Pixiq

Traditionally, pinhole photographs have been pretty much straight out of the box, so to speak. In the old days of film and paper, there were a few photographic controls to enhance the final rendition of a pinhole image, such as contrast control and toning, but in most cases, the image was pretty straightforward. These days, computer software can be useful for taking a pinhole to a whole new level.

It seems that most people who have ever made a pinhole image shoot them as photo emulsion images using a very basic box and in many cases, photographic paper as the light sensitive material. This can be pretty exciting, but it seems rather limiting and doesn't have to be the only way to do it.

These days, you have a number of choices. First, you can do it the original way by creating any number of light tight boxes and a pin sized opening, or you can do it with a number of digital solutions such as a pinhole body cap mounted to a DSLR or Mirrorless camera. Whatever way you choose, it is possible to scan or transfer the images to your computer so that you might utilize some type of imaging software to alter the look in some new way.

Personally, I find that simply toning the image makes it seem more interesting. However, I usually don't stop there. I like to enhance the images using the incredible tools available to me through software programs such as Photoshop and image paint applications like Painter and Studio Artist.

I am not suggesting that you alter the image to the point that it is no longer recognizable as a photograph created by the magic of a simple hole in a box. Rather, I am suggesting ways to enhance what some may think as a seemingly limited medium.  I am interested in seeking ways to produce new and more exciting pinhole imagery.

For many pinhole photographers, pinhole photography is interesting because it is a unique method of producing a photograph. Pinhole can accomplish many things that digital can't, and it is magical due to its direct and simple relation to light. So, why not push it to the limits visually?

A few related posts:

• 12 Incredible Pinhole Photographers and Their ART
• Wild and Crazy Pinhole Paintings
• A Pinhole Can Change Your Photography - 2013 WPPD
• Painting the Pinhole Image
• "The Hole Thing" - A Great Little Primer
• Mega-Pinhole

• Endless Variation with Digital Paint
• One Image + Digital Paint = Endless Results

You can learn about pinhole photography, digital painting and many other imaging techniques from my book.  

Buy my book here:  Rethinking Digital Photography.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS WORK IS PART OF MY PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTFOLIO. IT IS HOPED THAT YOU WILL RESPECT WHAT I HAVE DONE AND HONOR MY COPYRIGHT. I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND ALL OF MY PROJECTS FOR SOME TIME. THE IMAGES ARE A PART OF A MUCH LARGER BODY OF MY WORK. I SHOW IT HERE AS A WAY TO INSPIRE YOU TO DO YOUR OWN PROJECTS, USING YOUR OWN IDEAS. PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT ABOUT COPYING OR STEALING CONCEPTS OR TECHNIQUES. IT IS ABOUT UTILIZING YOUR TALENTS FOR CREATING YOUR OWN UNIQUE IMAGERY AND ABOUT YOUR OWN WAY OF SEEING THE WORLD. RESPECT THE WORKS OF ALL ARTISTS. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE ANYONE'S ART.