Welcome to Solarcan, where we blend the art of photography with the science of solargraphy to create stunning, long-exposure photographs of the sun. Capturing the sun’s journey across the sky is as easy as setting up your Solarcan in the direction of the sun’s path and letting nature work its magic.

Perfect for everyone from budding photographers to seasoned artists, science enthusiasts to science teachers, and for those who just like to try something different or want to capture a special place or moment. Solarcan offers a unique way to explore and photograph the wonders of our universe.

Solarcan was born out of a love for photography, art, and astronomy. It all started with Sam Cornwell, our founder, who wanted to create a unique and accessible way for people to explore long-exposure solar photography. During the winter of 2016, Sam crafted DIY pinhole cameras from recycled beer cans for friends and family as Christmas gifts. These simple gifts were a hit, we loved seeing the results they made and we thought other people may love them too, sparking the idea for a professional version.

From Idea to Reality: The journey of The Solarcan gained pace with a Kickstarter campaign and the idea of a pinhole camera shaped like a drinks can resonated with many. This lead to the successful funding and production of the first Solarcan — a simple yet powerful tool that allows anyone to capture the sun’s path over days, weeks, or even months.

The Solarcan brains had been sizzling away and in December 2020 a new Kickstarter campaign followed, this time for the Solarcan Colours, a colourful trio with fancy names and each one capable of producing a different result. Atlantis – with a cool blue finish, Eldorado – a warm, golden appearance with solarised halos and Nebula – a striking, duotone image.

Then, in September 2021, we introduced the Solarcan PUCK—a hockey puck-shaped version capable of taking circular images—through another successful Kickstarter campaign. This innovative new product, with its unique circular compositions, is capable of shorter exposure times and can be reloaded, enabling more exposures and even more Solarcan fun.

Award-Winning Innovation: We took our new Puck along with our new slogan, “The World’s Simplest Camera,” to The Photography Show in Birmingham the following year, and it attracted lots of attention with the attendees. We saw many Solarcan units head to new homes and welcomed lots of new people into the community. The real icing on the cake was being presented with the Best in Show award for our sleek new design and circular, short exposure images. The Puck has proven to be the perfect companion to the Solarcan Classic.

Our team is a small but mighty STEAM team, bringing together expertise in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics and we love what we do. Every Solarcan product is assembled with care in our workshop in Hawick, Scotland. We handle everything in-house, from cutting the photographic paper to precision-drilling the pinholes.

This hands-on approach, from designing and assembling the cameras to packing and shipping them to your doorstep,  ensures that every Solarcan meets our high standards and delivers the best possible experience to our customers.

At Solarcan, we are committed to sustainability. We strive to use as little plastic as possible and aim to make our packaging eco-friendly. Our dedication to the environment reflects our love for the natural world that we capture through our solargraphs.

The Solarcan World Map: Our Solarcan World Map is a visual celebration of our global community’s creativity. This interactive map, filled with images from the Arctic Circle to Antarctica, showcases how Solarcan users capture the sun’s path in various environments and conditions. It’s a testament to the diversity and reach of Solarcan.

Join Our Community: Join our vibrant community of Solarcan users by sharing your solargraphs on social media with #solarcan. Don’t miss out on World Solarcan Day, celebrated twice a year on the summer and winter solstices, where enthusiasts from around the globe share their amazing solargraphs.

Solarcan isn’t just about taking cool photos—it’s also a fantastic educational tool. We offer workshops that combine photography, science, and art, making learning fun and engaging. Schools, clubs, and science fairs can all benefit from our Solarcan Workshop, where participants get to create their own solargraphs and learn about the path of the sun.

Solarcan started as a heartfelt gift for our friends and family during Christmas, and people of all ages enjoy receiving a Solarcan gift. They are well suited for anyone interested in photography, astronomy, science or art, or for those who lust after the ‘Wow’ factor as seeing your Solargraphy image for the first time continues to surprise and delight those who open them.

A Solarcan makes a perfect gift for Birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, weddings, and even the birth of a new baby as you can capture the suns rays over a whole year in one unique image. It’s also a great companion for holidays, allowing you to capture the sun’s path in your favorite destinations.

Give the gift of creativity and discovery with Solarcan!