Lumina (Latin plural of “light”) speaks to the rays you capture.

Obscura (Latin for “dark, hidden”) points to the dark chamber or process that makes the image visible.

Together, they describe the very essence of this century-old craft: you capture beams of light into a dark box to reveal something unexpected. It is a mobile darkroom that revives the early tradition of street box photography. Using a handmade wooden camera and photo paper, we create timeless black-and-white portraits developed on the spot.

A street box camera is a portable darkroom housed in a wooden box. It uses photographic paper instead of film. When the shutter is released, the paper inside is exposed to light through a lens, creating a paper negative. A positive image is produced by re-photographing the paper negative onto another sheet of paper, turning it into a positive print. All this is processed entirely within the box using traditional photo chemicals.

A street box camera was first popular with traveling photographers at fairs and seaside promenades in the late 1800s. These portable studios made portraiture immediate and intimate.

Yes and no. While the photographic technique this camera uses dates back over a hundred years, all the materials that make up this camera are new and carefully assembled by hand. The camera was built by me in Bangkok using materials and parts from Instant Box Camera, a street box camera kit designed by Austrian photographer Lukas Birk.

No. We use light-sensitive photo paper inside the camera instead of film. The first image is a paper negative, which is then used to create a paper positive print. It’s all analog and developed immediately on-site within the camera.

We offer traditional analog portrait experiences using a century old photography technique. In each basic portrait session, you will get one negative print and one positive print of your portrait, and a paper frame. We also offer different packages and customizations at our pop-up. Be sure to follow us on socials to get the latest updates.

A typical portrait session (setting up, shooting, developing, and drying) takes between 15-20 minutes.

You come to the pop-up booth and we set up the shot. You can either stand or sit on a tall stool. I’ll focus using the camera’s ground glass plate. From this point, you’ll need to stay very still.

I then place the light-sensitive photo paper onto the focusing plate inside the box which is in complete darkness. If you move between the moment we set focus and the moment the photo paper is placed, the final image may be blurry, as I can no longer refocus after the paper is placed.

Next, I use a light meter to measure the exposure time. I take the shot by removing the lens cap for a few seconds, depending on what the light meter suggests. Once the exposure is done, you can move.

I develop the photo inside the box. The first print will be a negative. I then repeat the process, but this time the subject is your negative print instead of you, in order to create a positive print. And that completes the session.

Only if your original paper negative is still in tact! Since we work with paper negatives, they function like film and cannot be reprinted if lost or destroyed. A new portrait session would be required. Please handle your prints with care and store them safely.

Yes. Although the entire process is analog, the paper negative can be scanned—even with a phone—and digitally inverted into a positive image. If you'd like a digital version of your portrait, we can send it to you free of charge upon request.

The camera is best suited for solo portraits, though two-person shots may be possible if space and lighting allow.

While the technique is often called instant photography, it’s instant only by the standards of over a hundred years ago. Each portrait still requires a few deliberate steps: composing, focusing, exposing the image, and then developing it by hand inside the camera box.

The exposure itself could take more a few seconds, so subjects need to remain very still—even slight movements can cause blur. For this reason, fidgety pets and small children may not be ideal subjects, unless they’re able to stay calm and still during the process.

We do not currently offer private bookings—but we’re always open to discussing creative ideas or special arrangements. If you have something in mind, feel free to reach out.

Because I’m just one person and I don’t have a permanent studio. The camera is also large and not easily movable. Pop-up sessions are set up at a designated public space with a simple backdrop, depending on available light and surroundings.

Me! I’m a freelance film photographer based in Bangkok. I’ve always been passionate about vintage analog photography and I want to share this experience with others. See the main website for my other work.

We’re currently planning pop-ups around Bangkok. Keep checking this page for updates.

You can also follow us on Instagram at @atelier.lumina.obscura or add us on LINE or WhatsApp.

You can read about what we do, how we do it, and what the limitations are in our Terms of Service.