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Digital Work
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EYM Project
Shetland in a can
If you come across one of the Beer Can Cameras, please leave this where it is and do not move it.
Shetland in a Can is a small-scale creative project by Chris G Smith and Shetlander Iain Derbyshire, using handmade pinhole cameras crafted from old beer cans to capture Solargraphs—long-exposure photographs that record the path of the sun over days, weeks, or even months.
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Each can contains a piece of photographic paper and a tiny pinhole, and when placed in position and left undisturbed, it gradually captures the slow arc of sunlight across the sky. The result is a ghostly, dreamlike image that maps time and light in a way traditional photography can't.
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We're doing this to explore a slower, more reflective form of image-making—one that embraces unpredictability, the weather, and the passage of time. It's also a way to connect with Shetland's unique landscape and light, using simple, recycled materials to create something quietly beautiful.
The first phase of the project involved making the pinhole cameras. We began by thoroughly washing and drying the beer cans, then carefully removing their tops to access the interiors. To reduce internal reflections—which could interfere with image quality—we sprayed the inside of each can with matte black paint, dulling the naturally shiny aluminium surface.
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Once the paint had dried, we created the tiny pinholes and aligned pieces of photographic paper inside the cans to face the openings. After sealing them shut, the cameras were ready to be placed at selected outdoor locations across Shetland.
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Since solargraphy is a slow process—capturing light over days, weeks, or even months—these initial cans will act as test pieces. They’ll help us better understand the exposure times needed to create the kind of images we’re aiming for.
Update - 03.07.25
Unfortunately, it isn't good news. Three of the Beer Can Cameras have been tampered with and have disappeared. They were cut down by the look of things. We found one of the missing tampered ones thrown behind a seawall which I was thankfully able to recover.
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The Shetland weather had other ideas for two of the other cans with them being dislodged and blown away. I managed to also recover these cans thankfully.
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The remaining Beer Can Camera was still intact where we left it originally, so we collected it in after five and a half weeks of exposure.
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What we've learnt is that securing the cameras is something we need to improve. We also think think that going as "incognito" as possible to reduce the amount of cameras that will be tampered with is a good idea too.
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We've replaced 2 of the missing Beer Can Cameras and they shall now stay in place until September with regular checks to ensure they're still there.
Update - 13.06.25
We now have six Beer Can Cameras set up in a few locations in the South of Shetland's Mainland. These will serve as tests to determine the length of time that they can be left out to capture a tangible image.
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After two weeks of exposure I shall retrieve the first of the Beer Can Cameras from Sumburgh Head. I will then check the exposure and fix the image to ensure it is no longer sensitive to light.
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After four weeks, I'll collect the 2nd Beer Can Camera from Compass Head and keep repeating this until we have twelve weeks worth of test images which will hopefully provide us with a good idea of how long the next set of Beer Can Cameras will need to be left out.
