Expert: Dave Nyce - 7/13/2009

Question
I find this quite bizarre and not sure if this is what it is called.
Our house in France has window shutters and in the back upstairs room when the shutters are shut but windows open to the inside we get a reflection from the sun which projects an image of the patio below and the table and chairs that are placed around it including the bushes that climb up the surrounding iron wrought fence that perimeter the patio. At the bottom of the shutter when it is closed is a  small hole and the reflection projects onto the ceiling when the room is dark to an incredible picture. I have kept an eye on it and it changes as the sun falls.
Would it be possible to set up a camera and take a photo as I feel it would be an interesting project.
Also have you heard of this happening anywhere?

Many Thanks

Rod  

Answer
1. Yes, you can photograph it. Just make sure that your shutter time is set properly for the low amount of light. Set your exposure meter for spot.

2. Yes, that can happen when light from far away (like the sun) falls through a sufficiently small hole, or is reflected from a small area.  Since the light is coming from far away, it is comprised of parallel rays, and can form the image more easily. If the light was not from so far away, the hole through it passes would have to be much smaller (pinhole) to focus an image.

Hope this helps!

Dave