(Courtesy/Crystal Tursich)

Photography students embarked on an experimental project in early May with a do-it-yourself Pinhole Camera assignment. 

The homemade cameras were built from a metal container and a piece of foil, both with tiny holes drilled through them to allow light in. With the help of photography teacher, Ms. Crystal Tursich, students put together their cameras with light-sensitive paper inside to capture a lumen print. 

The cameras were then set up around campus and pointed south so that the sun could let the paper react. The devices remained stationary for a number of days, creating long-exposure images. The prints were scanned, and colors were inverted in Photoshop to create the crazy colors that can be seen in the final product. 

Tursich decided to use lumen prints instead of film for a number of reasons. She first learned about the technique at a conference in March and loved the imperfect nature of the DIY cameras. On top of that, the lack of a darkroom in the new arts wing resulted in leftover materials that were perfect for lumen prints.

The project was timed to align with World Pinhole Photography Day, a Sunday in late April that photographers use to celebrate pinhole cameras. 

A grand total of 42 bluish-tinted square photos are displayed outside of the tech offices in Morris Hall and provide a distinctive perspective of our campus, as captured over the course of several days, and the imperfections make them beautiful. 

Between exams next week, feel free to take some time to appreciate the hard work of your creative peers and look at the Pinhole Camera images. You can also check out more information at www.pinholeday.org