Pinhole Photography Name______________________

Assessment Criteria

_____ (50 points) The Pinhole Camera

Function
O Your pinhole camera is light-tight, all visible light leaks have been sealed.
O Your camera has a working aperture, shutter, and paper loading mechanism (flat wall to place photographic paper
upon). It has been carefully painted black inside of the body.
O You have made adjustments as necessary to the aperture and body of your camera to improve the quality of your
exposures.

Design
O Your camera can close to seal the interior space from light without requiring lots of tape.
O The material or object you are making your camera from has been clearly considered to enable the camera to
function easily.

Craft
O You have demonstrated careful and efficient use of scissors, exacto-knives, tape (black and masking tape), spray
paint, and other building materials to make your pinhole camera.
O Your pinhole camera has been built to be strong, durable, and sturdy. You have addressed any structural
weaknesses as best as possible.
O Your camera demonstrates care and craft in its construction. You have invested time in the camera’s overall
appearance.

Comments:

_____ (50 points) The Sketchbook Journal (Documenting The Process)

O You have used your sketchbook to document all pinhole each and every pinhole you’ve made.
O In each entry, you have neatly taped the pinhole image into your sketchbook, and labeled with the following:
• the exposure time
• the quality of light
• possible problem (reason for why the exposure is the way it is), and a
• solution as to how you plan to improve the exposure.
O You have neatly and carefully attached the photographs into your sketchbook.
O The journal entries are clearly labeled and the photos are organized chronologically.
O All writing is legible.

Comments:

_____ (50 points) The Pinhole Negative/Positive/Test Strip

OBJECTIVE
O You have created a high quality, well-exposed pinhole negative, positive, and test strip of the same
image and have submitted these three images clearly labeled on a separate page in your sketchbook.

Exposure & Darkroom SKILLS

O Your final negative/positive shows evidence of understanding the darkroom printing process. The final print
is free of dirt marks, chemical stains, or other unwanted processing marks.
O You have chosen subject matter with contrast and clarity to photograph in order to more easily determine your
exposure times.
O You have used your pinhole camera to successfully expose a negative by adjusting exposure times, positioning your
camera w/o movement, and considering the light of your subject.
O You have successfully used an enlarger to create a test strip (included) to determine the correct exposure
time for making a positive with a wide range of values.

DESIGN
O Your final pinhole negative/positive represents a wide range of value. There is high contrast in the
negative/positive so that the darkest darks and lightest whites are included.
O The negative/positive is crisp and clear and includes a strong depth of field. There is evidence that the camera was
held still while exposing.

PRESENTATION
O You have carefully and cleanly organized and taped each exposure into your sketchbook.
O You have carefully trimmed your negative and positive to be the same size, and have elegantly mounted the two
images next to one another.
O Your final negative/positive shows evidence of understanding the darkroom printing process. The final print
is free of dirt marks, chemical stains, or other unwanted processing marks.

Comments:

Pinhole Self-Reflection (20 points)

Directions: Take a few minutes to look at your final pinhole positive, the negative used to create it, your test strip, your
sketchbook documenting the process of making the images, and your camera. Then respond to the questions below using
complete sentences. Submit this sheet along w/your assessment criteria in your sketchbook with your final, matted
print.

What did you enjoy most about making your pinhole photographs? Why?

What was the most challenging part of making these pinhole photographs? Why was it challenging?

What is the most fascinating or intriguing thing you’ve learned about the science/history of photography from this unit?
Why does it interest you so much?

What have you learned about your own process of making photographs through this unit?