Camera Obscura

From Wikipedia: ‘A camera obscura (Latin for «dark room») is an optical device that led to photography and the photographic camera. The device consists of a box or room with a hole in one side. Light from an external scene passes through the hole and strikes a surface inside, where it is reproduced, inverted (thus upside-​down), but with color and perspective preserved.‘
The Camera Obscura has been on my list of places to visit since I moved to LA. I forgot all about it, though, until I stayed at the hotel across the street. If you have 15 minutes, it’s worth a look. (If you don’t have the time, Griffith Observatory has a camera obscura, too.) This second floor darkened room has a metal wheel that viewers can turn to see a live panoramic view of the surrounding area. The disappointment is that trees outside obscure much of the view and the reproduced scene is hazy at best. It’s a cool bit of primitive mechanics that is probably best served as a tool to explain the history of photography to children.

I had no clue what to expect going into the Camera Obscura but I had been dying to try it. I loved the mystery of the place and don’t want to take that experience away from you by describing it to much. However, I will say this: this is not an «all day» activity or something that will eat up a lot of time. Me and my date were in there for maybe 8 minutes tops checking it out.
PERKS:
It’s free.
Lady at the desk was super nice.
Is a cool way to see Santa Monica.
Is near the beach.
Is in the thick of things so there’s a lot to see.
CONS:
Was not really a let down, but wasn’t what I expected at all. I guess this is kind of a good and bad thing.
Really just something to stop and see — not something to plan a day around.
TIPS:
Go on a sunny day.
Go with a friend.
Stop for lunch after in one of the many great places around 3^rd street promenade.
Park in one of the lots on third street — 90 minutes of parking is free.

Who knew that this little gem of an antique boutique public educational experience was right here in Santa Monica for FREE? #PamperedByPaul knew! We went here on a date/​outing last Saturday after lunch and before Last Available Seats performance (of Raiders of the Lost Ark), and it was so cool. You go to the senior center, show your ID, sign in, get a key, walk up the stairs and enter a VERY dark room. The captain-​like sailor wheel turns it and you can see Santa Monica surrounding area projected on the flat surface. It’s basically like being inside a camera. Apparently, artists used to use these types of rooms to help with painting and light and perspective. Very cool and definitely earned my adored #nerd points today. *Don’t tell them I told you this, but it is so dark in here and if you are alone, it’s a great place to make out. They may come knocking on the door eventually, but it’s another great aspect of Camera Obscura! Go! Tell your neighbors!

I had no idea this was here, I just drove by and noticed it, did a quick Unilocal search and lo and behold I’m instantly compelled to turn the car around and visit.
The building itself is right off the entrance to the Santa Monica piers, and it’s a large building labeled ‘Camera Obscura.’ You really can’t mess the building.
The trick is getting inside. We spent five minutes waking in circles trying to figure it out. In the end we decided to go into the main entrance of the senior center to ask someone. As it turns out, that was the way in. The nice lady at the desk didn’t ask us to leave an ID or anything and directed us up the stairs into the camera obscura room.
This is a free, interesting, unique attraction. There’s absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t check this out if you’re in the area. It took all of ten minutes and my group of three (one from LA) were all very pleased we happened upon it.
You just kind of have to see it to appreciate it.

to the right, you may see an awesome senior zumba class in action, in front of you, you may see other rec center friends playing a game of chess outside. to the left, up the stairs and through the door is something you’ll just never forget.

I am so glad I took a few minutes out of the day to stop in at the Camera Obscura. I wasn’t really sure what to expect — but I was glad I visited.
The idea behind the Camera Obscura is that it’s an optical device that projects an image of its surroundings on a screen. This object surroundings just happen to be the Santa Monica park and beach. The Camera Obscura in its earliest form led to the eventuality of photography.
Everyone is correct about trading your drivers license for the key to the room at the top of the stairs. The only thing that wasn’t mentioned is that the window where you do this is inside the Senior Center to the right, at the far end of the room.
There’s no rush to get in and get out, you’re able to take as much time as you’d like to appreciate the simple wonder of the enlarged image of the outdoors displayed on the disc in the center of the room.
I made a video and put it on YouTube so you can get an idea of what to expect:

Now that’s a pretty picture!
Discreetly located next to a senior center (and very easy to miss at first glance because it’s nothing fancy) I’ve been coming to the Camera Obscura for nearly 10 years now.
I was first introduced to it by my photography teacher in high school and it’s a great space to remind ourselves to slow it down, be present, and absorb our nearby surroundings.
It’s right next to the beach, which is ideal for it’s actual purpose. I would highly recommend that everyone experience this unique space just once.
Don’t prepare to be «Amazed» or anything but enjoy an opportunity to appreciate the beginnings of modern photography.
Parking: There are some meters near by

I live in Santa Monica and visit the «scura» once every few years. I can spend hours in there so my wife never wants to go with me. I know I need a life. This is a must-​visit for everyone, young and old, big and tall etc. And it’s free so what more can you ask for? It’s near the pier and there’s a bathroom nearby.
Have fun!
Hollywood Howie ⁹⁄₁₀

This is a really cool way to pass 30 – 60 minutes if you’re ever by the Santa Monica beach. Hidden inside the Senior Center, entrance is free if you drop off your ID card at the front desk in exchange for the key.
I gave it three stars because it’s important not to go in with high expectations. I went thinking it would be interesting but not great, and ended up loving it. You get much more than you would expect considering it’s free!
Definitely check this out.

Every city of note needs a good Camera Obscura. And the one in Santa Monica is especially cool — you get a view of some interesting architecture on the edge of town, and then you get a view of the ocean! Absolutely beautiful.
It can be a little scary in the darkened room by yourself, so be sure to take a friend — and if you can avoid it, don’t get stuck being the guy who spins the wheel to make the reflector rotate. People not manning the wheel can move around the display to see the reflected image right side up. (If you get the wheel, you see it upside down, sideways, etc.) But seriously, share; take your turn.
We didn’t have to leave our IDs with the attendant. She opened it for us and then left. Visit once yourself, visit with a child, visit with out-​of-​town guests who have a penchant for the out-​of-​the-​norm.
One of the neatest things I’ve seen in a long time.

I absolutely love Camera Obscura. Maybe it’s because I’m a loner and this place is usually empty. Or perhaps it’s because I am fascinated with watching people do every day people things. Whatever it is, this place rocks.
The camera obscura is located in the santa monica senior center. To get access you’ll need to leave your ID with the attendant as collateral for the keys to the room upstairs. Take the keys, make the quick trip up the stairs and unlock the door to a darkened room. In the center of the room there is a 4 foot disk that has images projected onto it from outside. There is a steering wheel type contraption that will allow you to take a 360 degree look around the area.
It’s certainly not base jumping, but it is still fun, and it’s free! I always thought it was a fun thing to do on a day time date instead of just spending all your time at the pier or the 3^rd street promenade. it’s a nice break from all the people running around santa monica.

I am amazed at all the hidden gems that are found in plain site (sic) in LA. The Camera Obscura is one of those hidden gems, not because of anything earth shattering, but because of its unique place in obscura history.
From the Santa Monica Conservancy, courtesy of Marcello Vavala:
About the Camera Obscura:
The camera obscura (Latin for dark chamber) is an optical device and is one of the inventions that led to modern photography. The earliest mention of this device was by the Chinese philosopher Mo-​Ti (5^th century BS). He formally recorded the creation of an inverted image formed by light rays passing through a pinhole into a darkened room. He called this darkened room a «collecting place» or the «locked treasure room».
In the 19^th century, with improved lenses that could cast larger and sharper images, the camera obscura flourished at the seaside and in areas of scenic beauty. Inside Santa Monica’s Camera Obscura, visitors can rotate an old ship’s wheel to operate the roof-​top revolving turret. The turret houses a mirror that acts as the «lens», reflecting a live image from Ocean Avenue outside onto a table inside. The SM camera obscura was built in 1898 by Robert Jones, nephew of SM city founder Senator John P. Jones and originally was located on the boardwalk at the beach. The city bought it in 1910 and moved it to its current site housed in the senior recreation center.
About the Senior Recreation Center:
This mid-​century modern building that opened in 1955 was designed by noted local architect Weldon J. Fulton. The exterior is Palos Verdes stone cladding, combined with glass walls, sloping roof forms, projecting canopies, exposed rafters and large cursive signage slanting upwards. The Center and Camera Obscura are contributing features to the historic and cultural significance of Palisades Park, recently designated a historic landmark.
If you are in Santa Monica enjoying the sights, this might be something to add to your list as there are only two left in CA, this one in Santa Monica and one in San Francisco. Set aside your blackberry and ipod and take a peak into history when the Camera Obscura was cutting edge technology.

There are a lot of fun things to do at the Pacific Palisades Senior Center in Santa Monica other than peeing in your pants. Take Camera Obscura for example. It’s been there forever, but no one ever goes in because, well, it’s been there forever. Do yourself a favor and go in, so you can tell all your friends how you stood in this dark stuffy room and looked at images of the outside scenery projected onto a four foot disk in the middle of the room. At the turn of the century, this was state of the art entertainment. Now it’s just something free to do that beats the hell out of watching anything with Dane Cook in it.