In Chalon sur Saône, the Musée Niépce is transformed on demand in Camera Obscura.
Since the creation of the Musée Niépce in Chalon sur Saône, and at the initiative of Pierre Euvrard, one of the members of the Friends of the Museum association, a real “Caméra obscura” welcomes within and on demand, visitors of all ages.
This large room with black painted walls can accommodate around fifteen people; it is primarily intended to be an educational tool. The space makes it easier for everyone to understand a great historical discovery, that of the pinhole camera.
Chloé Leroy, cultural facilitator, member of the Museum’s public service, welcomes us into this large box-shaped room and explains to us how the light which penetrates in a straight line from a small hole, in a shutter which hides a window, creates a virtual image.
In this space of around four hundred square feet where darkness becomes total, an image forms on the ceiling. Secondly, Chloé positions a large translucent frosted glass at the exit of the beam of light which passes through a lens.
This frosted glass allows us to capture the image coming from the street, in an inverted way, the image appears to us from top to bottom and from left to right as is the case in a large wooden camera, or quite simply like it actually happens in an old camera.
This discovery tour, somewhat magical in some way, is a bit as if you yourself were entering the body of an immense photographic camera. For around thirty minutes, Chloé Leroy demonstrates the physical and optical phenomenon of creating an image, then answers questions from surprised and interested visitors. (photographs 1 to 6).
Within the Museum and, in parallel until September 29, the establishment is hosting a temporary exhibition aptly titled “Oscura”, a collective pinhole camera practice.
This major exhibition is offered by the “Oscura” association founded in the early 1990s. The opportunity to inspire the desire to create a photographic image yourself using a small or medium format box. (photographs 7 to 12).
On one side of your box (for example a cardboard shoe box) you will only have to pierce and position with a pin, a tiny hole so that light can penetrate into your hermetic box.
A light makes an impression on a sheet of photographic paper or a film that you will first have in the dark, fixed to the bottom of your box. Later, in a second step, you will just need to develop the sensitive silver surface to obtain the image that you have captured. Please note that the volume of the box and the size of the pinhole (hole) will vary the focus as well as the depth of field. Different tests will of course be necessary to obtain the best result. (photographs 13 to 15).
An essential condition, as you have understood, to carry out this experience: take your time! “Oscura” is allied to slowness in a hurried world.”
Also know that in this photographic practice, exposure times will be long and, in this process of discovery, a philosophy emerges: that of thinking and seeing differently.
Pierre, a friend from Banyuls, also a fan of the pinhole camera, recently told me that he feels this film practice as the implementation of an almost literary approach: “in this way,” he said, “I capture and create an image in close relation with my reflections and thoughts of the moment.”
Personally, I do not hide from you that I am also on this path with my research and experiences on alternative ecological developers.
A pinhole camera, with a beam of penetrating light, is a way of discovering and capturing a natural image in a different way, finding my own space and my time. Attached are my two metal boxes with pinhole and the prints of my results.
I would also like to point out that last July and August, pinhole camera courses open to all took place several times in the courtyard of the Museum. (photographs 16 to 21)
If you ever wish to visit and enter the camera obscura of the Musée Niépce in Chalon sur Saône, you must first call to make an appointment at the Niépce Museum public service,phone 03 85 48 41 98.
Enjoy the discovery.
Jacques Revon
Honorary journalist, author, photographer.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Revon
