More Holga Fun

I've become quite fond of my Holga 120N camera over the past year.  I've ran a number of different film styles through it and I've shot it in various lighting conditions and settings.  I've had great results; I've had good results and I've had bad results.  It's all part of the fun with film and the Holga.  My latest Holga experiment came on my recent trip to San Francisco and Sonoma.  I shot a roll of Lomography 100 Color Negative film and a roll of Kodak Tri-X 400 (which was shot with a Holga red filter).  The color negative was shot on Alcatraz and around Fisherman's Wharf.  The Tri-X was shot in Sonoma and the rest of the roll was finished up in Ohio at the Hobart Nature Preserve.  I was pleased with the results; I hope you enjoy them as well.

Camera:  Holga 120N
Film:  Lomography 100 Color Negative

Camera:  Holga 120N with Holga Red Filter
Film:  Kodak Tri-X 400

Camera:  Holga 120N
Film:  Lomography 100 Color Negative

Camera:  Holga 120N with Holga Red Filter
Film:  Kodak Tri-X 400

Camera:  Holga 120N
Film:  Lomography 100 Color Negative

Camera:  Holga 120N with Holga Red Filter
Film:  Kodak Tri-X 400

Camera:  Holga 120N
Film:  Lomography 100 Color Negative

Camera:  Holga 120N with Holga Red Filter
Film:  Kodak Tri-X 400

Camera:  Holga 120N
Film:  Lomography 100 Color Negative

Camera:  Holga 120N with Holga Red Filter
Film:  Kodak Tri-X 400

Camera:  Holga 120N
Film:  Lomography 100 Color Negative

Camera:  Holga 120N
Film:  Lomography 100 Color Negative

Random Film - Lomography Redscale 100

First, I would like to apologize for not keeping up with the new features of the blog that I planned on implementing awhile back.  I briefly discussed some photo news in one post, but I've yet to launch the photographer profile section.  I was busy with a few other things in my life at the time and I haven't been able to keep it as updated as I would like.  I still plan on launching that section and providing some additional photo news, I just don't have a timeline for it. 

I recently blogged about my trip to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.  In preparation for that trip, I had to finish shooting a number of started rolls in various cameras.  I recently finished all of those rolls and just received them back from processing.  My next few posts will be dedicated to talking about the film used, the cameras they were shot with and the images.  The first film that I'm going to discuss is Lomography Redscale 100.

When I purchased my Hasselblad 500 c/m, the only roll of film I currently had lying around to test it out was the redscale film.  Two items that are on opposite ends of the spectrum; one of the sharpest medium format cameras made and a film that is shot on the opposite side of the emulsion and sold by a company that embraces the flaws, light leaks, the imperfections and the accidents in analog photography. 

According to Lomography, the redscale film is the world's first preloaded and ready to shoot redscale film.  In fact, the redscale effect can actually be achieved by simply loading 35mm in a camera backwards.  The back of the film has a semi-transparent layer to protect the emulsion from extra light hitting it and when the film is flipped, shooting through this layer produces red, orange and yellow tones.  This effect is very similar to shooting through a red or orange filter with unpredictability thrown in.

The key word for this film is unpredictable, because that's exactly what shooting Lomography Redscale film is.  It's rated at a speed of 100 and I took it out on a very sunny day.  I was armed with the Hasselblad and a light meter.  I took my time setting up shots and tried to get the correct exposure.  When I received my processed film, I wasn't that happy with the final results.  They lacked the range of reds, oranges and yellows that i saw in the Lomography gallery.  Some of my shots were dark, bluish and green.  In addition to that, the film was prone to heavy scratches.  One roll wasn't enough to make a solid judgement, so I felt I needed to give the film another chance.  Below are a few examples of the Hasselblad red scale images.

Shot at F5.6 @ 1/60 second

Shot at F5.6 @ 1/250 second

Shot at F5.6 @ 1/125 second

The next time around, I decided to shoot redscale through my Holga.  I felt that I might get better results using a "lo-fi" camera with a "lo-fi" film.  This particular roll of film took awhile for me to finish up; I shot it in a number of different locations, but I tried to use it in as much light as possible.  The results were better this time around, but I still received dark and muddy results in a few of the frames.  In addition to that, there was an odd bluish-green fogging that appeared on the film during processing.  Now, I use a highly professional lab, so I don't chalk that up to the technicians that processed the film.  I think the film is highly unpredictable, which can be expected by basically shooting through its' backside. 

In my opinion, to achieve the best possible results from the film, one should shoot this film on a bright and sunny day and overexpose by about two stops to achieve the best possible tonal range the Lomography Redscale film has to offer.  It's an interesting film; one that I probably won't use too often.  When exposed properly, it produces a distinctive, enjoyable result.  Results that can be quite stunning.  But, if you're not into Lomography and unpredictable flaws, this film is not for you.  Here are a few images from the second roll of redscale that I shot on my Holga:

Holga Roll #2

I wanted to practice using the Holga a bit more before I went to Mansfield.  So, I shot a roll of Lomography 800 speed color negative film around Troy.  I was pretty happy with the results and I'm enjoying the unpredictability of the Holga.  You never know what you're going to get and that's the beauty of it.  It has an artistic appeal and that's what I love; Once I get the hang of it, I feel as if the possibilities of what I can create using it are endless.  Stay tuned and as always, feel free to leave comments and feedback.  Enjoy!

Holga + Medium Format Film = Love at First Shutter Click

Surprisingly, one of "my" wedding gifts was a Holga camera.  For those of you that don't know, a Holga is a plastic "toy" camera.  It's a very basic, "chunky" camera.  It was manufactured in Hong Kong in 1982; the term Holga is a European spin on "ho gwong," meaning "very bright."  The camera is as low tech as you can get; boasting a 60mm, f/8 plastic lens.  It has two apertures, f/8 and f/11 and shutter speeds of 1/125 and bulb (for long exposures).  It takes 120 roll film and negatives are produced in a 6x6 square, unless you use a smaller mask.

So, with it's extremely low-tech nature, why use a camera such as this?  Well, a few reasons.  First, film is fun.  Growing up, film was still the method of photography, but it was on its way out.  My parents had some very automatic 35mm cameras and I can remember having a Kodak 110 as a kid.  As I got older, photography was quickly moving into the digital realm and when I became very interested in it as an artistic medium, it was almost by default that I started with a digital camera.  In my three years of shooting, I've been exposed to a number of formats and processes that I've wanted to experiment with.  Film being one of them, as I've mentioned in my previous posts.  Honestly, I had never heard of 120 roll film; however, now that I've shot with it, I can tell you that it's great and I love it.  I love the square images that it produces.  They're much different than 35mm negatives and it's very satisfying to get them developed.  Also, I've shot three total rolls of 35mm and sometimes it's a long process to finish off a roll of 24-36 exposures.  With 120 film, you have 12-16 and it's a little less daunting. 

Is a Holga the only medium format camera?  Of course not!  There are so many medium format cameras; in fact there are amazing, expensive models that boast optics and results better than any digital camera on the market.  The beauty of the Holga is the sometimes unexpected and experimental results you can achieve.  A Holga can be prone to light leaks, creating interesting effects on the exposed emulsion.  The lens of a Holga has a sharp focus center, but the rest of the image is usually very soft.  Vignetting can also occur.  However, these are only a few interesting effects that can be achieved by using the Holga.  Holga's have been modified, they come in various models and the work from Holga's have also been shown in galleries around the world.  So, let this be a lesson that you don't need the sharpest, most expensive digital camera to have your work shown in a gallery.  A camera is simply a tool; photography is the vision of the artist and a camera is merely the means to achieve that vision.  So, I try to think outside the digital box and create what I want and how I want without confining myself to rules.  I could take the sharpest picture, perfectly exposed picture on the planet; however, it still might not measure up to an image that was taken with a pinhole camera.  It's about the artistic vision and that's where I'm trying to take my photography.  Feel free to comment and let me know if you think I'm moving that direction with my photography.

Enjoy my first Holga images; there will be many more in the future.  These images were taken with a Holga 120N camera and were shot on Kodak Plus-X 125 film.

Photo Resolutions

With the new year upon us, it's typical for the resolutions to begin pouring in.  I'm not one for making resolutions, but I have some photography resolutions that I would like to make in 2011.  I've been photographing for a full two years now and I'm approaching the year anniversary of using my new camera.  I've gotten to the place where I'm ready to start expanding my technical skills and I'm ready to start expanding my portfolio and taking on long, themed projects.  So, with that being said, here are my photo resolutions for 2011:

1)  Undertake Project 365 - For those of you that don't know, Project 365 is a year long photo project; one in which I'll be taking photographs everyday.  I will post one photograph to represent each day of the entire year.  This is a daunting project and I will probably need some encouragement from everyone as the year goes on.  As much as I love photography, I'm sure I'll get tired of lugging my camera(s) around everywhere I go and I'll get tired of trying to find new and interesting things to photograph.  Or even making old things appear interesting.  It will be tough, but I'm determined to complete this.  I know I be extremely satisfied at this time in 2011 when I reflect on my year in photographs.  So, if I begin to waver, please help to keep me on track.  I will be creating a separate blog page for Project 365 and they will also be posted on my Flickr profile page as well.

2)  Take a photography class in the fall - The reason this is one of my goals is because I feel that I can't teach myself all of the technical aspects of the camera, lighting, techniques, etc.  I can read and I can experiment; but I will never be able to fully grasp the technical nature of photography and how it can improve images without taking a few courses.  I plan on doing this in the fall because I am three courses away from completing my B.S. in Marketing at Franklin University.  I will be finishing that degree up by the 2nd quarter.  Once that's out of the way, I will have a lot more free time to spend on perfecting my photography.

3)  Begin working on a (or multiple) themed series - Shooting anything and everything can be very interesting, however, there's something very appealing about strictly focusing on one subject.  Putting together a series is a long project.  It's visually appealing and it forces the photographer to evolve because new angles, techniques and perspectives have to be employed to keep the series engaging not only to the viewer, but also to the photographer.  Partaking in series work will not only help me grow as a photographer, but it will hopefully open other doors for me as well.

4)  Develop an idea and create a stop motion video out of my photographs - I recently came across a stop motion video from an individual taking a video class from the Columbus College of Art and Design.  It was hauntingly beautiful.  So much so that it inspired me to try something similar.  The process is fairly easy and I have the editing programs to produce such a video.  The hard part is coming up with an idea, making it work and creating a cohesive, finished product.

5)  Start shooting more film - As some of you may know,  I have a 35mm film camera.  It's a Canon AE-1P.  I really like it; however, I've only shot one and a half rolls of film.  I want to shoot more film in 2011.  Like a lot of us, I like the immediate gratification of my digital.  I love being able to review the shot I just captured and I love being able to upload it to the computer almost instantly and begin cataloging the image and posting it to various places.  With that being said, not seeing your image as you shoot it creates an air of excitement.  I can't tell you how much I anticipated seeing what I was able to capture with my first roll of Kodak 400 Tri-X black and white film.  I want that feeling to continue.  Is digital easier and quicker?  Yes, but that doesn't always mean it's better.  I will slow down and make a concerted effort to take only my film camera out on shoots this year.  In addition to my Canon, I've received a few Lomography cameras as gifts in the last quarter of 2010.  I have a Holga, Fisheye No. 2, and a Diana F+.  I like the experimental and alternative quality of the images that these "toy" cameras produce.  So, you may be seeing some different stuff from me this year as well.

6)  Create my best work yet - I feel that I've grown as a photographer over the course of the last two years.  I feel that my work shows it.  However, I would like to take a giant leap forward this year and create some of my most inspired work yet.  I feel that I have it in me; I just have to accept that I'll have uncreative moments and every image will not be a show stopper.  If I can remember those things, I should be able to achieve this goal.

7)  Show my best work yet - I've been showing my work for about a year now.  I'm a member of the Edison Photo Society at Edison Community College and as a club, we have three member shows a year.  I've also entered my work in a number of other shows and contests.  As each show passes, I'm becoming more comfortable with the idea of showing my work.  With that being the case, I'm in the process of scheduling my first ever solo exhibit.  It's not finalized yet, but it will probably be taking place during the month of August.  I'll keep everyone up to date on the specifics, but my goal is to show my best work yet at this show.

8)  Have fun - The one thing that I have to remember is one of the reasons that I love photography is that I enjoy it and I have fun doing it.  No matter how serious I get about photography, I can never let it stop being fun.  If so, my images will never be as good as they could be and I won't achieve any of my photography resolutions.

So, those are my photo resolutions for 2011.  I hope everyone has a terrific new year and 2011 is better than 2010.  Please feel free to encourage me or offer constructive criticism along the way to insure that I achieve my resolutions.  Cheers and I'll see you along the way!