NT NETWORK
Would you believe that a tiny match box could be used as a camera to click pictures? Yes, it is true, and it is called a pinhole camera - a camera without a lens. After digital photography the boom, there are now new avenues coming up in photography.

Pinhole photography, a rather old and cheap technique, is now getting a new lease of life. To celebrate this art form the Goa Centre for Alternative Photography (Goa-CAP) is exploring the art of pinhole photography through an exhibition titled ‘El Transporte de Mi Mama’, at the Art chamber, Calangute from April 25 to May 9.
This first Goa international pinhole photography exhibition is based on the recent international contest organised by Goa-CAP in order to support, promote and celebrate the art of pinhole photography in India and to honour the Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day celebrated on April 25. The exhibition features the work of 191 artists from 41 countries, right from USA to Uruguay.
The exhibition will be inaugurated by the Consul General of Argentine Republic, Mr Fernando Luis Ras at 7 p.m. at the Art Chamber, Calangute. After the inauguration Ms Palmira Coutinho will be honoured for her dedication and contribution to the art of photography.
“We have invited the Consul General of Argentina as we received many entries from Argentina. The exhibition will feature 40 photographs from different countries that have been experimented with various handmade cameras and alternative processes. These pinhole photographs are taken without any lens; through a small hole, about the size of the pin. The cameras used to capture these photos are made from ordinary stuff such as shoeboxes, peeled tomato cans or tea boxes,” stated Edson Dias of Goa-CAP. Forty images were selected from out of 507 images. However, the remaining pictures will be displayed through a slide show.
He believes that pinhole photography is quite a personal experience as you are involved right from making the camera to developing of the image.
However, there were just four entries from India, none of which were selected in the final 40 photographs. Goa-CAP wants to promote this art form on a wider platform. “We will be conducting some workshops for kids during the exhibition from May 3 to May 5 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Also we conduct workshops at our centre at Calangute,” added Dias.
These images have been juried by an eminent jury panel comprising of some of internationally acclaimed pinhole and alternative photographers namely Ms Mieko Tadokoro, chairman of Japan Pinhole Photographic Society (JPPS), Mr Gregg D Kemp, founding member Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day (WPPD) and founder of Pinhole Visions website, Mr Byron James Bignell, founder of Pinhole Gallery, a gallery of Contemporary Pinhole Photography and Ms Keliy Anderson-Staley, workshop coordinator, The Centre for Alternative Photography.
Along with this exhibition on May 1 they will host a photography quiz conducted by quiz master Mr Rajiv D’Silva at 7 p.m. at the Art Chamber, titled as ‘Focus Pocus.’ On May 6, from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. there will be ‘Camera Lucida’ - an interactive reading of pinhole imagery gallery talk by Apurva Kulkarni, art historian, and an artist.