Whenever a Camera Obscura shows up on a "things to do" map search, you can be sure TSG will be heading in that direction.
Whangārei's Timatatanga Hou ("new beginning") Camera Obscura is a recent example. Other versions we've visited had the "eye" on top of the building with a control that rotated the lens for a 360 degree view.This one had it's "eye" on the side wall with a control that only seemed to close the lens.
In the "more obscure" category, we encountered this derelict/defunct example on the road to Wairere Boulders Nature Reserve. According to a local gentleman who happened by, it was supposed to be an attraction for an adventure park project that never got off the ground.
I had no idea that places like this existed. Outside of an occasional children's museum, that is.
ReplyDeleteMy first Camera Obscura encounter was in Edinburgh and I'm always on the lookout for more. The memory that stands out from that visit was the tour guide holding a sheet of paper above the image table to "pick up" and track a passing seagull as it flew across the field of view.
DeleteThere's a list on the Atlas Obscura website that does not include the Whangārei location. I have emailed them and look forward to seeing an update.