Curiosity Day at Fotomuuseum

“Frankenstein” cameras and the art of using old cameras

When people talk about analogue photography—which, incidentally, was added to Germany’s UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2025—they usually think of working in a darkroom under red light, using photographic chemicals. But taking photographs with a mechanical camera comes before developing and enlarging prints. Fotomuuseum has a darkroom too (which you can also explore during the day), but this time our Curiosity Day focuses on old photographic equipment and the skills involved in using it.

The Camera Rescue movement, launched in Finland twelve years ago, says that most of the world’s analogue cameras are now forgotten and unused in people’s homes. Fotomuuseum invites you to rediscover and use them!

12:00 | Curator’s Hour: “Frankenstein” cameras from Fotomuuseum’s collection
Tanel Verk will bring out a selection of unique cameras, rebuilt by photographers, from storage for this day only. We’ll explore how cameras were built and modified by hand when resources were limited.

13:00–16:00 | Hands-on camera room: from half-frame and Moon cameras to large format
Photography enthusiast Jaanus Muruõis will join Fotomuuseum with a representative selection of cameras to explore, handle, cock and even take a picture with. A small selection of Fotomuuseum’s own cameras will also be available. Look through the ground glass of a large-format 20 × 25 cm plate camera, try a legendary Hasselblad, and see an “analogue GIF camera” with 16 lenses.

Check whether your old camera is in working order, or give it a new lease on life! Jaanus will bring a special device for measuring camera shutter speeds, which visitors can use to check that cameras brought from home are working properly. You can also ask for advice on maintaining and checking cameras.

If you have an old film camera at home that you no longer use, you can donate it to Fotomuuseum’s collection of cameras for use, which we hope to expand for educational programmes and enthusiasts.

From this season, a ticket is required to attend Fotomuuseum events (a museum card does not grant entry).