I can’t lie: film costs money. I have been known to argue that going with film is cheaper because the cameras are generally less expensive (a medium format can give you results on par with a full frame digital, for half the price or less) and it is also nice to buy used. But film does cost more than digital space these days. On average (and maybe this is even on the low side), its $10 a roll. You have to buy the film, then get the film developed. Maybe you save some money if you scan the negatives yourself, but of course that requires the investment in the scanner! Phew! I can see why some people never get over the hump to try film out when digital makes it so easy!

The Holga camera is at least one way to cut the costs, as the camera itself is as cheap as $25! Don’t you dare buy it from Urban Outfitters, silly! Check Amazon or B&H Photo Video, etc. You will need some 120 film too (although 35mm can be used for some interesting results!), and not just the kind made for the Holga, any 120 will do. I picked one up when I “needed” a new camera, but really didn’t have the money for anything more. And it yields some very fun, unexpected, often exciting and creative results. For those of you who are into the effects that polaroid can give you, listen up! You may dig some of this Holga stuff, too! I’m very excited to try it all out. I just got back the first roll from my Holga, so I haven’t even fully experienced it yet, but here are a few of the interesting things I’ve seen:

1. Overlapping frames. It is like getting a double negative just on the outer edges of the image. There are a few different ways to do this. Some say just to not wind fully to the next frame in between shots. I’ve also read that you can control this by leaving in the inside plastic “frame” that sets the camera up for 12 square images, but set the arrow switch on the back of the camera to take 16, and they will overlap. You can even do panoramas like this.

lilies by triana t. 

2. Unintended Double (and triple!) exposures

our dreams are luminous, a cast fire upon the world by after october.

3. Crazy light leaks (the above image also sums that one up quite nicely!)

surf by nessavay

4. You can even use 35mm film in it, and your image will be all over the negative, up to the very edges, over the film sprocket holes! A quick visit to the Holga pool on flickr will show you that one. I hope someone posts one of those to the Mortal Muses Film Friday pool soon.

These are all things I’ve seen people try to recreate in post-processing of digital images, but to me, look so much cooler when they are the real thing! Do you have a Holga? What can you teach me to try out on mine? Let me know in the comments! Thanks!

Happy shooting! ~Cara