Licuala Lodge

A lodge overlooks a forested mountain range.

Solarigraphy at the Lodge

My most recent hobby is solarigraphy, so of course the whole time since taking over the place I was looking forward to finding some free time to set up a "camera" in the garden.

February 10, 2024 ◦ 3 min ◦

January 3: Preparation

For the people unfamiliar with the process, here's what you need:

  1. Photographic paper
  2. Empty drink can, big enough to fit the photographic paper inside
  3. Scissors
  4. Needle
  5. Lots of sticky tape
  6. Lots of time
A coconut water can
Not sponsored
A coconut water can, with the top cut out
First you cut out the top part of the can
The top of a coconut water can with sticky tape sealing the inside
Then you seal the inside of the top part
The top of a coconut water can with sticky tape sealing the outside
And the outside too
A coconut water can, with the top cut out, and some flaps to easily fit the top again
I normally cut these little flaps and bend them to make it easier to re-fit the top part close

Not pictured: I made a tiny hole in the top third of the can, below the top part. Also I put a sheet of photographic paper inside, as if lining the walls opposite to the pinhole. Of course this must be done in the dark, as the photographic paper reacts to light quickly.

A coconut water can, cut and rejoined with sticky tape
The camera is ready with the photographic paper inside, the pinhole covered, and lots of sticky tape waterproofing it all

Also not pictured: I found some sealing paint spray, so I spray painted it all white. This serves two purposes:

  1. Making the "camera" waterproof (hopefully)
  2. Making it less obvious as people removing the cans are the main reason of failure

January 11: Positioning

I fixed the can to a pole in the pool area of the garden, facing the house and consequently north.

The intention is to leave the can there for a long time, as the most interesting thing about solarigraphy is the sun marking its trajectory on the photographic paper, and the wet season started shortly after the positioning.

So now we wait...

February 10: Retrieving

Aannnd... It's a fail.

A photograph with barely recognizable subjects, damaged by water
The results

I inverted the colours in the final result to see it better, but you can barely tell there's some trees in there.

I don't know if the partable in the middle is the sun's trajectory, normally it's more clear.

The more evident things are the humidity damage. There was around 1 cubic mm collected at the bottom of the can. It has been a really wet month.

If it wasn't for my expectations, it would have been a nice abstravft picture, though.

I will try again, maybe putting some silica gel bag inside next time.