Let's discuss: Pano from a Holga?

[m_.]

Not exactly sure how this is going to fit in this forum but what the

heck, the moderator can delete as please.

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/essays/vanRiper/index.htm

 

All starts with a book I read from Cris McCathy with images of border

crossing a while ago. Then I ran into this article about how she

used a Holga to make pano images. Then the article drifted on to

discussions on what these cheap Chinese made cameras can do

to "surprise" you. It sounds to indicate that it is this "surprise"

or unpredicability that keeps the excitement for her to move on her

photography.

 

I myself have been thinking about doing pinhole or Holga stuff for a

while now. As a matter of fact, I debated with myself if I wanted to

get an M6 or a...pinhole and the likes just a few weeks back but I

lost the debate to an M6 (hugely due to the guilt feeling I had for

not getting an M6 that was what the gift was for initially). Now my

upcoming trip to Bolivia once again brings that debate into focus:

do I take my M6 as planned or do I just go with a, say, Holga?

 

And what does it really matter?

 

Your thoguhts, I mean, not necessarily for my upcoming trip but in

general?

[ray .]

I'd take something more capable than a Holga on a trip, that's for sure.

[beau 1664876222]

I'm getting bored of the low-fi-square-image genre. Bring your M6.

[o fragasi]

Been there, done that. Take the m6 and the Holga. You'll have alot of fun with the Holga, but you'll regret not having a 'regular' camera with you if you dont take the m6 too.

[m_.]

Hm...now, that's hard to argue. M6 is a lot more capable than a Holga can ever be.

[sliu]

I am 99% in Holga now. My Nikons are in the closet and even Olympus P&S has a half full roll for many weeks.

 

A Holga is a magic camera, it seems to have its own soul. Everytime I try to control it, I failed. If I let it do what it want, the results usually surprise me.

 

To make a choice between a toy as a camera (Holga) or a camera as a toy (Leica), I would pick former.

 

In a few hours I am going to pick up the contact sheet from my second Holga, 120SF (with flash). I can't wait.

[sliu]

BTW, if you want control, don't get a Holga. A Holga is not for serious job assignment, it is for serious photography. It is a buddy not a slave.

[m_.]

S. Liu: I like the acknowledgement of a camera with its own soul. It's a good thing to keep reminding yourself when things don't work out the way you wanted. Photographers tend to control too much. I have noticed that myself.

[deardorff8x10]

I took an M body cap, drilled a hole, and attached the meniscus lens and aperature (about f8) from a disposable (I got it free at a lab) behind the hole. The lens is about 35mm, and that was just about the distance from the film to the back of the body cap (it is really a bit longer, but that allows for "focus" at about 6 feeet). The result is Holga-like images, but with shutter speeds on 35mm, plus, I can switch to regular M lenses.

[johnmarkpainter]

Wentong,

 

The Holga/Lomo thing can be a lot of fun...BUT I would NEVER trust an important trip to

either one.

 

I went on trip once with a Lomo and a Holga. I got a few good shots, but lost many

others.

 

jmp

[melvin_bressler]

Wentong:

 

Sure, you can do it, but if you want any control, that's not the way to go. Remember, its really a point and shoot camera. It can be fun, but I think you'd be more comfortable with both cameras.

 

Why not shoot the same scene with both cameras, and post them.

 

BTW, are you sure that the Holga is made in China??

[sliu]

Yes. Holga IS made in China. Here is a frame from first roll in my second Holga.<div></div>

[j m shaw]

The Holga is a blast, I have several modified (pano, polaroid back...) and as they come out

of the box. I love the spontaneous unpredictable images they create. but they aren't at all

reliable , so for a trip I agree with the others take the Leica and Holga, you will have 2 very

different impressions of your destination:)

[travis1]

Wentong, take the Leiga and the Holca.

[peter_evans4]

<p>WenTong, it's handy to be able to take lots of pics without having to

reload. If you can't bring yourself to use <a id="a" title="The Wave Of

The Future, And You'd Better Believe It">digital</a>, then how about <a

title="Laugh at the sight of Leica collectors creaming their jeans."

href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30030&item=3815139272&rd=1">this</a>?</p>

[huw_finney]

Or you could get the new 'Acme Holga Plugin' for Photoshop !

[m_.]

Well, sounds like I will at elast bring a Leica.

 

Peter: Yeah, if I could afford that auction...Is that for real? Who wants that?

[peter_evans4]

WenTong, you're too young and intelligent, and much too good a

photographer, to worry about Leica "collectibles". But it may not be a

bad deal after all. Consider <a

href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/photo/2004/05/15/2003131503">how

much people pay for melons these days</a>.</p>

[nesrani]

Quite a nice snap, S Liu, but consider setting the black and white points to the left hand corner vignetting and the sky respectively, it is very washed out as is. Cheers.

[sliu]

Rob, I was in the hurry when I shot that negative with my digital camera and inverted in photoshop. Here is one adjusted according to your advice. Thank you.

<p>

<a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/2365190&size=lg">

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/2365190-sm.jpg" border="0"></a>

[liam_maloney]

When are you going to Bolivia?