Focal Point Launches NomadCam, a Camera Shared by Its Whole Community
Focal Point has launched NomadCam, a shared camera making its way to more than 80 photographers in over 20 countries. Each person keeps it for about a week, makes as many photos as they want, then mails it to the next photographer. The camera started moving on August 3, 2026, and the project's live map and gallery will keep filling in as it reaches new places.
How it works
Whoever has the camera makes photos while it's with them, then mails it to the next photographer when their week is up. Everyone taking part is an existing member of the Focal Point community. Each photo is tagged with wherever it was shot and appears in the gallery in the order it comes in, so the map fills in one pin at a time as the camera moves. Over time, the whole community ends up represented in one shared camera roll.
The camera
NomadCam runs on a Flashback ONE35 V2, a reusable digital camera built to feel like a disposable. It holds a roll of 27 shots before it needs to be emptied out, the same rhythm as an actual disposable camera without the waste or the one-time cost. Nobody holding it has to worry about handling someone else's expensive gear. They just have to remember to make some photos and pass it along.
Funded entirely by donations
Like the rest of Focal Point, NomadCam runs entirely on donations. There's no ad revenue and nothing on the site sits behind a paywall. Shipping the camera from person to person, hosting the map and gallery, and running the rest of the community all come out of the same small pool of support on Ko-fi.
"NomadCam asks one question: what if photographers from all around the world shared one camera? That's what we're going to find out."
Chelsea London Phillips, founder of Focal Point
Follow along
The live map and photo gallery sit at the top of the NomadCam page. Photos show up there as soon as each photographer uploads them, and the map gets a new pin every time the camera reaches somewhere it hasn't been yet.
Where the first camera has been: The first camera started moving through Europe on August 3, 2026, beginning in the Netherlands. More cameras are already moving elsewhere too.
Frequently asked questions
What is NomadCam?
NomadCam is a shared camera making its way to more than 80 photographers in over 20 countries. Each photographer keeps it for about a week, takes as many photos as they want, then mails it to the next person.
Who is taking the NomadCam photos?
Everyone taking part is an existing member of the Focal Point photography community.
Where can I see the photos?
On the live map and gallery at the NomadCam page. New photos and pins appear as photographers upload them.
About Focal Point
Focal Point is a free, community-driven photography education platform founded by Chelsea London Phillips, who also serves as head moderator of r/photography. Its offerings include Photoclass, a twice-yearly cohort-based course, and 52 Weeks with C. London, a year-round weekly photography challenge. NomadCam is Focal Point's newest community project.