What if we made a camera that sees in reverse?

Yeah, you read that right – what if we could build a camera that sees in reverse or around objects? Shane of Stuff Made Here wondered the same, but he went from wondering to actually building one. He created an extraordinary one-pixel camera, and he guides you through this ambitious project in his latest video.

Building the camera… And all the challenges of the process

Instead of a fixed sensor, Shane uses a single-pixel detector that collects light one point at a time. By moving this sensor around and carefully tracking its position, his camera recreates a full image. This approach also lets Shane manipulate how the “lens” behaves, even creating perspectives that defy reality.

Shane’s design relies on a rotating arm to move the one-pixel detector through space. The arm spins quickly while a small cart on it adjusts the sensor’s position. The setup also includes a mirror to control the viewing angle and an ingenious counterbalance system to eliminate vibrations. Something like image stabilization, I’d say.

But spinning an arm with electronics attached presents unique challenges. Wires can twist and break, so Shane mounts the electronics directly on the rotating arm. A slip coupling connects the spinning components to stationary power and control systems, allowing operation without interruptions and unpleasant surprises.

One of Shane’s biggest hurdles is dealing with low light. Traditional cameras use lenses to focus light onto their sensors, but Shane’s one-pixel design captures far less light. To amplify the faint signal, he adds a specialized amplifier—after learning the hard way that building one himself wasn’t practical. With this upgrade, the camera starts producing clearer (though still noisy) images.

By programming the sensor’s movements, Shane simulates lenses that eliminate perspective or even reverse it. One example is creating an orthographic projection, where objects appear the same size regardless of their distance from the camera. Another trick reverses the field of view, making distant objects look the same or even larger than closer ones.

After 137 failed attempts, Shane successfully took a photo of a wall, which sounds underwhelming – but that’s what he was aiming for! “Who needs drugs when you have engineering?” Shane jokingly says after the test. What he points out and I find it important to highlight – “there is a finite number of issues.” And if you’re persistent enough, you’ll solve all of them and get to the result you want.

Seeing around objects

The highlight of Shane’s project is testing whether his camera can “see” around objects. By moving the sensor in a circular path and combining data from different angles, the camera can reconstruct parts of an image that would otherwise be blocked. The result? A surprisingly clear and eerie image of Shane himself. He was behind a board and the camera was in front of it – but it captured his portrait. It’s incredibly cool!

Though the camera initially only produces black-and-white images, Shane adapts it for color by using red, green, and blue filters. By taking three separate images and combining them, he creates vibrant, full-color photos. The results are raw and pixelated but undeniably creative. You may be familiar with this technique – it’s actually rather old (yet still fascinating if you ask me).

At the end of the video, Shane took a portrait of his wife using his camera. The main challenge when photographing people, which Shane experienced while posing too, was that they needed to sit incredibly still, like those people in Victorian portraits. Otherwise, their faces appear all wonky and weird. Or as he’d say to his wife, making me laugh out loud, “You kinda look like Thomas the Tank.” Nevertheless, all of the photos he took with this camera are incredible achievements!

For Shane, the beauty of this project lies in its imperfections. Unlike digital cameras that produce flawless images with ease, his device requires effort and experimentation. This makes each photo feel more like a work of art. Shane’s excitement as he captures these images is contagious, and I strongly suggest you watch the entire video as he guides you through the process, shows you the results, and cracks some really witty jokes.

[What if we made a camera that sees in reverse? | Stuff Made Here]

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