Science Lesson

June 12, 2024

Someone please explain this to me.

When I opened my eyes upon waking in the hotel in Obernai, I noticed an interesting shadow on the wall opposite the window. I thought it looked cool, so took a photo of it from the bed. Then I took a photo of the bit of light filtering in around the curtain. A little while later I got a better look at my first shot. There were colors involved there. And things were pretty pointy. It reminded me of something. I opened the curtains to the view out my window. Huh. The shadow was an inversion of the scene outside.

The light sneaking in above the curtain.

The shadow on the wall opposite. I did not notice the colors that my camera was able to pick up.

I believe this happens with pinhole cameras and the like, but don’t remember why it inverts. Inquiring minds want to know.

Edit: our man Bill Shaneyfelt confirms the pinhole camera effect, and included a Wikipedia link to its explanation. It also leads one to camera obscura which has a better explanation of what the light rays are doing.

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