Eight dedicated photography students from Honeoye Falls – Lima High School gathered on Sunday, April 27 to participate in Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day.  Organized events took place in 27 countries for the annual event that engages students in utilizing lensless cameras, called pinhole cameras. 

A pinhole camera is a simple device, often handmade, that is a light-tight box with a small opening, or aperture at one end.  The device lets light in to expose film, photographic paper or other light sensitive material inside.

Students Nate Bailey, Elliot Darling, Pat Depuy, Ashley Olin, Erin Olin, Pat Riordin, Anna Weldon and Holly Weldon captured images from around the area which will be on permanent display on the World Pinhole Site at www.pinholeday.org.

The event was organized by High School photography and art teacher Harold Coogan in response to interest expressed by his students.

“The students were very enthusiastic about participating, but obtaining access to the school’s darkroom to load the cameras and process the images was a challenge on a Sunday,” said Coogan.  “Superintendent Dr. Michelle Kavanaugh volunteered to come in on her day off and join us at the event.  Not only did she attend the event, she even made her own photography.  That’s the kind of support and interest that makes me really appreciate our schools and community.”

The event was, in many ways, a family affair.  Senior photography major Anna Weldon’s sister and mother, a teacher at HF-L, joined her in experimenting with an old-fashioned camera that uses 4 x 5 inch film negatives.  Ashley and Erin Olin photographed their brother’s seventh birthday party at the local bowling alley.

Coogan hopes the interest will continue and this will be an annual event at HF-L and that more participants from the school and community will join in the celebration.