theartofphotogr... We've done a lot of work talking about Holga Projects and it occurred to me that we hadn't done a proper episode on shooting with a Holga. So here it is folks...
I bought a holga for my ex boyfriend for his birthday. We broke up before his birthday so now I am going to learn how to use it! I found this video helpful and I plan on watching all of your other holga videos!
One thing you can do to figure out how the camera focuses or what will be seen/focused is to put wax paper or something like that (even thin plastic bags work, as long as the concept is the same - I've used opaque-ish tape before) where the film should be and you can see the image that would be captured, using it like a pinhole projector. I imagine it would only work if you kept it open in bulb mode or could force the shutter open. Then you could mark the focus distances on the lens, or the area seen in the viewfinder.
I found your Holga show to be very informative and interesting. I have a lot of Holgas and other lo-fi cameras and really enjoy them and what comes out of them. They're really fun and surprising at times. Thanks for the show.
I'm enjoying dad's former Mamiya Press which came with three formats and three lenses to explore, but alas, the Holga provides for artsy picture in a big negative and that means large pictures of fancy unrepeatable photographs! What's not to love
I have a 120N, and I've gotten as much garbage out of it as I've gotten good shots. I've gotten some really creepy, ethereal shots with it using Lomography's Metropolis.
Hi Ted, thank you! I enjoy your web clips and am just about to load my Holga 120s, are you still doing the Holga study? What film would you use the Kodak Portra 400 or the Ilford XP2? Thank you. Rajeeve NZ
Could you do that episode on working around camera limitations to make macro shots? I'd love to try that out on my TLR camera (which is just a step up from a holga, lol)
@ethancfbz ...(cont) without overthinking it. To focus on the camera (here, the Holga) kinda misses the point, and invalidates your argument. "One must keep photography simple, and stop focusing on the camera =/= One must use a Holga" ...a bit of a contradiction.
@rorrt What you seem to be getting at is that taking pictures is good practice. I understand the idea of stripping photography to its essentials - trust me, I do. I think it's important. However, you're confusing the concept of simplicity with the concept of style. Holgas certainly have a style - one that I like with certain subjects. However, I don't think that shooting with a Holda rather than a Canonet or similar is beneficial to one's photography skills. It's really all about shooting...
I'm afraid I just don't get it. For 30 dollars you can get a wonderful little fixed lens rangefinder that will have character while still providing a quality negative. when you wanted to have a technically horrible picture (which I can understand somewhat) then scan your negative and do it in photoshop or intentionally misfocus your enlarger lens. but then when you want a good negative you don't have to go out and buy a new camera. well maybe it'll help 120 film popularity
i downloaded official manual and the pictures there show film is loaded upside down. and in this video it is not upside down. what is correct way ? or doesn't it matter ?
No Thank you - Just pulled out my Holga and wanted to be reacquainted with it. Yes the batteries corrode, my own fault, but its ready and ive got 12 - wait no 11, pics to have fun with (overwound) but thanks again and happy F-stops
@rorrt but it's not great. it's intentionally not great. what can you do on a holga that you cannot do with a konica auto s or canonent? I can tell you lots of things that you can do on the latter that would be impossible on the former. and I dont understand how shutter and aperture are an imposition. I shoot without a meter about 75% of the time, even on slide film, and rarely have to put much thought into it. Im hardly an old, wise and experienced shooter either. real basic stuff IMO.
Does the Holga 120N really have to be spray painted flat black on the inside if you have a 6x6 mask? Can a person not Spray paint it and still have usable pictures?
1972myc You don’t have to get the inside painted. I’ve read that some people never noticed a difference. I’d only consider it if you had problems with film fogging or undesired light leaks.
Ted, your contributions would improve dramatically if you set yourself the goal of squeezing into half the current time, that it takes. You just should tell things once, skip fillers, that kind of stuff - we like and want your thing.
…Watching this in 2021 and am stunned by the video quality of this
I bought a holga for my ex boyfriend for his birthday. We broke up before his birthday so now I am going to learn how to use it! I found this video helpful and I plan on watching all of your other holga videos!
In 10 year when the internationaly known Jaylene Meeker will have a great answer at the question "how did you start photography? "
How was it?
4:50
thanks
5 minute intro is insane
One thing you can do to figure out how the camera focuses or what will be seen/focused is to put wax paper or something like that (even thin plastic bags work, as long as the concept is the same - I've used opaque-ish tape before) where the film should be and you can see the image that would be captured, using it like a pinhole projector. I imagine it would only work if you kept it open in bulb mode or could force the shutter open. Then you could mark the focus distances on the lens, or the area seen in the viewfinder.
I know this is an old video but it was helpful nonetheless. I just bought a Holga 120GTLR and I'm pretty excited to shoot a few rolls with it.
I found your Holga show to be very informative and interesting. I have a lot of Holgas and other lo-fi cameras and really enjoy them and what comes out of them. They're really fun and surprising at times. Thanks for the show.
I'm enjoying dad's former Mamiya Press which came with three formats and three lenses to explore, but alas, the Holga provides for artsy picture in a big negative and that means large pictures of fancy unrepeatable photographs! What's not to love
I'd have loved to see some pictures clicked with your holga though..
I am getting my first Holga in the mail tomorrow morning. Can't wait to shoot it.
Dammit... I missed the meet up. Although I was in London yesterday and had a good wander along the southbank as it is a great place to shoot.
I just bought one, with film off eBay. Can’t wait to get it & play around with it.
You got me itching now to go get a Holga. It will be nice if you do an episode on how to flock and tape up the Holga to prevent light leaks.
Thanks for the tips. My sister had a holga135 laying around, so I'm going to give it a shot and play around.
do you still send cameras? i'd like to try using this!
Whoooeee! It has an "optical lens"!!! 😂
the Prob with film long exposures would be reciprocity.
Thank you for your videos - VERY informative and helpful!!
I have a 120N, and I've gotten as much garbage out of it as I've gotten good shots. I've gotten some really creepy, ethereal shots with it using Lomography's Metropolis.
Hi Ted, thank you! I enjoy your web clips and am just about to load my Holga 120s, are you still doing the Holga study? What film would you use the Kodak Portra 400 or the Ilford XP2? Thank you. Rajeeve NZ
good video, on night shots does holding down the shutter blur things like car lights?
Concerned that my spring is too weak, have to really thump the shutter release to get it to action, and that may cause too much hand shake.
My Brownie Junior has the same shutter spring!
Could you do that episode on working around camera limitations to make macro shots? I'd love to try that out on my TLR camera (which is just a step up from a holga, lol)
Watched this video in hopes of finding a tip on how to perform long bulb exposures on a Holga that does not have a cable release connection.
omg i want to join the holga project
really nice suggestions, quite helpful!
@ethancfbz ...(cont) without overthinking it. To focus on the camera (here, the Holga) kinda misses the point, and invalidates your argument. "One must keep photography simple, and stop focusing on the camera =/= One must use a Holga" ...a bit of a contradiction.
Excellent.
Just bought a Holga lens for my 5D2. Love the irony. Lol :D
Does this camera have a flash??
@rorrt What you seem to be getting at is that taking pictures is good practice. I understand the idea of stripping photography to its essentials - trust me, I do. I think it's important. However, you're confusing the concept of simplicity with the concept of style. Holgas certainly have a style - one that I like with certain subjects. However, I don't think that shooting with a Holda rather than a Canonet or similar is beneficial to one's photography skills. It's really all about shooting...
Thanks :-) I really needed this video.
Great video
Hi
thanks Ted!
so is the bulb setting a hack for a higher SS? if i just quickly hold and release it super fast?
I'm afraid I just don't get it. For 30 dollars you can get a wonderful little fixed lens rangefinder that will have character while still providing a quality negative.
when you wanted to have a technically horrible picture (which I can understand somewhat) then scan your negative and do it in photoshop or intentionally misfocus your enlarger lens. but then when you want a good negative you don't have to go out and buy a new camera.
well maybe it'll help 120 film popularity
is the shutter speed on the Holga 1/60? .... so generally you will be shooting at F8, 1/60 and whatever speed your film is?
Thanks for the video!
i downloaded official manual and the pictures there show film is loaded upside down. and in this video it is not upside down. what is correct way ? or doesn't it matter ?
when you take a picture, is the number supposed to move as well or will it stay on the same number and then move when you manually turn it?
Nice intro !!
do you still send cameras?
Not plenty available no more
Hello I have the Holga 120s does it come with the roll just under the film winder, or is that part of the 120 film? Thank you
This is a range finder.... It is just like a Leica M6.
photoboy2005 No, this is a farcry from the Leica M6!
I'd love to send you a film or two
No Thank you - Just pulled out my Holga and wanted to be reacquainted with it. Yes the batteries corrode, my own fault, but its ready and ive got 12 - wait no 11, pics to have fun with (overwound) but thanks again and happy F-stops
Can i get in on the project? id love to join in i live in seattle and do good work
I would like to be part of the Holga Project, where do I sign up?
Cool
@rorrt but it's not great. it's intentionally not great.
what can you do on a holga that you cannot do with a konica auto s or canonent? I can tell you lots of things that you can do on the latter that would be impossible on the former.
and I dont understand how shutter and aperture are an imposition. I shoot without a meter about 75% of the time, even on slide film, and rarely have to put much thought into it. Im hardly an old, wise and experienced shooter either. real basic stuff IMO.
how do I get on the list to this holga project?
for the holga project?
Is that offer for Holga still good? I want to try one out :D
So I've had the recent fascination with toy cameras and I was wondering which holga should I get for the total holga affect?
How do you buy from randy?
Can someone tellme where I can buy a basic digital Holga with warts and all? Northeast coast of the US
Timothy Dingman get an analog one
had an analog one; I'm out of the "film" and into the sd chip
ebay.com
i live in hawaii i'll take some pretty pictures
how many cliks will give a panarama picture ?
am i too late? :(
Does the Holga 120N really have to be spray painted flat black on the inside if you have a 6x6 mask?
Can a person not Spray paint it and still have usable pictures?
1972myc You don’t have to get the inside painted. I’ve read that some people never noticed a difference. I’d only consider it if you had problems with film fogging or undesired light leaks.
haha I just found out about this too, I live in hawaii too haha..what's your IG?
Ted, your contributions would improve dramatically if you set yourself the goal of squeezing into half the current time, that it takes. You just should tell things once, skip fillers, that kind of stuff - we like and want your thing.
@soapydelrey
Bla bla bla bla and more bla and the holga tips?
Alex Martinez Might just be the best comment ever…
thanks for the heads up... he's making me crazy
srry bud 2 years to late ;)
Way way over thinking this camera
?????????????????? blablabla
b&h photo
the charming thing about this camera is how mediocre it is.
04:43
as bad as you speak about this camera i wonder why people bother...
Holga shooting technique #1: Throw camera in garbage. 2. Get a proper camera.