Holga, anyone?

[paradoxperfect]

Hey all!

For Christmas, I got my boyfriend the Holga camera. He has read all the internet guides, tips, misc info, literally anything he can find. But my first thought was to see what you folks had to say. Does anyone remember it? Its from the 80s, but is used today for its unique distortions, very artsy really.

Anyway, I would love to hear any info at all that you have so I can learn and share with him. Thanks everyone!

[takethislife5150]

this thread inspired me to read up on them, i now really want one!

[richsuk]

One of the favorites of the lomography movement. From what I have seen it is what it is, an interesting and fun toy camera with very artistic results from the 120 film.

[Japaslavian]

I wouldn't go as far as saying its artistic.
It's more along the lines of "happy accidents."
Holga's are toy cameras made popular by lomography, which is pretty much shoot-from-the-hip-and-see-what-you-get-ography. Light leaks, distortion, lens scratches, double exposure, expired and misaligned film is all welcomed (and wanted).
It is essentially photography, minus the technically correct stuff, so you get strange, bizarre, interesting, and generally cool effects.

[OsmosisStudios]

Dont forget cross-processing. ive seen someone use a completely different solution on 120 film from a holga and it came out pretty trippy.

[vandergus]

Kind of reminds me of the lo-fi branch of indie rock. Reacting against the super polished sound of a professional studio and embracing the recorded-in-your-basement-with-a-garage-sale-microphone sound. I suppose the lomographers may be reacting against the technicolor landscapes and perfectly lit models seen all over explore! and magazine pages. It's an understandable aesthetic. And meaningful things can be said either way.

[Murtasma]

I have a holga it's a fun toy to use every now and then. It's not uncommon to waste an entire roll on it and end up with nothing that looks cool, creative, artsy, interesting. Sometimes you get an image that makes you go wow but really as others have said. It's just a toy.

[datiswous]

I have a Holga pinhole camera. I still have to shoot pictures with it though. The fact that I have to take a tripod along makes it less intresting for me. I've seen some realy impressing shots on the net though (especially in medium format).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tearoom/sets/1264226/

I'm also thinking of making a pinhole "lens" for my dslr (and look through it in liveview ), allthoug that is an other story.

[Murtasma]

Originally Posted by datiswous

I have a Holga pinhole camera. I still have to shoot pictures with it though. The fact that I have to take a tripod along makes it less intresting for me. I've seen some realy impressing shots on the net though (especially in medium format).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tearoom/sets/1264226/

I'm also thinking of making a pinhole "lens" for my dslr (and look through it in liveview ), allthoug that is an other story.

Wow you got some awesome holga shots there I'm envious.

[RoyL]

These camera's have a real cult following. I am going to buy one along with a Large Format as soon as I receive my insurance payout (along with a canon 1d and nikon d90).

The great thing about them is it really does not matter how good or bad you are it has no influence over the image that comes out, except maybe composition. You can take 2 identical shots and yet the chances are they will come out different.

If you buy one get the one with flash and filters.