How to make solarigraphs
- Nuno Santos

- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
(STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT)
How to capture the sun's "path" throughout the year, using only a soda can and photographic paper...
Pin-Hole Preparation:
Use a soda can or other opaque cylindrical container (a non-cylindrical pinhole camera would work, however the photograph would not be angled/panoramic);
If it's a soda can, cut off the top with a can opener, and cut off the bottom of another can with scissors;
Wash the can and lid (bottom part) and then paint the inside matte black to prevent reflection inside. Let it dry.
Using a needle, make a hole in the side of the can, roughly in the middle;
Measure the required amount of paper based on the height and circumference of the can. Subtract 2 cm from the circumference measurement so as not to cover the hole. The paper size for this can was 13x16.
The remaining preparation takes place in a room with red light;
Cut the photographic paper to the desired size;
Place the paper inside the can, being careful not to cover the hole. The shiny side of the paper should be facing the inside of the can.
After placing the paper, put the lid (the bottom part of another can) on and apply black tape both to cover the hole and around the entire lid to secure it well and prevent light from passing through;
Once the pinhole is ready, the exposure is made;
Exhibition:
Finding a good framing. Keep in mind that with a cylindrical pinhole camera, the photograph will be angled. When thinking about framing, it is also necessary to consider the sun's path throughout the year, including the highest and lowest points where it will pass. In addition, those who take this type of photograph in the northern hemisphere should photograph facing south, and in the southern hemisphere facing north.
Be careful to place it in a good setting, but also in a location where there isn't much foot traffic, since people tend to move or even remove the pinhole cameras from where they were placed;
Once the framing is planned, the pinhole camera is fixed to a post or other sturdy support, ensuring the camera remains completely stable. Cable ties are used to secure the camera to the support.
Once it is fixed, the black tape placed over the hole is removed and the exposure is started. The exposure time is up to each individual, however, the more months it is exposed, the more of the sun's path throughout the year is observed. This can was exposed for ... months.
End of Exposure, Digitization and Post-Production:
After exposure, the photograph is removed from the pinhole and immediately digitized. After digitization, store the photograph in a dark place to preserve it, since this type of photography does not use developer or fixer; that is, the photograph continues to be exposed.
The image obtained from the photograph and digitization is a negative photograph, with shades of brown and gray. In other words, to convert it to positive in editing software like Photoshop, the "curves" are inverted, resulting in a positive photograph with bluish tones.
After the digital printing of the photograph, each person edits the photograph to their liking.
End
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