I got my first two rolls of film back for my new Holga camera. And it is a mixed bag – meaning I have learned a few things. First off – I need to shoot outdoors exclusively or use a really strong flash. Second – I am not sure I will keep using Allen’s Camera. Their scans that they put on disk for me tend to be all over the place. They have ranged from 4, 5, 8 megapixels in their scans. And I had asked that they include the border of the Holga photos – and they cropped that out.
But I do like these photos from my little photowalk around Provo’s Center Street. They are exactly what I hoped for – and I got 6″ prints along with the disk. Prints are really a cool way to enjoy photographs. If you don’t print your photos – do they really exist? If your hard drive crashes they won’t.
Utah County Courthouse through a Holga
For those not familiar with Holga cameras – they are plastic and they are craptacular! Which is what makes them special. Their imperfect plastic lens creates a vignette. There are very few buttons and controls over it. You can try to focus but you aren’t really sure if you are going to get things in focus – because you don’t see through the lens – this is rangefinder style.
Winter through a holga camera
I also have 2 Holgas – I received one for Christmas. So I have one for color and one for black and white film. I haven’t shot a lot in color. That will be my next to do list. It is fun. I will be checking out other photo labs – one that will get me exactly what I want from a Holga – full framed and all the imperfections.
Provo center street through a holga
Utah County Courthouse through a holga
Tree branches with snow with my Holga
There is this great lab in Pleasant Grove called pro digital photos. Right by the Purple Turtle.
Excellent! Makes me want to dig my holga out from hiding to play
Love that 2nd shot, especially.
[...] that I have finally taken photos with a real Holga camera – I know what it looks like and the qualities of a true film camera with a plastic lens. And [...]