Prepare and build a camera
Choose light-sensitive photographic paper, make a pinhole, position the paper and seal the camera.
Solarigraphy - a beginner's guide
From your first camera to a finished photograph
Build your own camera, record the Sun's path and turn exposed photographic paper into a finished image. I'll guide you through every step, with photographs, illustrations and advice drawn from my own experiments and mistakes.
122 pages15 chaptersExperience since 2018
Regular price after launchPLN 99
Launch price
Launch price until 1 November 2026.
See the current price on Naffy
Polish-language PDF · Purchase through Naffy
The ebook and free sample are currently available in Polish only. English and Spanish editions are planned.
Weeks and months captured in a single photograph
The bright arcs in these photographs trace the Sun's path. The landscape, weather and passage of time combine to create an image on paper inside a camera.
These are examples of my solarigraphs. In the guide, I explain how to start making your own, from preparing a camera to working on the final image.
Solarigraphs by Dawid Rycąbel / Pinholove
Your first camera? Start here.
I wrote this guide for people discovering solarigraphy and pinhole photography for the first time. It's also for anyone who has tried it but isn't sure why an image turned out poorly or what to change next time.
You don't need previous experience or a professional camera. We'll start with the basics and a simple camera made from a drinks can.
What will you learn?
Choose a location and plan your composition
Understand how the camera's direction, surroundings and the Sun's changing path affect your photograph.
Mount your camera and choose an exposure time
Learn what to watch for when mounting a camera and how short and long exposures produce different results.
Turn a negative into a finished photograph
Learn how to handle the paper after exposure, scan it and process the image digitally.
Recognise common mistakes
Explore possible causes of blank paper, faint images, blur, camera movement and other problems.
Find ideas for your next experiments
Discover unusual cameras and experiments to try once you've mastered the basics.
PDF · 122 pages
Look inside
Camera-building instructions, mounting examples, photographs and side-by-side comparisons. See how the guide looks and how I explain each stage.
Read a free sample
Sample in PolishDownload the opening pages of the chapter on choosing a location for solarigraphy. Explore example compositions, photographs of camera placements and an illustration of the Sun's changing path.
7 pages including the cover, contents and closing page. No sign-up or email address required.
15 chapters
What's inside?
122 pages, 15 chapters and a final checklist to return to during your own experiments.
- What is solarigraphy?
- What do you need to get started?
- Photographic paper for solarigraphy
- The solarigraphy camera
- Build your first camera
- How to make a precise pinhole
- How to choose a location for solarigraphy
- Mounting your camera outdoors
- How long should you expose?
- Solarigraphy with a conventional camera
- Taking your camera down - what next?
- From a negative to a finished solarigraph
- Common problems and mistakes
- What next?
- A solarigrapher's checklist
About the author
Dawid Rycąbel
Creator of Pinholove
My journey into pinhole photography and solarigraphy began in 2018. Since then, I've been experimenting with camera designs, photographic paper and exposure times.
Not every attempt produced a successful image. There were flooded cameras, failed exposures and photographs that looked nothing like I'd imagined. Those experiences helped me understand what works and what to watch out for.
I wrote the guide I wish I'd had when I started. It takes you from your first camera to a finished photograph, helping you get started and avoid mistakes whose effects may only become visible months later.
Dawid / Pinholove
A reader's review
„This book will save beginner solarigraphers months of mistakes we've all been through. Great work, Dawid!”
Jakub
Translated from Polish.
Pinholove / PDF
Take the first step towards your own solarigraph
The whole process in one guide: preparing a camera, planning an exposure, handling the negative and working on the finished photograph.
After purchase, you'll receive an email linking to your Naffy customer panel, where you can download the PDF.
Solarigraphy - from your first camera to a finished photograph
- Full edition: 122 pages, 15 chapters.
- Format: PDF.
- Ebook language: Polish.
- Digital product. No printed book is shipped.
Regular price after launchPLN 99
Launch price
Launch price until 1 November 2026.
See the current price on Naffy
Buy the Polish ebookYou'll go to Naffy to complete your purchase.
The ebook and free sample are currently available in Polish only. English and Spanish editions are planned.
Frequently asked questions
Is the guide suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. I start with the basics: what solarigraphy is, what you need and how to build your first camera. No previous pinhole photography experience is assumed.
Do I need an expensive camera?
No. You can build your first camera from a drinks can. You'll need light-sensitive photographic paper, a needle and materials to seal the camera, among other supplies. The guide explains how to choose them.
Do I have to wait six months for my first photograph?
No. The guide includes examples of different exposure times. Shorter experiments help you learn how the camera works, while months-long exposures record the Sun's path differently. Weather, paper and location also affect the result.
Do I need Photoshop?
No. I demonstrate editing in Photoshop, but the basic operations can also be done in another editor, such as GIMP.
What format and language is the ebook available in?
It is a PDF in Polish. You can read it on a device that supports PDF files. English and Spanish editions are planned. Changing the website language does not change the language of the file you are buying.
Will I receive a printed book?
No. You are buying a PDF ebook. A printed copy is not included.
Can I read a sample before buying?
Yes. The free PDF includes the cover, contents, pages 39-42 of the full edition and a closing page linking to the guide. The sample is in Polish and can be downloaded without providing an email address.
Where can I buy the ebook?
The purchase button takes you to my Naffy product page, where you can select an available payment method and complete your order.
How will I receive the ebook?
After payment, you'll receive a purchase confirmation email with a link to your Naffy customer panel. You can download the PDF from there.
Does the PDF contain a watermark?
Yes. Naffy adds a personalised watermark containing the buyer's email address to the PDF pages.