Happy New Year!

Fountains at Clemson Library
Originally uploaded by Amanda_Morrow

Wow I can't believe I have had my Holga for almost a whole year. What a wonderful journey it has been. :D I don't have much to say, but here's an image I shot for my Within the Square series that didn't quite fit. It's still a nice image on its own though. Well enjoy and may all your corners be dark in 2010. ;)

"Vision goes over Technique"

I had someone say this to me about one of my Holga photos when I told them which camera I had used. This is pretty much why I shoot with the Holga, the simplicity allows me to devote myself entirely to the composition. When I use an SLR it's kind of a 'can't see the forest for the trees' thing. I get very caught up in the proper settings and metering for the correct exposure and choosing depth of field and all that. So caught up in fact that I sometimes devote less thought to composition and framing than I should. I enjoy the 'free reign' so to speak, offered by the Holga's point-and-shoot nature.

Additionally, the fact that 120 mm film is more expensive and harder to obtain than 35 mm film causes me to give pause and think more before I press the shutter. I like slowing things down and really considering my subject without the stress of exposure settings. I feel like I gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the subject that way. This is probably why my preference is for architecture over something like portraits. Buildings don't really move that often. ;)

I would argue against the use of the word technique, however. This particular individual is not a native speaker of English so with that caveat technique might not have been the exact word he meant. I (and I am sure many other people) do have a definite technique and process for shooting with my Holga for everything from framing to exposure (based on available light) and I actually think that achieving good exposures with the Holga requires MORE technique and photographic knowledge than with an SLR with a meter that tells you exactly what to set it to. ;) But then I am probably a little biased towards my little plastic buddy here...

I thought it a fitting statement for any well done Holga image and decided to share it here because, well, it IS my blog and also any serious user of 'the little camera that could' knows just how true it is. :)

Pink Slim Dress Photos!

I only managed two successful shots from my first 24 exposure roll, but I guess 1/12 is really not that bad. I don't feel like I am yet at the point where I can pre-visualize for this camera but I have a better idea after having this roll processed. The 22mm lens is wider than I thought! Ahh thinking in the rule of thirds again is refreshing, I have been thinking square for quite a while.



This is my favorite of the two images and is more along the lines of the sort of thing I would like to shoot with the slim. I have this odd desire to shoot farmland and giant hay rolls and cows with the thing. Well I'll be back in Statesboro next month so maybe I'll indulge myself.

Technically the camera preforms well. I was expecting more vignetting but this subtle vignette is nice and non-distracting. The colors are fairly accurate (although I suppose that's the film more than the camera). There is a decent amount of sharpness in the main plane and it softens nicely towards the edges.

My only complaint, rewinding the film takes forever! But it's worth it. :)

Photo of the Week at the Guggenheim!

This was a nice surprise to wake up to! Here is the image in detail (Click to go to Flickr):

The contest was about creating a relationship between nature and Architecture. I chose to submit this image because I drew a lot from Frank Lloyd Wright for the composition. The contest was put on to tie in with the Guggenheim's exhibit on Wright.

You can read more and see other winners here! Plenty of time left for other people to enter as well. :)

Pink Slim Dress

This is my new pretty, the Superheadz Pink Slim Dress. It is a throwback to the Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim. I haven't yet processed my first rolls from this little beauty but my initial impressions are pretty solid. It feels well made and of good quality for a toy camera. The viewfinder is nice and clear as well. Not so sure about the winding mechanism, I think it is kinda fiddly. Well I will be sure to post pictures once I have them!

The instructions are very clear and easy to understand. The film loaded fairly easily and the sprocket teeth caught right away. I am not always sure if it advances right though.

Purchased of course from the lovely freestylephoto.biz. <3