Great Union Camera Obscura, Isle of Man

The Great Union Camera Obscura is unique amongst camera obscuras in the world as it has eleven lenses. The Isle of Man’s camera obscura was built in 1892 as an attraction for the flourishing Manx tourist industry. The masterpiece works by using a series of mirrors and lenses which are located around the roof line above a darkened room. Views of the surrounding area are then projected onto a circular table which has been separated by partitions to give 11 moving colour pictures of the 360 degree view which includes Douglas harbour, the lighthouse and horizon.