As a medium of art, photography is more than the capture of mega pixels. The true light stalkers will tell you that the pleasure of photography lies even before releasing the shutter. It’s scouting of locations, setting up your equipment, and waiting for the best light that gives half the satisfaction. So, some artists and photographers are going back to the traditions of film and even to alternative photography to rediscover the art in this digital age. Pinhole photography is one such alternative form, taking photography back 150 years. 

A Pinhole camera in its simplest form is nothing but a “lens less” camera.  A simple matchbox, discarded oatmeal, shoe, shirt boxes, a PVC pipe and much more can be converted into a simple camera. A film or photographic paper to capture the image as it passes through the tiniest of holes made on a piece of tin from discarded coke cans. Your entire camera is ready for a fraction of the cost.

Alternative photography artists based in Goa, Edson Dias, P. Madhavan, Srinivas Mangipudi, and Enith Perez are the brains behind the initiative to bring an exclusive art space dedicated to alternative photography. The Goa – Center for Alternative Photography (Goa-CAP) aims to become a professional and comprehensive platform for the promotion of such arts.

The center is nestled in a quiet lane near the famous beaches of Calangute. A sunny exterior is apt for the vision the center aims to bring to the art scene in Goa and more so in India. Involving, educating and interacting with other alternative artists and greater photography community being one of their goals towards creating collaboration across the planes.

Through exhibitions, workshops and on site residency programs the center introduces the mystical world of pinhole photography. The images are unlike digital or even film, for here the nature of photography becomes simpler, more lyrical than sharp. To really feel the magic of photograph again do drop by.