Rediscover the Magic: Celebrate Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day 2025

This Sunday, April 27th, photographers around the world will set aside their high-tech gear and return to the purest form of image-making: the pinhole camera. If you love analog photography—or you're just curious about where it all began—Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day is the perfect excuse to slow down, experiment, and get a little messy with light.

What’s Pinhole Photography, Anyway?

Imagine this: no lens, no fancy settings—just a small hole in a light-tight box. Light sneaks through that pinhole and paints an image onto film or paper inside. The photos you get are often dreamlike: soft, sometimes a little warped, but always full of character.

It’s photography stripped back to its soul—and honestly, it feels kind of magical.

Why Should You Try It?

• If You Love Analog: Pinhole taps into the same tactile joy that makes film photography so satisfying—except it’s even slower and more hands-on.
• If You’re a Beginner: There’s no autofocus, no metering stress. It's just about playing with light, time, and patience. It’s an awesome way to understand the basics without getting overwhelmed.
• If You Crave Creativity: Mistakes turn into masterpieces with pinhole photography. Weird blurs, wild light leaks—it's all part of the charm.

How to Get Involved

1. Build or Borrow a Camera: You can DIY a pinhole camera out of a shoebox, a can, or even a body cap for your film SLR. Or, check out gorgeous ready-made options like ONDU, RealitySoSubtle, Mia or even a Holga WPC if you want to dive in.
2. Shoot Your Photo on April 27: Head out into your backyard, a nearby park, or your living room window—pinhole magic happens everywhere.
3. Submit It to the Global Gallery: Upload your favorite photo to pinholeday.org, where it will live alongside thousands of other pinhole shots from around the world.
4. Share and Explore: Post your creation on Instagram with #PinholeDay2025 or #WWPPD and see what others came up with too.

Quick Tips for First-Timers

• Be patient—exposures can be anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes.
• Use a tripod or something sturdy to hold your camera still.
• Embrace the "happy accidents"—they're often the best part!

This weekend, trade precision for poetry. See what happens when you let the light in—just a little at a time.