Living in a Camera II

A year ago, in a different house, I decided to transform my room into a camera. This year, I tried the experiment again. Duct tape, gaff tape, cardboard and blankets helped seal my small chamber from light and a small hole allowed the outside to flow inside. What was once visible through my uncovered window was exposed—upside down—on the walls of my room, distorting along the contours of each surface. Sitting in a dark room, waiting the 30 or so minutes for eyes to adjust to perceive the faint light, was relaxing—eye-opening would be an appropriate, albeit punny, descriptor. Sharing the experience with my roommates and friends, I improved my understanding of light and how cameras work. It almost seems magic, but harkens back to the beginning of photography and imagery. Sitting still for 2-3 minutes in some of these exposures was reminiscent of early Daguerrotype portraiture. This is my week, living in a camera.

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