Brokenland

First of all good to be back.

I few month back I was asked to take part in a kids camera photo challenge. The challenge consisted of finding and using a kids plastic or disposable camera and I only had one week to accomplish this. took me a few days to locate a camera and it would take me even longer to locate someone to develop the film within said time frame. But I was able to pull it off.

The first image "Girl on a Swing" was purposely double exposed and submitted to the challenge. But a few days afterward I was informed that this image never made the top 35.. Feeling disappointed, this rekindled something I haven't felt since the 80's. I had given up on the analog cameras soon after being hit head on by a car. I felt i just couldn't handle all the heavy gear. So I turned to digital in the hopes I could rekindle something in that direction.

You've seen a few of my digital images, but now I wanted something different and creative. I've always wanted to get into medium format film but didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars doing it. Selecting the Holga 120N toy camera and 7 rolls of film. We headed out last fall for a week long photoshoot. Once home I was able to send 4 of the 7 rolls to the lab for development, but I neglected to label the rolls for importance.

3 weeks ago, I sent other first 4 rolls to the lab but I was unsure if a 20 sec exposure would have bene long enough. The lab informed me that they would perform a snip test on one of the rolls before commenting to either pushing or pulling the film. The snip test image was sent to me via email for approval. "Tunnel at Fort Taylor" was that snip test image and the Lab concluded that no pushing or pulling the film would be necessary.

Soon after I got the rest of the film in the mail and inspected the development. I wasn't impressed and was about ready to chuck the camera and negatives into the trash when the wife asked that I take a closer look at the film. This time I pulled out the old small light box and placed the negatives on the element. Throwing those negatives that didn't turn out because 20 secs wasn't enough, until I located this one.

"Mingled Trees & Vines" was actually good for a cheap plastic camera. Then I found another and a few more.. In order to post these image online, I set up my tripod with a folding table and my Canon M6. As cheap alternative to having to send the images out for scanning.

During my time taking photos, I tested the Kodak Tri-X 400 & Kodak Portra 160. I found that for a vintage look to the film, I used the Portra 160 (color) then converted to black and white as shown in the next image "The Barn at 12 Ridges Vineyard" Mind you is was cold and windy atop the blue ridge parkways so I was rushed to get this shot.

A few weeks went by and I finally had a chance to send the last rolls to the Lab. This time I didn't request a snip test and the film cam beck better than expected. One image from this roll was taken while again on the parkway, but I was standing under an overpass.

lastly and the most exciting image from this last set of rolls was an image where the wife and I were sitting on the beach watching the sunset. this young girl came walking by wearing a black dress. I jumped up and asked her if she would pose for me. in order to get this shot I had to use a tripod and place a broken toy shovel at her left foot. Again all images including this one was taken with a 20 sec exposure.

So what have I learn form this month long experiment.. film is expensive to buy, use then have developed. Also, I learn that the Tri-X 400 was not very desirable. Instead and next time I'm going with the Portra 160 color then converting to black & white afterward for a vintage look.

The Specs: Holga 120N camera // 20 Sec Exposure // Vintage Velbon Tripod // Experimental Polarizing Filter // German Made 13'' Cable Release

NOTE: in order to attached the cable release, I had the shop 3D print a shutter release adapter. The most exciting discovery was when I was trying to figure out how to attach and use the filter. Using the 52mm lens ring which fit over the outer edge of the Holga lens. But over time this forced attachment kept falling off. I correct this with a small peice of tin foil bent over the lens ring inner edge.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Interesting.

Brokenland

Quote from Lomography.com:

Hello! Your shot will be featured as Photo of the Day for the international page on January 30th

Congratulations! 🙂

Elisa

Specs: Holga 120N // Vintage Velbon Tripod // 20 Sec Exposure // Digitally Transferred For Viewing Online

Brokenland

"Dino Land" [Triple Exposure] Holga 120N // Vintage Velbon Tripod // 20 Sec Exposures

Totally random mistake while taking photos of the Dino Land tourist Trap near Charlestown.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

The photos you’ve presented are wonderful! They illustrate that the expression, “Sharpness is a bourgeois concept” is as valid today as when Cartier-Bresson uttered it.

I’ve been thinking of acquiring a Holga after seeing the results of many users posting in other forums and on YouTube. But I’m curious why all these images required a 20 second exposure - was that by design or necessity due to a camera limitation?

Stan

Brokenland

Stan, I was taking a chance at judging the exposure time. I've seen instances where some were using 8 sec while other were using 1 min exposures. I selected the best of both. But when it came time to have the Lab develop the film I told them I was concerned that the 20 sec exposure was not enough. This is why they did a snip test and the "tunnel Fort Taylor" image was the image they sent to me after doing the snip test. according to them, 20 sec was enough to expose the film. However, As I said the camera was mounted on a tripod with a cable release. If I held the camera the 20 secs would have been blurry because I have trimmers. I guess I was expecting much more from a plastic camera. if one uses a Dora Goodman type camera on a tripod the results would have 10X better. The Holga is known for light leaks or artsy photos. I spray painted the inside of the camera with flat black paint to reduce any glare from the shinny plastic parts. Also, I can't say if my filter attachment and filter did any good but I used it for every photo. You're getting this clarity because nothing moved as the camera was actuated by the cable release while mounted on a tripod. I suspect that if one held the camera and did a 20 sec exposure the results would be different. One other thing I neglected to mention. I taped over the view finder. Thus using the Holga 120N strictly as a pure point and shoot. So all the image above were shot by simply pointing the camera in the general direction and hoping for the best.

glennk

I enjoyed the images above.

Instead of the Holga film camera route, I bought the Holga Canon mount lens and play with it on my old 5DII. Using it is somewhat like the Holga camera - sometimes it produces an ordinary image, sometimes a unique one (and I don't have to wait for the film to return (like in the 'good old days')).

But shooting film every once in a while, maybe I should look again at a Holga to play with as well.

Wishing you good light and shooting...

Glenn

Brokenland

For the last few months, I've been developing my own film and have this next shot to offer. very surprised at how well this mage turned out. Drive through GA we located a bridge early morning fog. This was shot with the Holga 120N with a 20 sec exposure using Kodak Tri-X 400, then developed with beer in a home made basement darkroom.

Brokenland

"Endless Mile to Nowhere" Stood in the road for 45min while the camera took this picture while mounted on a vintage velbon tripod..