Holga/Lomo Side Challenge for November?

10/17/2009 12:00:23 AM · #1

Is there any interest in a Holga/Lomo side challenge for November? The rules would be pretty straightforward:

1. Film
2. Corrective post-processing only (e.g. adjust color balance, clone out dust/scratches, etc.)
3. Use a Holga or some other cheap/toy/lomo film camera: Diana, LC-A, Smena, Lubitel, Horizon or anything that looks and performs like garbage. Instant cameras are also okay, but no SLR's or rangefinders, please.

I'm posting a few weeks early in case folks want to do some digging for their old trashcam or buy a new one (hint, hint, Deb!). In the US, the thrift stores are great places to find really bad (and sometimes, not so bad) film cameras. You can also use the extra time to get a head start on shooting and developing.

So who's in on this madness? As you respond, please mention what kind of camera(s) you'll be using.

bvy - Bell & Howell Focus Free 28mm, Photoflex MX-35, Smena 8m

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

tph1 - Just about anything

RKT - Holga

krnodil - Holga, other medium format cameras

Iraklis - Holga

halopes - Holga, Black Slim Devil

datcat - Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim

Mephisto

Steef - Holga

sparrowsgo - Holga

salmiakki - Holga

Tentative:

Yo_Spiff

---

What is Lomo?
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lomography

Some inspiring photos and the "Ten Golden Rules":
//www.lomography.com/about/the-ten-golden-rules

Light Leaks is a magazine dedicated to low fidelity photography:
//www.lightleaks.org/

As timing would have it, October 17 is World Toy Camera Day:
//www.toycamera.com/

Message edited by author 2009-10-27 21:45:59.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

10/17/2009 03:48:45 PM · #2

I have some older film cams that may qualify, and there is a thrift store down the street. I'll see what I can come up with. (I have a Minolta disc camera that was $3 at a swap meet...)

Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS

10/17/2009 05:33:47 PM · #3

Oh dear. That's all I need is another camera... I will look to see what I can find in the area but no promises!

tph1

Fujifilm X-T1

10/17/2009 09:18:36 PM · #4

I am in!

RKT

Canon EOS-60D

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 for Canon

10/17/2009 09:30:52 PM · #5

Sign me up.

I'll be using a Holga.

Message edited by author 2009-10-18 18:12:07.

krnodil

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

10/17/2009 09:33:30 PM · #6

I've got so many old cameras here that take 120 film, including a Holga, and have been wanting to set time aside to play with them. I'd like to sign up, maybe it will be the kick in the pants I need to get started. Hopefully I'll post more than 1 image the entire month. :)

Iraklis

Nikon D90

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/18/2009 03:47:23 AM · #7

Count me in! I bought one a while a back but have yet to develop any film...This should motivate me!

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II

10/18/2009 04:27:27 AM · #8

Tom, can you post some of your "recipes" for developing film? Also, does anyone know where you can still get the metal film holders and cannisters for developing film?? I won't be able to print anything but I could possibly develop my own film then try to get prints made somewhere, yes?

halopes

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

10/18/2009 05:40:45 AM · #9

I haven't been around lately. This sounds like the perfect opportunity for my return. Count me in. I'll be using a Holga and a Black Slim Devil :)

krnodil

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

10/18/2009 03:42:59 PM · #10

Originally posted by Melethia:

can I just say?

Melethia + Holga + pigeons = PRICELESS

try Freestyle for everything (Holgas, film, developing equipment) - don't know if they ship overseas (you are still overseas?)

datcat

10/18/2009 06:09:43 PM · #11

I've got a Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim.

Count me in too, if my camera qualifies?

Message edited by author 2009-10-18 18:12:40.

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

10/18/2009 08:16:16 PM · #12

Originally posted by datcat:

I've got a Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim.

Count me in too, if my camera qualifies?

Certainly it does! This camera was the inspration behind Hugo's Black Slim Devil (good to see you back too, Hugo). I made a halfhearted effort to find one at one point, so I'll be looking forward to what you come up with.

Deb, I second Freestyle having just ordered some chemicals from them. An order from the East Coast (B&H or Adorama) might get to you sooner though.

There's a recipe for Caffenol here, but Tom might have some variation/improvement on it (last I looked, he was doing something with acorns):
//www.digitaltruth.com/data/caffenol.php

Glad to see interest and momentum building. I've PM'd invites to a few folks; feel free to do the same...

Mephisto

Nikon Coolpix A

10/19/2009 08:17:43 AM · #13

Ah, sweet. I'm kinda busy at the moment but will try to get something for november.
I have either my 1932's Bessa I or an old crappy Agfa Box to shoot with, hope these are old and crappy enough to qualify...;-)

tph1

Fujifilm X-T1

Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS

10/19/2009 07:05:54 PM · #14

Originally posted by Melethia:

Tom, can you post some of your "recipes" for developing film?

Sure.. Caffenol (or Caffenol C) seems to be the easiest and most predictable homemade developer. I like the results too. Scan as color negative.

Caffenol film developer

Water 8 oz
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda 2 tsp (level)
Folger's Coffee Crystals (Instant) 4 tsp (slightly rounded)
(I add a 1/2 tsp of vitamin C, as do others. Seems to give the mix a boost. Just crush a few tablets.)
Mixing instructions: Mix soda until completely dissolved and solution is clear. Add coffee, mix until all grittiness is gone and solution is uniform, let stand 5-10 minutes until microbubbles clear. Use within 30 minutes. I strain this too to remove the bits of the outer coating from the vit c tablets.
Dilution: Use undiluted
Starting point development time: 30 mins
Notes: Suggest overexposing by 1 or 2 stops.

Substitute a red wine for coffee/water and you will get a result of sorts. extend development time to at least 45 minutes, and over expose by 2 - 3 stops? I only tried with a bottle that had been open for 3+ months.
Mash up a bunch of acorns and make a dark brew. substitute this for the coffee and water. Again, need at least 45 minutes to develop, and way overexpose. This should be strained until the pieces are out.
Both of the above produce very dense negatives. I thought they would be un-scannable, but my Epson v500 was able to get some images.

I think the theory is a high tannin content will do the trick. I have only been doing 120 film, so I just double the above recipes.
I really like the effect of developing color film in Rodinal (b&w developer), then scanning as a color negative. Seems to get an interesting light tint. I have only tried Fuji P160s color film.

I have had my share of failures, so kind of expect that. I usually devote 6 - 12 bracketed exposures to each shot to try and be sure I get at least something to work with.

Message edited by author 2009-10-19 19:10:31.

10/20/2009 01:22:31 AM · #15

OK - here's another question - what kind of scanner do people use? What if one only has an everyday average household scanner which is very finicky about scanning to the computer? (It copies well, but hates scanning...)

datcat

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II

10/20/2009 09:04:39 AM · #16

I'm using an HP printer/scanner/copier 6200 series and plan on getting my film developed at the local K-mart.

halopes

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

10/20/2009 05:41:10 PM · #17

I'm using a Canon CanoScan 8800f.

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM

10/20/2009 06:46:49 PM · #18

I just went through this myself, Deb. I don't think a regular flatbed scanner alone will give you results you're happy with. Flatbed scanners that say they scan film are best. These have two things that unequipped scanners don't: a back light (if you want any sort of contrast) and a film adapter unit (holds the film just above the surface of the glass so you don't get Newton rings). If you just throw the negatives down on the glass and scan at a high dpi, I think you'll be doing a lot of Photshopping to get anything presentable -- and you'll still have the rings.

I have the predecessor to Hugo's unit, the 8600f. It's a great machine. I got it for about $100 on eBay.

Steef

Canon EOS-40D

10/20/2009 06:48:13 PM · #19

add me to the list please, i've been neglecting my film cameras :)

eta: i'll be using a holga and a fisheye

Message edited by author 2009-10-21 07:18:09.

Mephisto

Nikon Coolpix A

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

10/21/2009 07:11:56 AM · #20

Originally posted by halopes:

I'm using a Canon CanoScan 8800f.

me too. got it off of ebay-germany for 130�, and it does its job very well!
deb, if you plan on using your old flatbed (which doesn't have the transmitted light unit i suppose?) you can scan the PRINTS with no problem, but don't even bother trying to scan negatives or slides (as

bvy described)...

10/21/2009 07:16:07 AM · #21

Well I'm not going to go out and buy a special scanner. I'll just have to have film commercially developed and printed, I suppose, as I have no darkroom access or equipment.

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 for Canon

10/21/2009 04:32:52 PM · #22

Originally posted by Melethia:

Well I'm not going to go out and buy a special scanner. I'll just have to have film commercially developed and printed, I suppose, as I have no darkroom access or equipment.

Most places will do the scanning for you -- i.e. give you a CD. And develop and CD is much cheaper than develop and prints.

RKT

Canon EOS-60D

10/22/2009 12:23:42 PM · #23

I was wondering...besides using my Holga, could I also use my canon slr with my Lensbaby? A bit of Hi-Fi meets Lo-Fi? I know you said no slr, so let me know.