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12/31/2008 04:21:11 PM · #1 |
Got myself a Holga for Xmas, and recently got my first roll of film developed! Thought you guys might like to see how my foray into lomography is turning out :D
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12/31/2008 05:55:19 PM · #2 |
Well Zack, congrats on the gear.
The thing is, and this is my first impression of your work with the Holga.
The camera is a tool for your eye and your execution.
I would use your digital to see if your 'vision' will work before using the Holga.
Film is expensive. Lab fee's are expensive. Printing get's expensive.
Your digital could be a good preemptive tool before you go and spend ton's of money on images that you may not even like.
Have fun.
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12/31/2008 06:08:05 PM · #3 |
Not to Highjack but what exactly is the point of Medium format. Is there something special there as for as the format or is it more about the challenge of the film?
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12/31/2008 06:28:10 PM · #4 |
I have been trying to find myself a MF Yashica TLR. I love the challenge of shooting film. And yes there is something special about medium and large format(at least to me).
Matt
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12/31/2008 06:31:17 PM · #5 |
Medium and Large format is sweet. I just started building a 5x7 field camera. I still use my Pentax 645 on a regular basis. One of my next investments is a table top processor.
The detail that you get from medium and large format is fantastic.
I've seen comments made that the 5D MK II is a "medium format killer". I don't believe them for a second. |
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12/31/2008 06:32:50 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by jhomrighaus:
Not to Highjack but what exactly is the point of Medium format. Is there something special there as for as the format or is it more about the challenge of the film? |
Medium format is the dog's dangly bits!! Most of the best film shots ever are taken using Medium format. The clarity and definition are exceptional. The lenses are sublime and..and..and
Enough said:)) |
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12/31/2008 07:00:10 PM · #7 |
Well those are great comments I was hoping for something a little more specific.
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12/31/2008 07:03:13 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by jhomrighaus:
Well those are great comments I was hoping for something a little more specific. |
IMHO its not something you can describe until you experience it yourself. I played with a fellow photogs and have the prints around here somewhere. Its just something you cant describe.
Matt
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12/31/2008 09:11:57 PM · #9 |
It's an interesting format to be sure, and Holga work is far from normal medium format stuff (it's really a class unto its own). Problem is, I've yet to take any sort of hands on approach to developing/printing, so there's little advantage over digital at the moment.
As Man_Called_Horse said, film is expensive, and I doubt my toying with this toy camera will be anything more than that for now. But it's the new year, and now is the time for experimentation.
There is something to be said about the excitement of not knowing how your shots will turn out, though :D |
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01/02/2009 08:49:26 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Film is expensive. Lab fee's are expensive. Printing get's expensive.
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DSLR cameras are expensive. Lenses are expensive. Photoshop's expensive.
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Your digital could be a good preemptive tool before you go and spend ton's of money on images that you may not even like.
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True, but I think it's the unpredictable that appeals to him. In fact, one wouldn't pursue this type of photography, if one didn't find some intrique in the unknown.
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Thanks for sharing these, Zack. I think this is great work, and I admire your adventurous spirit and willingness to experiment. (I love the guy with the umbrella.) In fact, you've inspired me to look into this further. Of course, having zero experience with film, this will be quite a leap for me... |
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01/02/2009 10:27:05 PM · #11 |
I wouldn't go with a Holga. I bought a Ciro-flex for about $20 and have used that. It's fun taking pictures old school. It really slows you down. I mostly do black and white shots and develop myself.
edit: fixed link
Message edited by author 2009-01-02 22:29:51. |
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01/02/2009 10:51:40 PM · #12 |
The images and the format show a love of Photography, your images are beautiful, the colors grain and compositions, Nice work. Keep it up. I don't regularly frequent the forums so if you want you can PM me at any time.
Kevin |
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01/02/2009 11:28:34 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by bvy:
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Film is expensive. Lab fee's are expensive. Printing get's expensive.
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DSLR cameras are expensive. Lenses are expensive. Photoshop's expensive.
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Yeah, and your point?
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01/02/2009 11:29:54 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Originally posted by bvy:
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Film is expensive. Lab fee's are expensive. Printing get's expensive.
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DSLR cameras are expensive. Lenses are expensive. Photoshop's expensive.
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Yeah, and your point? |
I think the point is, either path is expensive. Its just a matter of which path you wish to take.
Matt
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01/02/2009 11:41:50 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by MattO:
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Originally posted by bvy:
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Film is expensive. Lab fee's are expensive. Printing get's expensive.
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DSLR cameras are expensive. Lenses are expensive. Photoshop's expensive.
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Yeah, and your point? |
I think the point is, either path is expensive. Its just a matter of which path you wish to take.
Matt |
I understood what the point was...I just don't like being treated like an ass hole.
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01/03/2009 12:11:37 AM · #16 |
I use a Pentax 645N. These were one of the staple tools for wedding and studio photographers in the pre-digital days.
The Pentax 645N is just like an oversized SLR with all the usual bells and whistles that you'd expect. PASM selections, continuous shooting mode, mirror flips up just like on an SLR/DSLR..... The 645N gets 16 shots per roll of 120film whereas I think the Hassy only gets 12. The other nicety of the 645N is that it imprints shooting data on the edge of the roll sort of like mini-exif. It's a nice touch.
I also have the Pentax 645->K-mount adapter so I can you all the lenses on the DSLR for funkiness. Hotshoe flashes are also shared between the two systems. The thing with film though is that you become a lot more selective on when you're going to press the shutter so I tend to use it only in the studio or in good light. A Blad would be nice as well but not sure if there's a Hassy->K-mount adapter out there.
bazz.
Message edited by author 2009-01-03 08:22:06. |
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01/03/2009 12:29:21 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Originally posted by MattO:
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Originally posted by bvy:
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Film is expensive. Lab fee's are expensive. Printing get's expensive.
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DSLR cameras are expensive. Lenses are expensive. Photoshop's expensive.
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Yeah, and your point? |
I think the point is, either path is expensive. Its just a matter of which path you wish to take.
Matt |
I understood what the point was...I just don't like being treated like an ass hole. |
*sigh* Let's all try to play nice, ok? Jeez Louise! |
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01/03/2009 12:33:26 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Originally posted by MattO:
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Originally posted by bvy:
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Film is expensive. Lab fee's are expensive. Printing get's expensive.
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DSLR cameras are expensive. Lenses are expensive. Photoshop's expensive.
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Yeah, and your point? |
I think the point is, either path is expensive. Its just a matter of which path you wish to take.
Matt |
I understood what the point was...I just don't like being treated like an ass hole. |
I humbly apologize, though I'm failing to see where I treated you like an ass hole. I didn't even completely disagree with you. If anything, I was expanding on what you said. Digital can be as expensive as film. And given that the OP was looking for a casual foray into low-tech film photography, I don't think mastery of digital skills or compositional technique is prerequisite. In this day and age, I think it's much easier for folks to get in over one's head financially with all the latest digital gear. I see novices and first-time photographers strutting around with $1000+ DSLR's. They can learn a lot from a fifty dollar used camera and some film. And I'm thinking, hell, so can I! |
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01/03/2009 12:40:34 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by bvy:
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Originally posted by bvy:
Film is expensive. Lab fee's are expensive. Printing get's expensive.
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DSLR cameras are expensive. Lenses are expensive. Photoshop's expensive.
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I humbly apologize, though I'm failing to see where I treated you like an ass hole. |
If I was overly sensative, I apologize. However, I will not tell you HOW to write a post, or write in general, but, the sentence produced seemed, to me, slighting.
Message edited by author 2009-01-03 00:42:47.
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01/03/2009 01:32:50 AM · #20 |
I thought the unhappy name-called was one word....
Would like to hear more about medium format. That is what some of us started with - the Kodak Brownie, Brownie Hawkeye, albeit with small fixed lenses, but lovely large negatives. A word or two how exactly the size and type of lenses work with this large area of film might be in order. |
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01/03/2009 03:52:15 AM · #21 |
In response to bvy and iamkmaniam, thanks so much for your positive comments and such. I really enjoyed taking these. And for anyone interested in going the Holga route--it's special because it's low quality. Be sure to adhere to the 10 golden rules of lomography (from lomography.com
1. Take your camera everywhere you go.
2. Use it anytime, day and night.
3. Lomography is not an interference in your life, but part of it.
4. Try the shot from the hip.
5. Approach the objects of your lomographic desire as closely as possible.
6. Don't think (William Firebrace).
7. Be fast.
8. You don't have to know beforehand what you captured on film.
9. Afterwards, either.
10. Don't worry about any rules.
It's a completely different mindset from digital, and especially from the type of work you see at DPC. I'm not saying that's good or bad, just different. It was my first time with film of any kind really, aside from old vacation pics on a disposable, and it has renewed my love for this multifaceted art we call photography. |
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01/03/2009 07:41:15 PM · #22 |
| I'm inspired now. :) I'm gonna drag out my old Diana and see what I can capture. I hope the shots are as good as yours! |
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01/03/2009 07:47:33 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by sher:
I'm inspired now. :) |
Same here.
Some questions for  zackdezon: Where did you get your camera? Where did you get your film and what kind are you using? What was the learning curve coming from digital? Who developed your film and how much did it cost?
Can't wait to see what you come up with,  Sher! (I was going to say, "Do share, Sher," but decided not to.)
Message edited by author 2009-01-03 19:49:12. |
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01/04/2009 02:00:57 AM · #24 |
Glad I could, at least in part, inspire you guys :D
I got my Holga as a gift, but I believe my gifter said he got it from Samy's Camera in Los Angeles. It was a box set, came with a book of Lomography, as well as some 120 negative film (he also bought me some extra from Samy's). I can't find the box set on Samy's website, but here's a link to the barebones camera:
//www.samys.com/product_detail.php?item=9871
Ah, here's the kit on the Lomography.com site:
//shop.lomography.com/shop/main.php?cat=&pro=gho
I got my film developed at a little camera shop in Redlands, where I was for break. My first time developing film, they totally gouged me by selling me prints when I only wanted a CD (the whole thing was 26 bucks, but I'm sure it'll be much cheaper if I can just get the CD/learn to develop my own prints).
The effect in my images is the effect one gets from cross-processing (developing negative prints in positive solution or vice-versa); however, to be sure it was the effect I wanted, I got the shots developed normally and photoshopped the x-processing effect (there are numerous ATNs out there that can do this, including a curves preset built into CS3 by default).
If you do decide to get prints, ask if they can do so without whatever magical kodak crap they run most prints through--when I got my prints, I was horrified to find them without vignette, grain, or any of the flaws that make Holgas awesome. The CD had them in their original state, thankfully.
If you get that kit, the book it comes with has a whole slew of neat tricks and ideas for using this awesome barebones camera. I highly recommend it.
The main learning curve is learning to be patient and to take less pictures. And I've only shot one roll so far, so my advice isn't all that great :P
Hope this helps! |
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