Discover Pin Hole Photography session 3

No Lens Needed: Discover Pinhole Photography

Why not step into the quiet magic of pinhole photography?

Stripped of lenses and technology, reduced to nothing more than a light-tight box pierced by a single, humble aperture, pinhole photography invites light to wander freely and record the world at its own pace. Each image is formed slowly—over seconds, sometimes minutes—allowing time itself to leave its mark. Clouds soften into brushstrokes, passing figures dissolve into ghostly traces, while buildings remain patient and unmoving, anchoring the frame.

The photographs that emerge are intimate and unpredictable: gently blurred, imperfect, and deeply human. In a culture of instant results and relentless sharpness, pinhole photography offers something rare—an act of waiting, of careful noticing, of surrendering control. It asks us to trust light, chance, and duration, and in doing so, reveals a quieter, more contemplative way of seeing.

-You don’t need any pre-requisite experience but an interest in making images in different ways

There are multiple short sessions and booking is essential

Young people under between ages 10 -18 years can attend but must be accompanied by an adult, guardian - Please book the appropriate ticket there are adult tickets and Child and Guardian tickets available

This workshop is subsidised by Derbyshire Makes and during the session a free further opportunity to participants will be announced to find out more about Derbyshire Makes visit www.derbyshiremakes.co.uk

The Tutor for this workshop is Cath Stanley

Cath Stanley is a Manchester-based photographer and educator whose practice is rooted in landscape, personal experience, and local history. Working primarily within woodland, forests, and overlooked green spaces around Salford and Greater Manchester, her work explores the subtle interplay between nature and urban infrastructure, where motorways, industry, and ecology intersect.

Her practice is closely connected to place and process. Drawing on analogue and alternative photographic methods, Stanley often incorporates natural materials gathered from her surroundings, allowing landscape itself to become both subject and collaborator. Through these tactile, experimental approaches, she reflects on industrial heritage, memory, and the quiet resilience of local environments.

Alongside her creative practice, Stanley is committed to photography education, encouraging slower, more reflective ways of seeing and making images. Her work has been featured through regional photography networks, including Redeye, and in local media, marking her as an important voice within the North West’s contemporary photographic community.

She has been a great supporter of Dark Peak Photo since the inaugural Festival