‘Aristotle’s Hole’ - From Mo-tzu to the Selfie Stick
Justin Quinnell
Over 2500 years ago the Philosopher Mo-tzu observed sunlight travelling through a small hole and deduced that light travelled in the same way as an arrow being fired.
In just over an hour, ‘Aristotle’s Hole’ covers: the Science, 500 million year history and the immense variety of contemporary approaches to pinhole photography and camera obscura experimentation.
Justin will then show some of his own work, from the past 30 years which varies in duration from using fraction of a second to 12 months and using a variety of cameras from the Smileycam (which can fit in his mouth) to a wheelie bin (that doesn’t!). He will also show some of his obscura creations which somehow enables him to get into festivals for nothing!
The lively talk sometimes features several unnerving approaches on capturing images entitled ‘being a golf ball’ and a ‘power drill portrait’ and demonstrations on how to make various pinhole cameras and obscuras. He will also talk about community photography and the Real Photography Company including some of the projects they have been involved with over the past 5 years.
The talk is free although donations can be made on the evening to: Cathays Community Centre
About Artist
Justin Quinnell
Justin Quinnell is one of the world’s experts in pinhole photography and camera obscuras, which he has practiced and taught worldwide for over 30 years.
His work includes: ‘Mouthpiece’ – inter mouth images, ‘Slow Light’, 6 month exposures and the proudly gruesome ‘Awfullogrammes’. As well as lecturing throughout the UK, he is an associate lecturer at Falmouth University and a founding director of the Real Photography Company, a community darkroom in his home town of Bristol.
His practice has taken him from Australia and NZ to Europe and the US where he was pinhole photography consultant for the Rachel Weisz – Mark Ruffalo movie ‘The Brothers Bloom’ . TV appearances include: The One show, Jonathan Ross Show, Blue Peter, Radio 4 ‘Today’,‘Absolute Genius with Dick and Dom’ and ‘George Clarkes Amazing Spaces’. He has had four books published most recently the text book ‘Discovering Light’.
He also assists and promotes both ‘World Pinhole Day’ and the Experimental Photography Festival which occurs annually in Barcelona.
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