I made these pinhole cameras from black plastic 35mm film cannisters, they contained photographic paper and were distributed at the 2007 RASNZ conference. Most of these cameras would have had the black tape covering the aperture opened on or about 2 July 2007, and started recording the daily arc of the sun. An e-mail asking that the aperture be taped over on or about 23 Sep 2007 at the equinox and the 'cameras' returned was sent, and the cameras started returning from this date.

Of course some e-mail addresses had changed in the interim, and I had to track some people down by phone or via friends to get their new e-mail addresses. The cameras came in over the next five months.

Some cameras didn't make it back. Vicki had hers stolen. Tim had his mounted at work and it was removed by painters. Some cameras were lost before they made it back home from the conference. Ursula / Andrew's arrived in the post with the lid off the cannister, but still provided results.

If I were to repeat the experiment I'd look at using litho' film or high contrast paper if I could get any. I'd also look at tilting the cameras upwards where the cameras were pointing North.

The photos show the daily arc of the sun when the sun was shining. This arc of course varied depending on the geographical latitude of the camera, and as the date neared the equinox the solar trace got higher in the sky. The trace also showed the broad weather conditions. For example both John Drummond's & John Burt's cameras showed the same lack of sun trace at sunrise for several days.

Click on the individual's camera for an enlargement and details (where available)

Comments welcome !