No longer being made, the Holga was designed in China for poor Chinese consumers. It is entirely plastic, even the lens. The Holga was cheaply produced with parts that break easily and don't work properly. Ironically, that's its appeal.
Because the camera is unpredictable, it is used by artists to create photographs that are ethereal, surreal or simply unexpected. Light enters through cracks in the plastic, making halos, distortions and strange visual effects. The viewfinder doesn't show you what the camera will photograph so everything is a surprise.
I shot a roll of 120 format film this weekend in black-and-white. The film produces square pictures. I don't know how they came out because I need to send the roll away for developing and printing. Do you remember those days? It'll be a week before I see the results.
This camera fits my style of doing things the hard way -- which is more work but creates more satisfaction. Big thanks to my friend Ashley for knowing me so well!
How exciting! It will be fun to see the images you have captured. I have not heard of this brand of camera. I do have a minolta film camera, my first. It still works and every once in a while will get it out and take pictures.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of it either. It's obscure and popular only among artists looking for something unusual. In my youth Minolta was my preferred film camera. Good quality, not expensive.
DeleteShybiker, Happy belated birthday!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThat's a very cool gift.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised they even develop film anymore. I guess that's why you had to send it away to be developed. Remember when they developed film in every drugstore before? Those days are long gone.
Hope you are pleased with the results.
Suzanne
http://www.suzannecarillo.com
There are no local film-developers any more. You need to send it to a half-dozen places, all out of state. I'm just happy they still exist!
DeleteWhile I'm a big fan of the immediacy of digital photography, I can remember the excitement of waiting for film to be developed, but also the disappointment if things didn't quite work out like you expected them to. Hope yours do meet your expectations! xxx
ReplyDeleteI love that anticipation. Remember opening the envelope?!
DeleteOoh, how cool, actual pictures! I believe the local drug store near me still develops photos (there's a large senior population here!). I had a Kodak Ecktachrome, and it took terrible pictures! I recently found a couple of CDs of pictures from 2003-2004 - it was when the local place first started doing digital photos. I must have stashed away the CDs, thinking I'd never use them, but now I'm really pleased that I have digital versions.
ReplyDeleteThank you again for the wonderful book, by the way - they haven't even arrived at the Victoria store yet! I read it cover to cover yesterday. :)
Yay!
DeleteThat's a quirky present! I was TERRIBLE at photos when I had an analogue camera- I wasted so many films! I can't wait to see what you took! Are you going to share them on here?
ReplyDeleteAnd....happy belated birthday!!x
Of course I'll share them. I hope to take the best and frame them for my walls.
DeleteI can't wait to see what you shoot with this interesting camera!
ReplyDelete-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
Belated Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteA Holga is a gift that will keep on giving. I have a gold "Hollywood" one and have some interesting results. I also have a Diana but I like my Holga better.
Even though you end up with a few bad photos in every roll the ones that turn out are worth the effort and cost.
Have fun with it!
Elaine
Thanks, Elaine. I look forward to my experiments.
DeleteI had never heard of this camera - but I love the idea of how unpredictable it is... I surely remember the days I had to take the rolls to Kodak to be developed and even when I did my own developing in the dark room in high school.
ReplyDelete