How to create a pinhole:

1. Gather materials- You will need a box, photo paper, thin piece of metal like a can or, tape, xacto knife, needle, and sand paper.

2. Make the pinhole- The pinhole is the lens of the camera. Poke a tiny hole in the piece of metal you gathered with a needle and sand it smooth. Trim around the hole so there is little metal surrounding it.

3. Make a camera box- The box must be light proof. When the lid is on and the shutter is closed the inside is completely dark. The only light comes through the pinhole. Make sure there are no holes or openings in the box. Seal it and paint it flat black. Cut a small square opening in the box for the pinhole to go in.

4. Put in the pinhole and make a shutter- Tape the pinhole behind the square opening. Center the pinhole in the square. Then make the shutter which is just a flap that covers the pinhole from the outside. It can be made from some more tape.

5. Put in the photo paper- This has to be done in the dark. Tape a piece of photo paper to the inside of the box across from the hole. Put lid on and make sure the shutter is closed. Now it is capable of going out into the light.

6. Take the picture- Point the camera at what you want to shoot. It works best when the sun is shining onto the object. Depending on lighting and clouds hold shutter open for 30 seconds to 4 minutes then close. the box must stay still. Go back to the dark room and take paper out to develop.

Examples:

My Example:

My Little Cousin, Jake

Picking fresh blackberries

Common sighting of a deer

Welcome home!

One of the few stores in the whole town

The main road

Up in the trees

There are bears.. Everywhere!

Family time at the lake

Lake Stumpy

Stumpy Meadows

Everyone has a place they go to escape and mine just so happens to be an hour and a half away. Georgetown; It may be a little place, but it holds a lot of memories. Part of me had the chance to grow up in this small town, making it of large importance to me and my family. Thankfully, I was provided with the opportunity to capture its beauty before its tragic destruction.

Georgetown California is located in Eldorado County, just after Placerville and right before Lake Tahoe. It is nothing but a town of Kind people, Beautiful trees, and Wild animals. It is such a small town that when passing through the people there even joke about “missing it all just within the blink of an eye”. It is nothing like here in Elk Grove, There is just about one of everything and that is all they need; one grocery store, one post office, one gym, there’s even only one gas station. Now some people may think that’s crazy! I mean my first time there I definitely thought the lack of space and stores was odd, but then I realized that all It did was bring the town closer together. In Georgetown everyone knows everyone, it’s amazing! You go out to grab something for lunch and you’re greeted and recognized by many. Some people may disagree but I really admire how well everyone gets along, and how kind everyone is, especially when it is all by choice. Georgetown may be very small, but the people there have bigger hearts than ever.

Not only are the people amazing, but so are the animals. It’s so beautiful to be surrounded by animals and nature everywhere you go. It brings so much peace to the town. Many people get different ideas about wild animals, believing they are nothing but harmful to humans. People don’t realize that if you don’t bother them, they simply will not both you, at least in most cases. It’s great to be surrounded in an environment where humans respect the lives of animals, and if anything actually do their best to help the animals. Georgetown is filled with deer, mountain lions, bears, lots of birds, snakes, and all kinds of little amazing creatures. They usually keep their space from humans but it’s so cool seeing them every chance you get.

The reason I am so familiar with Georgetown is because my mom grew up there, and still has many family members who live there to this day. I do not get to visit as much as I wish, but I take every chance I get. I have been visiting this town since I was born and it is easy for me to say that it is nonetheless my second home. I have great love for the people, animals, and even the just the overall town itself. Every time I go up I find myself experiencing something new and falling even more and more in love.

Recently a very tragic event has been taking place in Georgetown, known as the King Fire. Though the fire did not start in Georgetown it is rapidly spreading as many people are aware. It has reached surrounding towns and certain areas bordering Georgetown that were loved greatly by the town such as Stumpy Meadows. Many people from Georgetown have been evacuated, including my family. It has caused much worry in the town and worry upon me as well. I am very grateful that I had the chance to visit this second home of mine just a few days before the fire was created, giving me the opportunity to capture its pure beauty before its possible destruction. I will continue to hope for safety for the people and animals in Georgetown and I know that whatever the fire does destroy will be remembered by anyone who has had the chance to step foot into the wonderful town of Georgetown.