for three months whcih is a type of pinhole camera but likly not the sort you are considering, but it you have a beer can spare...

 

[lindsay]

I highly recommend looking at the project @sirch did some years ago, "Tin Can Selfies", see his signature on any post. Brilliant idea well executed and may be informative for you in your efforts

 

[sirch]

Thanks @lindsay I was using negative film rather than paper. IIRC @Kevin Allan uses paper. Although if the aim is just to use pinholes you can of course buy 4x5 negative sheets or for the Tin Can Selfies I was cutting pieces of 120 film

 

[Kevin Allan]

I've used Ilford Multigrade paper quite a lot. I'm currently rating it at EI 8, after pre-flashing to reduce contrast. If pre-flashing is not convenient for you then I suggest EI 6.

I've also used a variety of very old darkroom papers. My current favourite is Kodabrome II RC which I rate at EI 12. It doesn't seem to need preflashing as the older papers have already lost a lot of their contrast.

I develop paper negatives in trays using Ilford Multigrade paper developer, diluted 1+19 - half the normal strength. Development is likely to take around 1 minute.

Drawbacks of using paper negatives are

1. the low speed, combined with the typically very small apertures of pinhole cameras, resulting in 5-20 minute exposures.
2. paper is orthochromatic so the colour response is different and skies are usually washed out.

The advantages, compared to using film, are:

1. very low cost
2. can be cut to almost any size you need, under a red light
3. has a different appearance from film which you may or may not like, and varies according to the paper used

Here are some example images:

Pinhole paper negatives

Explore this photo album by Kevin Allan on Flickr!

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