Holga pics

Hi all. I just wanted to post the latest pics from my Holga.

 

Enjoy!

 

Nancy<div></div>

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Looks like you are having fun with that Holga, and you've clearly got a good eye for composition. I have to say though that I don't think you are really doing justice to the potential of your images. If you put that image of the stairs into Photoshop and hit "auto-contrast" and "auto-levels" it really goes from ordinary to extraordinary. Some adjustment in scanning may produce some of the same result, but I think it is worth playing with the images a bit in any case. Perhaps that fails some holga purity test, but I would have a hard time caring.

Thanks Mike. Yes, I love my Holgas, so much so that I have three of them. I like the way the stairs look now, but I will take your advice, even though I'm a-scared of Photoshop!

 

Nancy

OK, I did the auto contrast; here it is. What do you think?

 

Nancy<div></div>

To my eye, that is an improvement in terms of tonality. However, both that image and the original one have some odd pixelation which is especially apparent in the bottom of the photo as square blocks of tonality. It seem kind of like the image is being displayed at the 200% level. Maybe it would be worthwhile to go back to the original scan, or even to re-scan the negative. I'm going to attach my PS version just for reference. I am usually very reluctant to play with other people's images because I don't really believe in any kind of absolute standards of what images should look like. If you were basically happy with that original, I hope you will accept my apology and move on. I did autocontrast and autolevels along with a slight downward resize to reduce the pixelation.<div></div>

Mike, I'm always willing to accept other people's advice about how my images could be improved, and any suggestions to make them look better. I don't know about you, but I'm not always the best judge of how my own images could be improved, as they always look fine to me. I rely on the opinion of others, to open my eyes to all possibilities. I do like the original image, but I also like how it looks after your adjustments. I guess it depends on your individual taste, right?

 

Nancy

Yes, I think you first have to please yourself about the image. It is also important not to just make some judgement and forget where you have been. I've been looking back thirty years recently to pictures I had largely forgotten. Some, as now, are worthless, but others show qualities to which I was completely unconscious at the time. I don't think it is a totally individual matter because at least in my case there is some intent to communicate. There is also the issue of developing an awareness of potential which comes partly as a result of looking at a broad array of work by people who have devoted themselves to excellence. I think that last bit is hard because it can't really be accomplished by this means we are using. Looking at actual prints is really to visit another world.

It can take a long time to get used to PhotoShop, and not only because of the apparent complexity and range of the tools. Somehow the eye has to learn as well, but it's very much down to taking your time and practicing the steps. If you already have a solid sense of visual composition, it's like having a rock-steady left-hand rhythm in your piano playing, but the right hand of melody must coordinate with it.

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Analysing the tone and contrast of a print in order to make an optimal selection is difficult because it means rejecting other alternatives. All those alternatives (low key, high key, low contrast, high contrast) may each seem appealing for different reasons. I think it was Raymond Queneau who once wrote the same short story in 99 different styles - to show that each style had an equal <i>value</i>. We can do the same with our images, but in the end there is going to be one optimal style of presentation that displays our concept at its clearest. Looking at the images of others analytically and critically helps us in deciding what works best in our own.

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I like Mike's rework of your steps Nancy, because ... its balance is clearer.

Nancy or anyone else here have any of you tryed a WOCA with the all glass lens? I was wondering because I thought if it was sharper I could always use a filter with some vasoline near the edge to recreate the Kolga look but also use it for Med format with sharper images the newest one even has a built in flash and is still under 30 bucks at Freestyle.

Best reguards and eyes from Mars.

Larry<div></div>

oops I used the huge one here is the smaller one

Sorry, Larry, I've never used a WOCA, so I can't help you out.

 

Nancy

With a minor amount of darkroom manipulation, those stairs would make a most stunning fine art print. Good job!

Larry, that's pretty nice work with a plastic toy-cam.

I agree, that's a good shot with a toy, Larry, nice texture and contrast.

 

Thanks Glenn, for the nice compliment. I've always aimed for fine art photography. It would be nice to get back into the darkroom, too; I've been away for too long.

 

Nancy

Thank you. I always said it is not the equipment it is the photographer. My son though wan not happy because he hates to have his picture taken but whith a father like me he has no choice.<div></div>

Larry, you're son must be a teenager, right? They're all the same; hate to have their picture taken, but then complain when you don't!

 

Nancy

Yep he is 17 going on 42 he starts college this fall. 2 down to to leave the nest.