Controlling Depth of Field in Pinhole Photography

kier · Jun 24, 2015

Today in my blog I posted a piece on how to control depth of field in pinhole photography. Yes, you read that right

http://fslashd.com/2015/06/depth-of-field-pinhole/

grahamp · Jun 24, 2015

I think you are just redefining your terms

kier · Jun 24, 2015

It's a squint, for sure Just trying to get folks to think creatively about the tools they have at hand

cliveh · Jun 24, 2015

You are not controlling depth of field with this method, but just creating motion blur.

pdeeh · Jun 24, 2015

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

DannL. · Jun 24, 2015

You should call it "Controlling Motion Blur in Pinhole Photography." It should sell like hotcakes.

ic-racer · Jun 24, 2015

Controlling Depth of Field in Pinhole Photography

Click to expand...

I guess to promote inexact nomenclature one could say that opening up a lens 'blurs' the background also.

kier · Jun 24, 2015

I know this is controversial to discuss DoF this way - I've been practicing photography for over 25 years and this is the first time I've heard anyone say it

I consulted over 50 websites and publications on the definition of Depth of Field. Without exception, Depth of Field was defined as something similar to "that portion of the photo which is acceptably sharp". It is not until later in those articles and texts do they talk about how to control DoF via aperture. Why? Because aperture adjustment is the easiest way to control it with a LENSED camera. In short, DoF is an aesthetic effect. Aperture is simply the mainstream tool to control it.

Regardless, I was quite clear in the article that I was discussing how to adapt a creative tool that lensed photographers have for a similar effect in pinhole/lensless photography.

dasBlute · Jun 25, 2015

kier said:
... "that portion of the photo which is acceptably sharp"...

I've always seen it referred to as that portion of the scene which is acceptably sharp, a different concept.

That being said, the technique you describe is very useful for all kinds of photography, thanks for sharing!

-Tim

Nodda Duma · Jun 25, 2015

I like it!

Depth of field is formally defined as the range of object *distances*, rather than being based on object *positions*. A subtle distinction, but it implies depth of field is independent of the scene (and wholly a function of the lens). Your article implies that's not necessarily true. Very interesting.

I promise you this will soon come up for debate with other optical engineers over morning coffee.

pdeeh · Jun 25, 2015

It is a very curious concept and deserves thought, even though it's so apparently familiar to those who take photographs with variable aperture lenses.

If we consider our own visual experience, the idea of a "depth of field" is really quite slippery. I can't vary it, for instance, although it's more-or-less clear that when I look at (focus on) something near (or far) then something far (or near) is less clearly defined.

Plus of course I've never experienced anything that could be described as bokeh. Except I suppose under certain conditions that we won't go into now ...

But DoF isn't a fact about the world, it's an artifact of manufactured optical systems.

Nodda Duma · Jun 25, 2015

I'll have to disagree, pdeeh, with your last statement. DOF is a real effect. It is apparent even in non-manufactured optical systems (ie your Mk 1 eyeball). No, it is not an artifact but a real world phenomena derived from how photons behave.

Anyways, our morning chat centered on this topic. While not as heated as the coffee, the unanimous optical engineering conclusion was that as photographers, you are allowed some artistic license in defining Depth of Field. Well done!

pdeeh · Jun 25, 2015

Photons or waves?

Nodda Duma · Jun 25, 2015

Haha It depends on the day of the week. So photons

Jim Jones · Jun 25, 2015

Anyone wanting to decrease the apparent DOF in lensless photography might consider zone plates.

pdeeh · Jun 25, 2015

Nodda Duma said:
Haha It depends on the day of the week. So photons

Ah that explains why we disagree. My eyes only work on waves

kier · Jun 25, 2015

All great comments. Whether or not you agree with the way that I've approached this subject, I'm glad we're exploring it

cliveh · Jun 25, 2015

Jim Jones said:
Anyone wanting to decrease the apparent DOF in lensless photography might consider zone plates.

What is a zone plate?

pdeeh · Jun 25, 2015

It's a plate with zones in it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_plate

example image:

Jim Jones · Jun 25, 2015

more info on zone plates: http://pinhole.stanford.edu/zp.html. These are often duplicated on very high contrast film. One could also set up a jig to drill the holes in very thin sheet metal or perhaps etch them in thin sheet metal. They could also be fabricated by depositing the pattern on a glass substrate.

removed account4 · Jun 25, 2015

hi kier:

nice article !

if something is moving for long enough and it is used to created a blur or the photographer hopes to use
the subject's motion to change what is in focus ... sometimes because of the extended time it takes to make a pinhole image
that moving thing vanishes. water becomes almost still, cars &c disappear ... while i think it is a hugely useful tool to use subject movement
or for/background movement to change the apparent depth of field the exposure-time and sensitivity of the film / paper being used is critical ...
for example ... with iso 3200 or 1600 film what the motion/distortion will be completely different in daylight hours, than paper or iso 25 film ( or paper )
in dim light / twilight/dawn &c .. so one needs not only to chose the background/forground carefully, but the emulsion carfully as well !

TheToadMen · Jun 26, 2015

pdeeh said:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

TheToadMen · Jun 26, 2015

ic-racer said:
... one could say that opening up a lens 'blurs' the background also.

You mean something like this??

TheToadMen · Jun 26, 2015

This was an interesting read, like the other articles on your blog.

As you said: "So, we shall free ourselves of the technical aspects of the customary understanding of depth of field, and let’s focus on the aesthetic." That's a good way to find a new approach to ones photography.

I like your technique as well: "Want a pinhole photo of an object that really pops? Put that object in motion and lock the camera to that motion"

Here are some of my examples to go along with your article:

This is my WPPD-2015 contribution. PinHolga 6x6, Fuji NPC 160 (expired 2004), exposure 10 sec.
I followed the truck on the highway for 280 meters in 10 seconds (about 100 kmh).

And this technique is also useful for landscapes:

I made these images with my pinhole camera (a rebuild Gevabox 6x9). The exposures were handheld (no tripod) for 40 seconds on Konica PRO 400 roll film. It's what I might call "controlled pinhole blur".

The image on the left was made from the shore overlooking a wide lake, as part of a series of pinhole landscapes. I was pleasantly surprised how it turned out. The image on the right was made standing on a boat in a canal in the historical town of Giethoorn.

Bert from Holland
http://thetoadmen.blogspot.nl

kier · Jun 26, 2015

jnanian said:
so one needs not only to chose the background/forground carefully, but the emulsion carfully as well !

Totally agree, and that's an excellent point. That's also one of the reasons I choose to carry multiple pinhole cameras, so I can have color, b&w, and different speeds

TheToadMen said:
The image on the left was made from the shore overlooking a wide lake, as part of a series of pinhole landscapes. I was pleasantly surprised how it turned out. The image on the right was made standing on a boat in a canal in the historical town of Giethoorn.

Those are some great images, Bert! And glad you enjoyed the change in perspective!

Controlling Depth of Field in Pinhole Photography

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grahamp

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