Students from ACS Egham International School took part in interactive workshop sessions with pinhole photography expert Justin Quinnell on Wednesday 16th September.

Justin conducted two informative and practical workshops for the Grade 10 students, aged 15, about pinhole cameras and their construction. All of the students then made and constructed cameras for their own technology projects.

The workshops covered the science and history behind pinhole camera photography, as well as examining contemporary approaches to this art form and reviewing Justin’s own work, which includes a collection entitled ‘mouthpiece’ with various images, such as the sky, visiting the dentist and the bath, taken from the viewpoint of his mouth.

Following the presentation students then made a ‘drinks can’ camera and used with photographic paper and darkroom chemicals to create black and white paper negatives.

Alan Perkins, Head of Middle School Technology at ACS Egham, commented on how the workshop fits into the students International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IBMYP): “The technology element of the IBMYP programme is a compulsory component that combines academic work with practical skills. The pinhole photography workshop covers both of these elements and will allow the students get some hands-on experience of designing and modifying projects. We are delighted to welcome Justin to the school and hope that this can become a regular fixture of Grade 10 students.”

The Grade 10 students have just begun their final year of IBMYP before progressing on to the International Baccalaureate Diploma in grade 11, an alternative qualification to A-levels.