Obscura Collection

Camera Obscura 1817
CAMERA OBSCURA the various components of an observation hut or kiosk housing the device

Using Camera Obscura
a girl explains to her younger brother and sisters how the camera works

Margate Jetty 1912
Margate Jetty - crowds enjoy their outing to the seaside

Llandudno Pier entrance and Camera Obscura, Wales

Pier entrance, Llandudno, showing the Camera Obscura on the hill, early 1900s

Camera Obscura, Margate

Margate Pier and Camera Obscura Victorian period

Camera Obscura and Science Museum, Victoria Tower, Douglas, Isle of Man, taken in 1890

Principle of the camera obscura, wood engraving, published in 1877
Principle of the camera obscura. Woodcut engraving, published in 1877

Lesser akialoa (extinct) and cardinal
Lesser akialoa, Hemignathus obscurus (extinct) and cardinal myzomela, Myzomela cardinalis. (Hook-billed green honey-eater, Certhia obscura, native to Hawaii, and cardinal honey-eater)

Grasshoppers and locusts
Obscure bird grasshopper, Schistocerca obscura 1, fork-tailed bush katydid, Scudderia furcata 2, lubber grasshopper, Taeniopoda centurio 3, and coffee locust, Aularches miliaris subsp. miliaris 4

Various examples of the camera obscura. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by John Farey Jr. from Abraham Rees Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature

Illustrations from Athanasius Kircher Ars Magna, Amsterdam, 1671 (engraving)
3032084 Illustrations from Athanasius Kircher Ars Magna, Amsterdam, 1671 (engraving) by Dutch School, (17th century); Private Collection; UIG; Dutch, out of copyright

Camera Obscura, illustrration from Athanasius Kircher Ars Magna, Amsterdam
539368 Camera Obscura, illustrration from Athanasius Kircher Ars Magna, Amsterdam, 1671 (engraving) by Dutch School, (17th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The cities of London and Westminster (engraving)
608936 The cities of London and Westminster (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The cities of London and Westminster)

Invasion of privacy by a seaside camera obscura (left). George du Maurier cartoon
537777 Invasion of privacy by a seaside camera obscura (left). George du Maurier cartoon from Punch, 17 October 1868 by Du Maurier, George (1834-96); Universal History Archive/UIG; English

EyeUbiquitous_20098716
England, East Sussex, Portslade, Foredown Tower, Camera Obscura

EyeUbiquitous_20098715
England, East Sussex, Portslade, Foredown Tower, Camera Obscura

EyeUbiquitous_20098713
England, East Sussex, Portslade, Foredown Tower, Camera Obscura

EyeUbiquitous_20098714
England, East Sussex, Portslade, Foredown Tower, Camera Obscura

EyeUbiquitous_20098711
England, East Sussex, Portslade, Foredown Tower, Camera Obscura

EyeUbiquitous_20098712
England, East Sussex, Portslade, Foredown Tower, Camera Obscura

EyeUbiquitous_20098710
England, East Sussex, Portslade, Foredown Tower, Camera Obscura

Book-form camera obscura Nekes collection optical devices
Book-form camera obscura, Nekes collection of optical devices, prints and games, Camera obscura, ca. 1750, Camera obscura: wood, glass, and leather. When open, the device measures 56 cm. in height

Camera obscura: showing how the scene outside was collected by a mirror tilted at 45 degrees(B) passed through a meniscus lens between F and C and the image thrown onto the table below

Drawing a landscape using a portable camera obscura in the form of a tent. From Dionysius Lardner The Museum of Science and Art, London, 1855

Camera obscura: projecting a solar eclipse into a darkened room through a small hole, showing how the image is inverted. From Daniele Santbech Problematum Astronomicorum Basle, 1561

Willow-leaved foxglove, Digitalis obscura.. Handcoloured copperplate engraving drawn by John Curtis and engraved by Weddell from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, 1820, Samuel Curtis, Walworth, London

The Town, Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, Wales. Showing St Davids Church, Shore End of the Pier (designed by Eugenius Birch (1818-1884)) & the Camera Obscura Date: 1890s

Suffolk lungwort / Unspotted lungwort flowering wild plant (Pulmonaria obscura). in mixed forests near Ekaterinburg, Ural Mountains, Russia

Charles Amedee Philippe Van Loo, The Camera Obscura, French, 1719-1795, 1764, oil on canvas

Picture No. 10890614
Dusky Honeyeater (Myzomela obscura) Date:

Children watching an outdoor scene through a camera obscura. From A Ganot Natural Philosophy London, 1887

Camera Obscura. From Athanasius Kircher Ars Magna, Amsterdam, 1671

Portable tent type of camera obscura placed on a table so that it could be used to draw the landscape projected down onto sheet of white paper on table

Seaside visitors paying a visit to the camera obscura. The viewers sat in a darkened chamber: the scene around was collected by the mirror, (A) and passed it through a convex lens (B)

Invasion of privacy by a seaside camera obscura (left). George du Maurier cartoon from Punch, 17 October 1868

Illustration of the principle of the camera obscura, showing how the image of the lighted face on the left appears inverted on the wall of the darkened chamber on the right

Darkling beetle from Utah USA

Camera Obscura
A camera obscura, invented in 1558 by Porta, can be set up in a tent, with a lens and mirror on top and a suitable surface inside onto which the view is projected

Camera Obscura 1860S
Two young French children discover the delights of the camera obscura when they see mama and papa walking in the gardens of their chateau

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Obscura, a term that has been associated with the world of photography for centuries. It all began in 1817 when the Camera Obscura was first introduced to capture images through a pinhole. This revolutionary invention allowed photographers to create mesmerizing and unique visuals. Using the Camera Obscura became an art form in itself, as artists would position themselves strategically to capture breathtaking scenes. One such example is the iconic Margate Jetty photograph from 1912, where the camera obscura perfectly captured the essence of this seaside town. The fascination with this device extended beyond Margate; it reached Wales too. The Llandudno Pier entrance proudly displayed its own Camera Obscura, inviting visitors to experience a different perspective on reality. The pier's grandeur combined with this optical marvel created an enchanting atmosphere for all who ventured there. Not limited to just one location, other piers across Victorian England also boasted their very own Camera Obscuras. From Margate Pier to Douglas' Victoria Tower Science Museum, these structures stood tall as testaments to human curiosity and innovation. Even back in 1877, people were captivated by the principle behind this magical contraption. A wood engraving published during that time showcased how light passing through a small hole could project vivid images onto a surface – truly mind-boggling. But let's not forget about nature's wonders either. Lesser akialoa and cardinal birds fluttered around while grasshoppers and locusts hopped from blade to blade of grass – all subjects that found themselves immortalized through the lens of obscura. Intriguing and timeless, obscura continues to inspire photographers today. Its rich history intertwined with artistry reminds us of our innate desire to explore new perspectives and capture fleeting moments forevermore.