Exposure times are around 40 seconds

Our large cameras are made from repurposed cylindrical drums, typically used to store chemicals and other materials. We have two camera sizes which produce 30x40 inch and 16x20 inch prints. Our apertures are laser cut to perfect circles providing incredibly high resolution. Photographic paper lines the inside outer edge of the drums filling over half of the circumference opposite the pinhole, providing a uniquely large field of view.

There is no view-finder. We use the edge of the paper and project through the lens to frame our shot. As we frame our shot, we want the sun behind us. Pointing the camera directly into the sun will quickly overexposure the photographic paper. Exposure times under ideal sunny conditions are around 40 seconds. However, exposure time depends on a variety of factors including time of day, cloud coverage, and presence of dust storms.

Once we are ready to take our shot, we remove the shutter quickly and try to avoid jostling the camera. Once the shutter is off, we want the camera and subjects (including people in the shot) to remain completely still for the full length of the exposure. Moving objects and people will appear blurry and not as well defined. We use a variety of creative methods to stabilize our cameras including heavy objects and bungee cords (this can be particularly challenging in the middle of a dust storm!).

The smaller cameras use a flat magnet for the shutter.