Pinhole cameras were and are made in an endless variety of shapes, styles, and materials. Any light tight container will do such as a round cardboard oatmeal box, shoe box, aluminum can, or cookie tin. A simple piece of tape or cardboard can serve as a shutter. Film or photographic paper is taped inside and the camera is secured on a tripod or other stable platform exposure is calculated and the shutter is opened. After the shutter is closed the camera is taken into the dark and the film is removed for processing.
Many pinhole cameras employ the use of film holders so multiple exposures can be made on location.
Images made with pinhole cameras are softer and more impressionistic than lens images. This is perhaps why pinhole photography has become popular with some fine art photographers. Pinhole images have tremendous depth of field and wide angle scenes are rectilinear right out to the periphery. Pinhole photography has enjoyed a substantial comeback in recent years. There are many photograph galleries on line sporting the work of well known pinhole photographers.