When most people look at a potato, they think of mashed spuds or hot chips, but Albany amateur photographer Colin Lowe sees a camera.

Mr Lowe crafted his spud cam two weeks ago after a relative bet him he could not take a photo with a potato.

Using a tomato paste tin, fridge magnet, two 35mm film canisters, gaffer tape and elastic bands, Mr Lowe proved his family member wrong.

Mr Lowe attracts attention walking around Albany with his spud cam mounted on a tripod.

He even has his picture taken while snapping shots with it.

"I get a lot of stares. A few guys asked if it was April Fool's Day and if it was for real," he said.

"When I explain it, they get very interested."

Colin Lowe uses his spud cam around Albany. ( Supplied: Colin Lowe )

Mr Lowe made his first pinhole camera out of a cereal box more than 20 years ago.

A pinhole camera is basically a light-proof box with a small hole on one side.

More recently, Mr Lowe has fashioned them from driftwood, a blender and is working on a boab nut model.

"You can make things out of whatever you find in your back shed," Mr Lowe said.

"It's a challenge. It's pushing the boundaries to see what you can do."

Albany amateur photographer Colin Lowe took this selfie with his spud cam. ( Supplied: Colin Lowe )

Mr Lowe enjoys experimenting to produce unique, long-exposure pictures.

"Every image you take will be unique because you can never replicate it," he said.

"It's not until you process the film that you can see what you have got."

An unusual viewpoint

Albany amateur photographer Bob Symons's shot of UWA Albany using a drainpipe pinhole camera. ( Supplied: Bob Symons )

Pinhole photography is also a passion for ACE Camera Club member Bob Symons.

Mr Symons's latest model was crafted using 160mm drainage pipe salvaged from his back shed.

Bob Symons tested his drainpipe camera with a selfie. ( Supplied: Bob Symons )

"You can make them out of pretty much anything that's light-proof," he said.

"It's something you can make according to all the calculations, but I like to experiment and see what you can do.

"I'm thinking about making one out of a rubbish bin."

Mr Symons tested his drainpipe cam with a selfie, which took a lot longer than a smartphone, at up to five minutes of exposure time.

He started documenting Albany's landmarks with it last month.

Mr Symons has captured unusual perspectives of Old Farm Strawberry Hill, UWA Albany, the Brig Amity and Point King Lighthouse, and is enjoying the elaborate process involved.

"Photography has become a bit too automated so this is like the old days where you are more involved," he said.

"There's a possibility and you put it into practice. That's the fun part."