In Brief

Camera Obscura

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

A camera obscura is an optical device that can take the form of a box or an entire room with a small aperture for light to come through, which focuses light into the darkened space and produces an image. As light comes through the pinhole, the image is shown inverted (upside-down and with left and right switched) on the opposing wall. Such devices came into use in the 16th century, particularly by artists for increased accuracy in drawing and painting. The principles of creating images of reality from light were eventually developed into the film camera.