Holga does "serious" shoot

[vieri]

Serious? Well, of course I don't mean that Holga's pics are "not serious" in general; just, not everyday we see studio stuff done with an Holga, so here is the story: no matter what I am shooting, I always bring film along (wether it's 135 or 120 depends on the rest of the gear I bring along), and almost always I bring with me an Holga too. First, I really do like the output a lot for what it does; second, it is always fun to see the customers' faces when - in the middle of a shoot, after using the big guns for a while (D3, Phase 1, Leica, whatever I am using at the time) - I mention that I will now shoot them using the latest and best camera out of the last Chinese technological researches, and.. out comes my beaten, ugly, kept-together-by-tape, inimitable, Holga! 😀

Sticking on top of it my strobo remote and starting to shoot, takes just a second - and my ProFoto lights work just perfectly with it - no compatibility issue, no firmware upgrade needed, no sync speed problems, etc!

So here is a couple of images, out of a maternity shoot, done in the happy couple's living room (at their own request) rather than in my studio:

All shot with a Holga & ProFoto lights with Ilford Pan F+ 50, developed in 510-Pyro and scanned with the newly arrived Hasselblad X5.

Enjoy! 😀

 

[user237428934]

Holga as a studio camera. Cool. Is this a Holga with plastic or glass lens?

 

[JoeV]

Nice images. They have that classic Holga glow.

~Joe

 

[Thardy]

I saw the images first and wondered how did he get such good exposure (having used Holgas before), then I saw that you used Profoto lights. 😎

 

[denmark.yuzon]

i think holga uses plastic lenses... correct me if im wrong but i think the Lomo LC-A is the only plastic cam that uses glass lenseS?

 

[robklurfield]

nice shots.

 

[user237428934]

i think holga uses plastic lenses... correct me if im wrong but i think the Lomo LC-A is the only plastic cam that uses glass lenseS?

There are plastic lens and glass lens models.
e.g. FN = flash+plastic lens GFN= flash+glass lens

 

[ray*j*gun]

Interesting vignetting. Does the client think that's a special advanced technique?😉

Nice images!

 

[hans voralberg]

Holy cow, you have a 20 grand scanner oO

 

[antonandreas]

I love the look the Holga gives to photos. I put together a system for off camera flash as well and think the results are fantastic.

I think the camera takes an unfair beating from the "serious" photography community.

 

[JoeV]

There are plastic lens and glass lens models.
e.g. FN = flash+plastic lens GFN= flash+glass lens

So the way I can remember this is if it's a "FN Holga" then it"s a plastic lens; as in "Please hand me that FN Holga..."😉

Actually, given the quality of images created by serious pinhole photographers, I'd say the Holgas are more than capable in the right hands. Wasn't it David Burnett, a few years ago, who used a Holga (or was it a Diana, I can never remember) to document a US Presidential campaign, for a major magazine like Time?

~Joe

 

[vieri]

Holga as a studio camera. Cool. Is this a Holga with plastic or glass lens?

Thank you! Not sure about the lens, it might be the regular plastic one though...

Nice images. They have that classic Holga glow.

~Joe

...which beats the cr@p out of the classic Leica glow for 1/1000th of the price 😀

I saw the images first and wondered how did he get such good exposure (having used Holgas before), then I saw that you used Profoto lights. 😎

LOL Using Holgas indoor one can use all the help one can get 😀

i think holga uses plastic lenses... correct me if im wrong but i think the Lomo LC-A is the only plastic cam that uses glass lenseS?

nice shots.

Thank you! 😀

There are plastic lens and glass lens models.
e.g. FN = flash+plastic lens GFN= flash+glass lens

Exactly. I am not sure which one mine is though, the little brand plate felt off a long time ago, and on the lens it only says "optical lens" (no sh.t!)

Interesting vignetting. Does the client think that's a special advanced technique?😉

Nice images!

They thought it was very cool and really liked it 😀 probably, they assumed there are hours of PS work behind it, too 🙄

Holy cow, you have a 20 grand scanner oO

...which I use to scan film from 20 $ cameras... very cool, isn't it? 😀

I love the look the Holga gives to photos. I put together a system for off camera flash as well and think the results are fantastic.

I think the camera takes an unfair beating from the "serious" photography community.

Very nice image! 😀 well, the Holga does indeed take a somehow unfair beating from the "serious" guys, but to an extent they might have a point in that it is very much a one-trick pony, and the effect it creates can become stale if used without restraint; however, I think there are many one-trick pony cameras out there which cost much more and are very much appreciated by the "serious" guys, so if you look at it like that, then I agree with you completely.

So the way I can remember this is if it's a "FN Holga" then it"s a plastic lens; as in "Please hand me that FN Holga..."😉

Actually, given the quality of images created by serious pinhole photographers, I'd say the Holgas are more than capable in the right hands. Wasn't it David Burnett, a few years ago, who used a Holga (or was it a Diana, I can never remember) to document a US Presidential campaign, for a major magazine like Time?

~Joe

I am not sure, Joe, but I seem to remember something along these lines too. Well, you can use an Holga for pretty much what you want, provided that 1/100 @ f8-f11 gives you enough light to work with, and that you don't get bored with the effect... 😀