Afghan Box Camera

The Afghan box camera, also known as the "kamra-e-faoree," is a handmade, wooden camera that functions as both a camera and a darkroom. It allows photographers to capture and develop images on the spot, using traditional photographic paper and chemical processes. This portable device has been widely used in Afghanistan for decades, offering an affordable and instant way to create portraits for identification and keepsake, often in outdoor settings.

Building the Camera

I built my Afghan Box Camera in 2019. I designed it around an early 1900's large format camera lens that I acquired at a flea market. The lens was attached to a home-made "magic lantern" which, at the time, was just some weird piece of junk that the seller and I were puzzled by.

My initial research was minimal, but I had just recently stumbled upon the Afghan Box Camera Project online and was intrigued. So I used their published pdf building guide as by bible. Otherwise, I just dove in with very little plan.

I first made a cardboard model which confirmed the lens and concept would work so then I just started building and re-engineering things as I went along.

The only outcome I had in my head was that I wanted it to perform and look as authentic as possible so I used as much scrap wood and leftovers as possible.

Using the Camera

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