Took Helga the Holga out for a play today. Finally some luck.
It is certainly no Canon EOS 5D, but it is fun all the same.
All on Kodak 400TX.
Helga finally comes through.
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Tag Archives: Film
Holga equals hard work.
Well I have finally developed a roll of film that I out through the Holga. Hmmm, under whelmed would be one word to describe it. It is very hard work. I have a new found respect for those people that get sharp photos out of this plastic medium format camera.
This is the 2nd frame out of that camera, and as it shows, I must be moving the camera when I push the shutter. The shutter is actually more like a lever on the side of the lens than a button that I am used to. Also, I had to bump the exposure quite a bit in processing it, so I think I need faster film. Ah well, you live and learn.
Elvis is alive
We have all wandered around on a sunny day shooting at ISO1600 at one time or another, but what other blues have you made that have ruined photos.
Today was a bit of an epic. I had spent 25 minutes painstakingly feeding the bloody 120 film onto the stupid plastic reels and getting it into the drum. I learnt today that doing it in the heat isn’t the smartest thing to do. And the longer it takes, the hotter you get, and the sweat builds up in the dark bag and it just gets harder and harder to get the film on the reel. Well, finally, I got it on. Screwed the lid on. And reefed my hands out of the sweaty bag. Phew. I love the results medium format photography gives you, but getting the film from camera to dev tank is painful. This was the very 1st roll I had run through the Holga, so I was a little excited to see the results. Everything was a ready to run, the sun was shining, the birds tweeting, and I was off to the developing area of the garage. Day dreaming about the photo I took of Elvis long boarding on Culburra Beach, I wasn’t watching where I was going and managed to trip over Monty the wonder dog.
Poor old Monty can’t take a trick this week. He has been in trouble for digging up the lawn, twice, and so is a bit sheepish of the alpha dog. He jumped, I jumped and the developing tank popped out of my hands. It was now happening in slow motion. I could see the tank heading towards the ground. I could see the worried look on Monty’s face. I could see the negative of Elvis on the long board. Bang, it hit the ground. It bounced. It bounced a second time and POP! off came the lid. Oh for the love off all things holy, get the lid on quick smart. But no, the jolt shot the reel out into the dazzling daylight. I was asking myself, how can I wash the light of the film? The reel fell over and rolled around on its side like a coin in a Clint Eastwood movie. ISO 400 film takes not a lot of time to expose through the shutter, but it must be nano seconds in direct sunlight. I was a broken man. Monty is a still wondering why the alpha dog is so unhappy about a piece of plastic. Where is a chapel, I need a cry.
When the timing is right.
Big Pete, originally uploaded by norbography.
Are you a gear whore seemed to stir up plenty of conversation on a couple of photo forums and Flickr groups I posted it on. It was mention in one discussion that no matter the gear, if you managed to capture what Cartier Breson called the “decisive moment”, it would make for a good photo. The shot above is one time I have managed to do exactly that. Pete is a friend of a friend, who I have only met 2 or 3 times, but this photo captured him perfectly. The boy can giggle. This shot was taken with one of my old film cameras, a Nikon FE with a Sigma 24 f/2.8 lens. Shot under pretty ordinary lighting, it captures Pete having one of those moments where you just let it all hang out. We had just all been told a rather dirty joke that obviously tickled Pete’s fancy. Although the photo isn’t technically great, the content more than makes up for it. I get a bigger buzz out of this sort of photo than some technically great shot or some arty shot that I fluked.
Love to hear peoples thoughts.
Film, why is it so addictive?
Let me begin with a photo.
That photo was the 1st photo on the 1st roll of film I developed myself. It was surprisingly easy to do, except the bit where you have to get the film out of the canister and onto a spool and into the light proof tank, all in the dark! But the developing itself was a doddle. Pour some liquids into a tank for a certain amount of time. Agitate a few times. Tip out. Done. Well, there is a little more to it than that, but its not hard. When the 1st negatives where hanging up to dry, I was as excited as a Strobist at a flash give away!
Now I never really understood the lure of film, until I started playing with it myself. I blame Harry, he gave me a Canon EOS 1000F film camera and some great advice. Since then, I have scoured eBay for all sorts of filmy goodness. Some can be seen below.
It is now turning into an obsession. These things are so cheap on eBay it is ridiculous. I think the Yashica MG-1 rangefinder was the most expensive so far at $35. The next on the list is a TLR. Maybe another Yashica or Rollie, something thats is medium format so I can play with 120 film.
What makes film photography so addictive? I don’t know. I know alot of other people love film and take some amazing photos with it. I can’t put my finger on what it is, maybe its the fact that it is more hands on. It is tactile, unlike digital. There seems to be a greater sense of satisfaction with film compared to digital. I find I take my time when taking photos using film. You don’t have that feeling of invincibility that digital seems to instill in people. Its like my “What the Duck” mug says, “Shoot like hell, hope one sticks”. I don’t do that normally, let alone on film which is actually costing you every shutter activation.
Film is not for everyone. I expect Gen Y kiddies would hate it. But for people willing to give it a go, I highly recommend it. Grab a $5 eBay special and throw some cheap film in it and have a go. After all, if you don’t like it, just sell the camera on eBay and put it down as a learning experience.
If you love film, lets hear why.
1st Frame of my 1st film developed right here at home.
Yes, it is true, I have joined the film brigade. I have 4 film cameras, 2 of which I was given, and 2 I got off eBay. I have bought all the chemicals and the gear needed to develop to a negative. I also got myself a cheapo film scanner. The frame in this post is the 1st frame from the 1st film I developed at home. Looking forward to doing more soon.