Topsy-Turvy camera obscura now open in the New York City park

A huge camera obscura has been placed in a New York City park, in order to teach the general public about one of the oldest moving image technologies.

The camera obscura has been developed by two artists, called Sandra Gibson and Luis Recoder. The two artists are based in New York and they have decided to show people how our ancestors watched moving images hundreds of years ago.

Visitors entering the Topsy-Turvy camera obscura in New York City.

Topsy-Turvy camera obscura is open seven hours a day, seven days a week

It is called “Topsy-Turvy: A Camera Obscura Installation” and it is open daily between 10AM and 5PM local time. However, the site may close sooner than expected, in case the bad weather does not allow the artists to perform their job.

The “device” opened on March 1. It will continue to show visitors a “new view of the New York City landscape” until April 5.

Topsy-Turvy gives park visitors the chance to experience one of the world’s oldest moving image technologies in a 10 x 10-foot structure. The device makes use of light’s properties and captures inverted moving images of the Flatiron District in real-time.

What visitors will see inside the Topsy-Turvy camera obscura.

Camera obscura is one of the earliest moving image technologies

The Topsy-Turvy: A Camera Obscura Installation consists of a room with only one hole, in order to allow light to pass through it. In the room, light bounces off of a surface which turns the image upside down and gives an accurate perspective and color representation of the surrounding areas.

The installation can be accessed by all Madison Square Park visitors, looking to experience New York’s urban landscape with the help of an early photography technique.

Sandra Gibson and Luis Recoder have collaborated at other projects, displayed around the world in museums and galleries, or at well-known film festivals.

The artists said that they wanted to pay a homage to one of the oldest cinematographic technologies and they sent an open invitation to New Yorkers, who want to get a taste of one of the earliest photography devices.