Camera Obscura Multi-cache

Camera Obscura Cache

The Co-Ords for this cache are the location of the Camera Obscura at Rufford Abbey Country Park.

The Cache is in two parts,

Part 1 is optional only, find the camera obscura and take a picture of yourself using the obscura.

This will take two people, one sitting inside the camera while another poses within the cameras view, then with a conventional camera take a picture of the projected image inside the camera and upload it with your log.  Alternatively, if you are on your own or you visit out of hours when the camera is locked then you can post a picture of you or your GPS by the camera.

Part 2 now, from the information board solve this simple puzzle to find a physical cache and sign the log etc.  This is a short walk away to enable me to place it outside of the ancient monument status of the abbey but still within the park.

Enter the names of the two artists  (in the order they appear on the information board) that designed the Camera Obscura at Rufford and then using the key on the right decode the puzzle to find the cache.

What is a Camera Obscura?

The 'Camera Obscura' has a very long history and comes from the Latin meaning quite literally 'Darkened Room' or 'Darkened Chamber'.

It developed out of the simple, lens-less 'pinhole camera' which was used, perhaps a 1,000 years ago, to project an image of the sun and safely view eclipses. The incorporation of a lens in the seventeenth century (or maybe even earlier) produced a much brighter image and the camera obscura, as we know it today, was born.

During the Victorian era many seaside resorts had a camera obscura which was usually set up in a small octagonal building near the beach or on the pier. Inside, the visitor could watch a moving colour picture of the view outside.

Much used by solar astronomers and artists in the past, there is now a revival of interest in camera obscuras. The heyday of the camera obscura was during the Victorian era although they were invented over three-hundred year ago. Some of these old camera obscuras still remain but many have been lost over the years. Recently, however, there has been an upsurge in interest in camera obscuras with many new ones being built.

Why not have a go at making your own

Camera Obscura?

I would love to see your efforts/ results!

We hope you enjoy this cache and look forward

to seeing your photos.