Learn how pinhole photography works, try out different ways of making a camera. Discover exciting experimental ways of producing photographic images with the camera you’ve built.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
Pinhole photography is a very different experience to photography using a camera. To know what you’re going to get you have to try out lots of different things and get ready for some surprises. This hands-on course takes you miles away from digital photography.
Learn the basics of darkroom processes and developing your prints under red light.
What will we cover?
The history and theory of pinhole photography
How to make a pinhole camera
Exposure times for pinhole
Making lots of pinhole images using different cameras
The basics of wet process in our darkroom tent
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Make and use a variety of pinhole cameras
Use a darkroom workflow in a variety of ways to produce prints, paper negatives and negatives
Have an understanding of how to make your own pinhole cameras out of a variety of objects/materials
Have an understanding of calculating/estimating exposure times with a pinhole camera
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for anyone interested in alternative or traditional photographic processes. Some understanding of camera settings will be helpful for the pinhole component of the course but not so much for the contact printing element.
You will need to be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, hand-outs and for health and safety information, and be prepared to take part in group discussion. You should be happy using numbers and able to do simple measurements and calculations.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught through presentations, demonstrations, and practical tasks using darkroom chemistry under red light in our darkroom tent.
Materials will be available via Google Classroom.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring a pen and notebook. An apron may useful to protect your clothes from chemical residue.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
If you’ve got a taste for something a bit different, why not try Alternative Photographic Processes, Processing Your Own Black and White Film, Drawing with Light, or Experimental Photography?
Scott Perry is a photographic artist and lecturer who works across a broad range of different photographic techniques and processes within his practice, including a specialism in experimental and analogue processes. His main interest within photography is in the way in which photographs are seen and shared, whether that is through prints shared on the wall, creating photobooks, or projecting still and moving images. He has also exhibited internationally, including numerous times at the Polish Festival of Pinhole Photography and venues in Italy, Portugal, USA and across the UK. Perry is also a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Westminster, where he is exploring the way in which events (specifically UK airshows) are documented and communicated through photography; with a focus on the expanded field of photography through light art practices. At City Lit, Scott teaches a range of courses including Pinhole Photography, Digital Printing and Wildlife Photography with the breadth of the courses mirroring his practice.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
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Discover exciting experimental ways of producing photographic images with the camera you’ve built.</p>00https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/e/x/experimental_pinhole_photography-1.jpghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/e/x/experimental_pinhole_photography-2.jpghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/e/x/experimental_pinhole_photography-4.jpg3030640Experimental pinhole photography199199https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/e/x/experimental_pinhole_photography-3_1.jpgInStockDaytimeSunKeeley StreetAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekend2026-09-20T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Art & designVY933199199Experimental pinhole photography159129199Scott Perryexperimental-pinhole-photography/vy933-2627<p>Learn how pinhole photography works, try out different ways of making a camera. Discover exciting experimental ways of producing photographic images with the camera you’ve built.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-20 00:00:00<p>Pinhole photography is a very different experience to photography using a camera. To know what you’re going to get you have to try out lots of different things and get ready for some surprises. This hands-on course takes you miles away from digital photography.</p><p></p><p>Learn the basics of darkroom processes and developing your prints under red light.</p><p>Learn how pinhole photography works, try out different ways of making a camera. Discover exciting experimental ways of producing photographic images with the camera you’ve built.</p><ul><li>The history and theory of pinhole photography</li><li>How to make a pinhole camera</li><li>Exposure times for pinhole</li><li>Making lots of pinhole images using different cameras</li><li>The basics of wet process in our darkroom tent</li></ul><ul><li>Make and use a variety of pinhole cameras</li><li>Use a darkroom workflow in a variety of ways to produce prints, paper negatives and negatives</li><li>Have an understanding of how to make your own pinhole cameras out of a variety of objects/materials</li><li>Have an understanding of calculating/estimating exposure times with a pinhole camera</li></ul><p>This course is suitable for anyone interested in alternative or traditional photographic processes. Some understanding of camera settings will be helpful for the pinhole component of the course but not so much for the contact printing element.</p><p><br>You will need to be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, hand-outs and for health and safety information, and be prepared to take part in group discussion. You should be happy using numbers and able to do simple measurements and calculations.</p><p>You will be taught through presentations, demonstrations, and practical tasks using darkroom chemistry under red light in our darkroom tent.</p><p>Materials will be available via Google Classroom.</p><p>Please bring a pen and notebook. An apron may useful to protect your clothes from chemical residue.</p><p>If you’ve got a taste for something a bit different, why not try Alternative Photographic Processes, Processing Your Own Black and White Film, Drawing with Light, or Experimental Photography?</p>PhotographyPhotography skills & workshopsvirtual159199129VY933NONESun20/09/26 - 27/09/2610:30 - 16:3010:3016:302 sessions (over 2 weeks)21 to 4 weeksDaytimeWeekendKSKeeley StreetScott PerryBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-09-20T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Art & design199199Experimental pinhole photographyexperimental-pinhole-photography/vy933-2627<p>Learn how pinhole photography works, try out different ways of making a camera. Discover exciting experimental ways of producing photographic images with the camera you’ve built.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-20 00:00:00<p>Pinhole photography is a very different experience to photography using a camera. To know what you’re going to get you have to try out lots of different things and get ready for some surprises. This hands-on course takes you miles away from digital photography.</p><p></p><p>Learn the basics of darkroom processes and developing your prints under red light.</p><p>Learn how pinhole photography works, try out different ways of making a camera. Discover exciting experimental ways of producing photographic images with the camera you’ve built.</p><ul><li>The history and theory of pinhole photography</li><li>How to make a pinhole camera</li><li>Exposure times for pinhole</li><li>Making lots of pinhole images using different cameras</li><li>The basics of wet process in our darkroom tent</li></ul><ul><li>Make and use a variety of pinhole cameras</li><li>Use a darkroom workflow in a variety of ways to produce prints, paper negatives and negatives</li><li>Have an understanding of how to make your own pinhole cameras out of a variety of objects/materials</li><li>Have an understanding of calculating/estimating exposure times with a pinhole camera</li></ul><p>This course is suitable for anyone interested in alternative or traditional photographic processes. Some understanding of camera settings will be helpful for the pinhole component of the course but not so much for the contact printing element.</p><p><br>You will need to be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, hand-outs and for health and safety information, and be prepared to take part in group discussion. You should be happy using numbers and able to do simple measurements and calculations.</p><p>You will be taught through presentations, demonstrations, and practical tasks using darkroom chemistry under red light in our darkroom tent.</p><p>Materials will be available via Google Classroom.</p><p>Please bring a pen and notebook. An apron may useful to protect your clothes from chemical residue.</p><p>If you’ve got a taste for something a bit different, why not try Alternative Photographic Processes, Processing Your Own Black and White Film, Drawing with Light, or Experimental Photography?</p>PhotographyPhotography skills & workshopsconfigurable
