About Camper Obscura
Camper Obscura is a mobile camera obscura* in a VW camper van! Camper Obscura travels around the country, appearing in schools to deliver photography workshops and heads off to community events such as festivals and fairs. Camper Obscura is a free experience for members of the public who step on board. The vehicle is the outreach project for Fotonow and aims to encourage a better understanding of photographic and community arts practice. *See page 6 to find out what a ‘camera obscura’ actually is!
Social Value Report: 2016
Our History
In 2010, company founders, Matt Pontin and Jon Blyth were working with communities on building camera obscuras and the idea of a mobile vehicle emerged in the shape of a Foster and Day coach-built 1986 VW T25 camper van. Initially Camper Obscura was used for a residency, supported by Devonport Regeneration Community Partnership, to engage as many different people across Devonport as possible. Thanks to a lens provided by obscura enthusiast Derek Swindley, who passed away in 2011, Camper Obscura has continued to offer visual experiences to members of the public that hop aboard.
Social Value Report: 2016
Fantastic capture of LIFE! Love it!
Its like climbing inside a giant camera
Impact at a glance since 2010‌..
people have Arts and music accessed festivals attended Camper Obscura
Facebook likes and 580 instagram followers & 480 Twitter followers
FujiFilm Instax portraits created
Social Value Report: 2016
Schools visited
In 8 hours
volunteering days created
Miles travelled and Sponsorship deals 1 parking ticket! with by Lomography and FujiFilm Instax
What is a ‘Camera obscura’ anyway?
A camera obscura (Latin for ‘dark room’) is an optical device. In its simplest form it is a darkened box with a hole or lens that projects an external image onto a screen inside the box. Camera obscuras were the forerunners of photography and the modern camera. Famous artists like Vermeer, Canaletto and Joshua Reynolds are thought to have used them. References to camera obscuras date back to 300-400BC!
Social Value Report: 2016
Who runs this wagon?
Fotonow CIC is a social enterprise that uses creative media as a powerful and inclusive tool to enable people’s voices to be heard. Our work is rooted in place. We nurture possibility and ambition. We create positive social change for individuals and tangible outcomes for the communities we serve. We: * Create innovative photographic, video and media projects * Work with individuals to nurture ambition, develop confidence and create pathways into relevant employment in the creative industries * Empower people in local communities to tell their own stories, so that their voices are heard and reflected through photography and film-making * Re-invest our profits to support these aims.
Social Value Report: 2016
Fantastic job acting as a hub for our creative consultation
We have just had a look at the amazing views around St Ives. Camper Obscura is a must and a wow - thank you!
Three Engines down! locations we've visited since 2010
Social Value Report: 2016
Case studies
experienced curator and art consultant working primarily on developing and delivering public art commissioning. “Camper Obscura did a fantastic job acting as a hub for our creative consultation phase of the public art programme at Baltic Wharf in Totnes. Camper parked up at several locations: in the town centre, outside the leisure centre and at Baltic Wharf itself - they Social Value Report: 2016
even helped suggest a venue and produced some really professional posters to promote the event, as well as spreading the word on social media.” “Camper was brilliantly eye-catching, provoking curiosity and lots of interest. The staff were really friendly, knowledgeable and good at engaging with passers-by.”
Though humble in appearance, the Camper Obscura is one magnificent machine
It just shows you a different kind of perspective of photography and different things that you could do
Benefits we bring
Camper Obscura has an impact in many ways. There is a simple benefit we bring in our entertainment value. A common comment from people who enter (and exit) Camper is that it was a quirky, fun and brilliant interruption to their day. A core aim is to educate through digital storytelling. Camper provides a venue informal education workshops. We also inspire people to find out more about photography. Camper demonstrates the basic principles of how a camera works and gets people talking about images, physics, light and science. We are proud to come from Plymouth and celebrate the city wherever we go. We have an impact in ‘selling’ the brand of Plymouth as the Ocean and Social Enterprise City.
Social Value Report: 2016
Case studies
“What I love about the Camper Obscura, as well as knowing about its origins and history, is the opportunity it offers to sit shoulder-to-shoulder in an intimate space with strangers marvelling at the 'magic' of an image of the world outside. Also, it's portable – what more could you want? Science and photography learning on wheels! And it comes with its very own, friendly and knowledgeable hosts.“
& Projects at The Photographers' Social Value Report: 2016
“The Camera Obscura has been a great addition to our annual programme of photography events and exhibitions. Visitors are able to engage in more of an interactive experience, and have fun learning along the way.” , a curated programme of photography events and exhibitions, held in October each year at The Old Truman Brewery
Plans for the future
Thanks to a grant and loan from Plymouth City Council’s social enterprise investment fund we have recently refurbished Camper Obscura. Thank you to Marlin Conversions for the refit. We have also developed a new marketing strategy. The highlights of this are to: ● Create a video and photo album for the website and social media pages ● Investigate setting up a Trip Advisor page ● Sell merchandise from Camper at events. We want to reduce the environmental impact of Camper. We aim to make our media centre solar powered and will donate 10% of travel costs to the Woodland Trust We are investigating using Camper as a: ● ● ● ● ● ●
Social Value Report: 2016
Journalism HQ Mobile cinema Creative office space Hireable meeting room Mobile archive Platform for consultations.
in memory of photographer Simon Gomery who sadly passed away in twenty sixteen and was often first in the queue to volunteer running the at community events in the region.
Contact us
Can be booked for workshops, events and festivals. To find out more contact: hello@camperobscura.co.uk or visit www.camperobscura.co.uk. The Lodge Hamoaze House, Plymouth, PL1 4JQ | Telephone: 01752 560667 Skype: FOTONOWSW | Email: hello@camperobscura.co.uk | Web: www.fotonow.org