The many and varied uses of photography on Raspberry Pi
Rob Zwetsloot takes us on a tour of Raspberry Pi camera projects of all kinds in this article from issue #155 of Raspberry Pi Official Magazine.
Raspberry Pi camera projects have been around for about as long as Raspberry Pi itself — folks were connecting USB webcams and proper decent cameras to Raspberry Pi long before the first ever Camera Module came out just over a year after the original Model B.
Now there are all manner of Raspberry Pi cameras and even better webcams to use, along with builds and makes of every variety. Here’s just some of the very cool things you can do with a Raspberry Pi and a camera. Say cheese!
MPi point-and-shoot camera
Upcycle an old camera with a Raspberry Pi, film included.
The Raspberry High Quality Camera uses lenses that have a manual focus you can twist, much like cameras of old (and now if you turn autofocus off), and maker Michael Suguitan wanted to capture the original method of camera operation of a Leica M2 using a HQ Camera Module and a Raspberry Pi Zero.
It actually shoots to film and uses the original mechanical shutter. While Michael did add an LCD screen to the rear of the body, he ended up not using it so that he can once again capture the real feeling of old photography – namely, the agonising wait hoping the photo turned out OK.
Eye-Pi IR infrared photography
Many Raspberry Pi cameras have a NoIR variant – usually used for night photography or other infrared sensing builds. Using it for normal photography creates surreal, beautiful photos like in this Eye-Pi IR project that really capture the imagination – we’ve been thinking about it for ten years, after all.
Timelapse photography
See the world in fast-forward.
As Raspberry Pi cameras are controlled via code or terminal commands, it’s very easy to set one up to take photos on specific triggers. A timelapse video is basically just a series of photos taken at regular intervals that are then strung together – an easy task for Python.
This version is a tutorial from a couple of years ago, so the code will reference libcamera – this has since been renamed to rpicam. It works the same – you’ll just need to replace, e.g., libcamera-still with rpicam-still. You can also find the updated version in The Official Raspberry Pi Camera Guide 2nd Edition.
Astrophotography
Astrophotography works very similarly to timelapse photography in that it can use multiple photos to create an image. The trick is to have long exposure times, and several hours spare on a dark hill in the countryside. The things you’ll see, though…
Stop-motion animation
Turn real life into animated shorts
A classic film-making and animation technique that just about anyone can understand. It’s so universal that the Lego movies are entirely computer generated yet replicate the style. It couldn’t be easier – set up a scene, snap, set up the next frame.
Code Club, part of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, has a great tutorial on how to create your own version with a simple push button. We’ve also seen versions that overlay a ghostly image of the previous frame you took so you can better position your next shot.
CinePi video camera
The Python library rpicam is fully capable of taking video as well as photos – including high-frame-rate videos for slow-mo shots. CinePi is one of the most impressive applications of this, aiming to create a true cinema camera powered by a Raspberry Pi, with your imagination the only limit.
Naturebytes nature trap
See what beasties lurk in your garden
This classic Raspberry Pi-based kit comes with everything you need to get shooting your local wildlife – a weatherproof case, a motion sensor, and ways to affix it to a tree. You can provide your own Raspberry Pi and camera, or get a kit that has one included.
Very simply, once a threshold of motion is detected by a PIR sensor, the camera will take photos and/or record a little video snippet. You can add a NoIR camera and IR LEDs for night-time shots (especially if you want to see some hedgehogs).
Security camera
Home security can be important, and with the custom MotionEyeOS for Raspberry Pi, you can set up your own little network of security cameras in your home. Pi My Life Up has a great little tutorial on how to do this, and includes the use of standard webcams.
Photobooth
Make weddings and other events something folks will remember
Photobooths can be very simple or quite complex. On the surface, you just need a big button to activate a camera. Perhaps you’ll have a countdown, and a screen so people can frame themselves properly. The truly good ones have overlays with stickers that you can move around and even printers.
This version was maker Jack Barker’s first Raspberry Pi project, and while it didn’t have a printer, it was finished in time for his own wedding. It successfully took photos of guests, saved to an SD card to retrieve later, and was apparently a great conversation starter.
AI image recognition
In issue 154 of Raspberry Pi Official Magazine, we had a tutorial on using the Raspberry Pi AI Camera to identify different models of Raspberry Pi. AI models can be trained for various tasks, such as a face-detection lock or even checking a production line for faulty products.
To read more from Raspberry Pi Official Magazine, get the latest issue #155 right now from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, WHSmith, and other newsagents, including the Raspberry Pi Store in Cambridge. You can also buy it from our online store, which ships around the world. And you can get a digital version via our app on Android or iOS. Better yet, subscribe to the print version: not only do we deliver worldwide, but if you sign up to a six- or twelve-month print subscription you’ll get a free Raspberry Pi Pico W!
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