To create the images, Morell blackens the windows of the room and pricks a tiny pinhole in the window covering. The outside environment is then naturally projected upside-down on the interior of the room, wrapping everything contained within. A long exposure photograph is taken of the result, creating an often otherworldly image.
The photographer began his work with camera obscura using black and white photography and extremely long (10 hour) exposures. More recently however, he has expanded into color photography, digital technology and the use of special lenses and prisms which allow him to shorten his exposure times, and create sharper, right-side up images.
What do you think? Aren’t the results gorgeous??
For many more images and information on the process, visit the website of Abelardo Morell.
Check out this interview with the photographer himself by Lens Culture.
Shown:
1. View of Florence Looking Northwest Inside Bedroom, 2009
2. Upright Image of the Piazzetta San Marco Looking Southeast in Office, Venice, Italy, 2006
3. View of Landscape Outside Florence in Room With Bookcase, 2009
4. View of the Manhattan Bridge-April 30th / Afternoon, 2010
5. Manhattan View Looking South in Large Room, 1996
via: Honestly...WTF
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Stunning. I got butterflies in my stomach looking at these.
Wait, how?
Here are two my fiancee and I did:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photogadam/5864234858/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photogadam/5864234736/in/photostream
Why do you find these to be "heartbreaking"? That is a very strange description, IMO.
Links didn't work. Maybe these will?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photogadam/5864234858/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photogadam/5864234736/
Here is a video on youtube (with Abe Morell) from a program on BBC that talked about making a camera obscura: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuJ_Jd6Qgyo
Absolutely stunning. I would kill for a print of the Piazzetta San Marco.
gorgeous. completely confused as to how it works, but i love the result regardless. i have a picture of a rooftop view in rome that i took on my honeymoon...that first picture inspired me to see about turning it into a photo mural for our own bedroom. whee!
The camera obscura effect happens in my bedroom when I lower the blinds (with only an inch leaving at the bottom for the light to go throuh) and then draw the curtains so there is also only an inch of space between them. So through that square inch of light, the world outside my bedroom window is projected upside down onto the bedroom walls and ceiling. While putting my 1yo son to sleep it's fun to watch blue bus passing by, or some pedestrians, or red and yellow cars parking... It's not so sharp as the pictures above, but it's still fun! In camera obscura, the smaller the hole, the sharper the image is.
I understand how it works, but I don't understand why the image appears to be projected right-side up (except for the last image in the group).
it is actually explained up there: "… More recently however, he has expanded into color photography, digital technology and the use of special lenses and prisms which allow him to shorten his exposure times, and create sharper, right-side up images."
it is a gorgeous series, thank you for posting.
Amazing photographer. Look at his Alice in Wonderland http://www.abelardomorell.net/photography/alice_01/alice_01.html
I made a camera obscura in art school. It was amazing to see it in action. It's essentially a pinhole camera made out of a room rather than a box. It didn't really solidify in my head until I finally just made one. SO cool.
After you learn of the camera obscura and how it was often used by some painters it completely demystifies their work. It doesn't detract from the paintings or their beauty, but the accuracy of their work compared to their predecessors feels suddenly explained.