🌍 Celebrating World Pinhole Photography Day 2025
Every year, on the last Sunday of April, photographers across the globe set aside their lenses and embrace the magic of the tiny hole. World Pinhole Photography Day is a celebration of slowing down, seeing differently, and embracing the beautiful imperfections of lensless photography.
As someone who’s been immersed in pinhole photography for years—writing blogs, shooting countless rolls, and sharing the journey on YouTube—this day holds a special place in my creative calendar.
Although the official celebration falls on Sunday, I made my outing on Saturday this year. Free time was scarce, but I like to think of it as Pinhole Weekend—a broader window to unplug, explore, and create. I packed up my gravel bike and set out with two trusted companions: the panoramic RealitySoSubtle 6x17 loaded with expired Fujifilm Acros 100, and the compact Mia 6x6 pinhole camera, freshly loaded with Ilford Delta 100.
🚴♂️ The Ride and the Shots
My first photo of the day was taken early into the ride with the Mia 6x6. I came across a small bridge, and it felt like the perfect starting point. Balancing my tiny tripod precariously on top of a bollard, I carefully set up the shot. With the camera just about steady enough, I exposed the frame for two seconds.
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Not long after, the smooth paved path gave way to a glorious stretch of gravel—my kind of road. Rolling along, I spotted an open field with an old tractor tyre. Something about the scene called for a wider perspective, so I reached for the RealitySoSubtle 6x17. But my small tripod wasn’t tall enough to frame the shot I had in mind. So instead, I made use of the moment by setting the Mia 6x6 directly on the edge of one of the tyres for a more intimate composition.
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Just a short way down the trail, I found another tyre—slightly thinner and perfectly placed. This one gave me the angle and height I was looking for. At last, the 6x17 was in its element. I set it up and captured the next exposure, excited to see how the wide frame would render the scene.
A couple of miles further down the gravel track, the trail—lined with thick bushes and trees—suddenly opened up to reveal a breathtaking view: a vast field of rapeseed, rolling out toward the horizon in a sea of vibrant yellow.
Right away, I knew this scene was made for the RealitySoSubtle 6x17. The panoramic format was perfect for capturing the sweeping expanse. As I set up the shot, it became clear that a taller tripod would’ve been ideal. But when you're on a bike, carrying extra gear has its limits. So, as always, I made do.
My vision was to frame the chalky gravel path cutting through the radiant yellow rapeseed, with a dark green field contrasting on the right—a simple yet striking composition. I’ve often said that the 6x17 would shine with colour film, and in this moment, I felt that more than ever. The bright yellows, rich greens, and texture of the path would’ve been a dream on something like Ektar. Still, I’m happy with how the image turned out, and I’m already planning to come back—with colour film and a taller tripod—to do it justice.
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Just beyond the end of the chalky path, the landscape shifted once again as I rolled into a charming little village. Tucked away in a quiet corner, a small row of shops caught my eye—full of character and perfectly suited to the wide perspective of the RealitySoSubtle 6x17. I set up carefully, framing the scene to highlight the textures and shapes that make these places so special.
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Wandering further through the village lanes, I soon stumbled upon a beautiful old church, an ideal subject for the Mia 6x6. The square format always seems to suit these classic architectural subjects so well. I composed the shot, enjoying the stillness, and let the light do the rest.
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Leaving the village behind, I followed the river trail out into quieter stretches. The road ahead would soon turn to tarmac and offer fewer photo opportunities, so I knew I wanted to make one final image with the 6x17—and this time, I wanted to include my bike.
After all, it was the bike that had carried me on this adventure, weaving together each location and scene. It felt right to let it become part of the story in front of the camera, not just behind it.
As I rode along the river, I came across a bridge that offered just the kind of setting I had in mind. I tried a few compositions, shifting angles and thinking about how to balance the elements in the frame. Eventually, I settled on a view that felt just right—my final exposure of the day, and a quiet tribute to the journey itself.
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Just a short cycle further, something bright red caught my eye—a classic British phone box, beautifully preserved and converted into a tiny community library. It was one of those unexpected gems that make days like this so memorable.
I couldn’t resist stopping. I propped up my bike nearby and reached for the Mia 6x6 once again. The compact square format felt perfect for capturing the charm and symmetry of the scene. I ended up making a couple of exposures here, soaking in the quiet atmosphere and the sense of place that only a pinhole photo can truly capture.
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🛠 The Final Shot of the Day
I had originally planned to save my final frame for Pinhole Day itself. But as I made my way home along a quiet country road, something pulled me to a stop—an old, seemingly abandoned garage, weathered and full of character.
It was one of those moments where you just know you have to take the shot.
I tried a few different angles, but ultimately decided on a straight-on composition. There’s something I really enjoy about that head-on, symmetrical perspective—clean, honest, and visually satisfying. The light was harsh, casting sharp highlights across the facade and making exposure a little tricky, but I’m glad I stuck with it. It turned out to be the perfect, unexpected closer to the day’s roll.
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🎢 Pinhole at Thorpe Park – A Different Kind of Ride
While World Pinhole Day was all about countryside calm and creative exploration, the first few frames on the roll came from a very different place—Thorpe Park, one of the UK’s most iconic theme parks.
This is apart of a series of pinhole photos from theme parks, where we seem to spend a lot of time with the children, me being not a massive coaster fan, I try and take some pinhole images while the kids are on the rides.
📷 Hyperia Entrance
The gateway to the UK’s tallest and fastest coaster, Hyperia. Even standing still, this ride has a presence—perfect for a moody pinhole frame, and have to admit, this was an insane roller coaster, did enjoy this one.
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📷 SAW – The Ride
A shot of one of SAW's disorienting loops. I loved the challenge of trying to capture the tension and shape of this ride with such a low-fi camera.
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📷 Tidal Wave Splash Zone
This the splash zone of Tidal-wave, I didn't capture this during the splash as I did not want to risk damaging the camera or film, as this splash hits hard. But I like the shot, and nice to have Stealth in the background.
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📷 Stealth’s Iconic Arch
My personal favourite: Stealth’s towering 205ft launch arch. There’s something timeless about its silhouette—made even more dreamlike through the eye of the pinhole.
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Final Thoughts
Pinhole photography has a way of slowing things down, even in places designed for speed. Whether it's the quiet beauty of a rapeseed field or the towering steel of a roller coaster, there's always something magical about seeing the world through that tiny aperture.
This year's Pinhole Day adventure—bike rides, bollard balancing, bridges, theme parks and all—was a perfect reminder of why I keep coming back to this process. It’s not just about the images—it’s about the journey, the stories, and the way pinhole encourages you to see the world a little differently.
Thanks for following along—and as always, there’s more to come.
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