Coffee Can Camera

Top/middle left: positives  Middle/top right: negatives  Bottom: light test

           I made the coffee can camera by taking a coffee can, painting the whole thing black (including the lid), and coating it in black paper and aluminum foil. This makes sure that there are no light leaks, which would ruin the photograph. Next, I poked a hole in the side with a nail and covered the hole with electrical tape, again, so that no light leaks.
          Before actually taking a photo I did a light test with the hole covered. The paper came out grey on top so I covered the lid with more aluminum foil and did another test. This one came out white so now I can actually take a proper photograph. I went outside and put the can on a stool facing where another student was sat and peeled off the electrical tape and covered it again after thirty seconds. I repeated this until I was satisfied with the quality of the image. I then (tried) made a positive of the photo by placing the negative face down on the photo-sensitive paper and continuing as normal with the steps of the enlarger. I never could get the positive quite right.
          I felt as this project was very easy apart from the process of creating a positive. It didn't take very long to get the hang of using the coffee can camera. The first negative that was produced came out very good but off center so we taped the test paper to the back of the can so it would stay in place. Other than a few technical mishaps with placing, I wouldn't do anything different with this project.