Cameras, when you get down to it, are really simple devices: all you need is a light source and some kind of photographic paper that will capture the light to produce the image that is what we know of as a photograph. Pinhole cameras perform basic camera functions, but without the fancy schmancy exterior. Instead of a conventional glass lens, pinhole cameras use a very small opening (this is where the “pinhole” comes from) that focuses light by confining all rays from a given scene into a single point. Because of this, the exposure time for pinhole cameras is substantially longer than that of your everyday camera—so that all that light can get in. For $28, you can make your own pinhole camera. Get all the materials you need from fredflare.com. Basically they are heavy card pieces that you fit together (without glue or tape!) to create your own camera.
