Sunshine Leading Up To Summer

While summer begins on the June solstice, a new solargraph result reveals how much warmth and light Sol has been delivering over the past six months. Impatience yielded the red emphasis. After removing the pinhole camera from its mount I hurriedly removed the paper inside while I was in a dark closet. I simply imaged the result with my phone's camera while wearing a red headlamp to avoid exposing the paper to bright light.

A red-lit solargraph result is paired with a photo of a foreground birdhouse and cottage. The arcs show the path of the sun over six months, attaining different heights through the seasons.

The pinhole camera I used had a larger-than-usual hole in a 16-ounce aluminum can. Direct sunlight entering the can struck a piece of black and white photographic paper onto which the sun's image was imprinted. Because the sun is in constant motion, it blurs across the paper in a continuous arc throughout the day unless interrupted by clouds. I tried a larger hole to see if the collective light reflected off foreground objects would deliver a brighter foreground image, but the resulting emphasis was more on the thicker solar lines.

The paired image shows the path of the sun over the past six months. In the winter months, the solar arc is low and interrupted by clouds and tree trunks. In the spring months, the arc is higher as it transits the southern sky but it's more diffuse, often interrupted by emerging leaves that block the sunlight from striking the paper.

You, too, can make and launch a new solargraph as summer gets underway. It starts by emptying a 16-ounce aluminum can, which is a great way to enjoy a hot summer day. Enjoy.