Holga blog

Diana special: Trainspotting

2011-05-01T18:59:00.001+03:00

Shot with:

My hard drive broke down this week and I lost all the scans I had. It's going to take some time to re-scan them so I had to be creative. I've played with the idea of having a Diana special and turns out this is the perfect time to have it. I hope you don't come down to burn my house for this blasphemy.

Have a happy May Day evening!

Into The White

2011-04-24T10:41:00.000+03:00

Shot with:

First of all I want to say I'm sorry for last Sunday. It was an especially rushed day filled with Swenglish and accounting.

Now that I got the apology out of the way I'm happy to announce that Holga Blog has broken through 50 subscribers. In addition to that there are 21 people who have subscribed by other means. Combined it means 79 people are routinely watching the things this blog pushes into the ether.

An additional fact is that this blog has seen visitors from 96 countries and all the continents.

Thank you for this!

I disappear

2011-04-10T20:15:00.000+03:00

Strangely, I find comfort in empty, superficially meaningless spaces.

Shot with:

Me, the bear

2011-04-03T15:39:00.000+03:00

For the appreciators of not-necessary-so-good beer.

Shot with:

Trains to nowhere

2011-03-27T20:25:00.000+03:00

Revisiting an old theme. This time with less fog.

This photo also acts as a demonstration of bad development chemistry. The artifacts in the upper part cover the length of the whole film. Good thing I'm shooting with a Holga and not with a Hasselblad. Little flaws only add to the atmosphere.

Shot with:

Alley

2011-03-20T13:13:00.001+02:00

Shot with:

No Winter Maintenance

2011-03-13T09:35:00.000+02:00

Let's hope there will be no nuclear winter in Japan. If I had a tendency to spread rumors of the end of the world, I would do it now. Egypt, Libya, Japan, Ireland, Greece. All kinds of instability. I just purchased Fallout 1 & 2 & tactics from Steam so I'll be ready for the post-apocalyptic life. And my refrigerator is quite full too.

Seriously then: all the best for everyone, especially for my Asian readers who have been affected by the terrible disaster.

Be careful out there. Take care!

Shot with:

Look into the air

2011-03-06T10:40:00.000+02:00

On a very cold winter day. Explosions in the Sky rules!

Shot with:

Brave New Tomorrow

2011-02-27T11:35:00.000+02:00

Some Holga-flare here. This is brand new material. I scanned it yesterday. This photo was taken on one of the coldest days of this winter (about -27 Celsius). The thermal plant in the picture was really working at 100% power.

Shot with:

Into Another World

2011-02-20T11:25:00.000+02:00

The reason for the fog is bad chemistry that messed up the entire roll. In some twisted way I like it here.

Shot with:

Solitude

2011-02-13T10:26:00.004+02:00

Our wanders in the old days are over. Here's a brand new photo.

Shot with:

PS. I have plans to turn Holga Blog into a nice little book. I'm likely to use Blurb.com to create it. Would anyone of you be interested?

Growing Old

2011-02-06T16:32:00.001+02:00

Shot with:

There's Something In The Sea

2011-01-30T11:56:00.001+02:00

Another moment spent alone in the storm.

Shot with:

PS. If you like Polaroid photography, check out my article about SX-70, The Impossible Project and Color Shade Film.

I'm Awake

2011-01-23T00:44:00.001+02:00

Something of a tribute to a great Finnish video game Alan Wake. In my opinion the most underrated game of 2010. It got recognized by the media (Time included) but the sales were really poor. Call of Duty has it's place as the bread and butter entertainment of our generation but if you want something moody, you're out of luck. The atmosphere is everything in Alan Wake. A writer losing his mind in the forests of Northern America. It's quite an experience to play in the dark. I hate to make this sound like an advertisement but if you own an Xbox 360, try this game out. [No, I don't get paid for this ;-) ]

As I seem to be in the mood for writing lengthy entries tonight I share two more things with you. I've further updated the links section. I'd especially like to mention the Holga Project 365. If you have any suggestions for the links section, please comment.

And one last thing. As you probably see, I've added The all too familiar Facebook like-buttons to the posts. If you are Facebook-users and see something interesting here, feel free to use them.

EDIT: Holga Blog is also on Facebook, feel free to join the fan page.

A Roadside Story

2011-01-16T11:55:00.000+02:00

If you're a long time follower of my blog you may have seen photos with similar mood here before. I recently reinstalled Windows to my computer and went through some archives. I realized that there were tons of scans that hadn't seen daylight. This one is from early 2008. I went for a walk in a blizzard. I have to do it again some time.

PS. I updated the links section a little, more will come. Check it out.
PPS. I finally did some editing to the template. It now allows larger images as a default. Enjoy.

Running down your skin

2011-01-09T13:44:00.000+02:00

Bright ideas

2011-01-02T11:43:00.000+02:00

Click for a larger view.

Dreaming of empty skies

2010-12-27T22:37:00.000+02:00

Click for a larger view. The way it's meant to be seen.

An experiment with 35mm film. Light is both a friend and a foe.

Get ready for 2011. Thanks.

Stop for a minute

2010-12-19T10:57:00.000+02:00

Click for full view. It's highly recommended here.

This picture shows the relatively good low light performance of Ilford XP2 Super 400 film. Even Holga can get some detail out of the darkness! And you're free from the developing hassle as it can be developed in standard C41 process.

I'm planning on developing the layout of the blog to more large view -friendly. It's going to be tough process as I've already modified the code extensively and I think I should complicate it more so I'll take a clean start.

Happy holidays for everyone!

Time has passed me by

2010-12-12T12:43:00.000+02:00

In my eyes you see a reflection of a better tomorrow.

Who are you?

2010-12-06T12:37:00.000+02:00

The title says it all. Please share something about yourself.

I'm breaking the unwritten rule of not posting text-only entries.

The reason for this is that I recently wandered to the Google analytics of the blog and realized that the visitors are drawn from sources I thought they wouldn't be.

In case you're still reading this I hope you answer a few easy questions:

- How did you end up in here?

- Do I know you? (Internet / real life)

- Where are you from?

- Free word

EDIT: I've even changed the settings so that you can comment anonymously.

And just like Jimmy Wales haunts Wikipedia with his personal appeal I say this one more time: Please, please comment. It'd be really interesting.

Thanks

Antti

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar

2010-12-05T15:13:00.000+02:00

What Sigmund Freud saw on his way home. A view through a Window from the Hallway of the building the father of psychoanalysis lived and worked. I hope I'm not revealing too much of my twisted nature ;)

Too close to a man-made sun

2010-11-28T14:17:00.000+02:00

0,2 seconds after impact. The last sight you'll ever see.

Signs of life

2010-11-23T14:56:00.001+02:00

Viva Emptiness

2010-11-15T16:24:00.000+02:00

Little Miracle

2010-08-25T19:33:00.001+03:00

A tree growing on the roof of a gas station.

White walls

2010-08-11T17:41:00.000+03:00

Down The Rabbit Hole

2010-08-04T21:02:00.001+03:00

Railway

2010-07-11T19:51:00.000+03:00

A blue moment with a hint of red

2010-07-04T12:13:00.000+03:00

The Old World

2010-06-19T12:45:00.000+03:00

A view to a more civilized time.

A City Burned By Time

2010-06-10T16:36:00.000+03:00

I wonder what life is like behind the windows.

...

Holga Blog has come back to life!

I have a number of excuses for the silence that lasted over a year. I will not bother you with them. What matters is that I again have a working scanning system to share my dreams with you.

I'll catch you on the flipside.

Tabula Rasa

2009-04-20T13:41:00.000+03:00

What is left of four landscapes.

[ Breaking the silence but fading out again ]

On my way to wonderland

2009-03-07T22:29:00.001+02:00

I'm sorry for the silence. It's become a cliche here.
Medicine takes time. I hope you're not too mad at me.

Ancient history

2009-02-07T18:17:00.000+02:00

On the left there is a castle from 13th century . On the left there is a forest. The rest is ice and water. Who do you think was there first?

High on substance X

2009-01-24T12:43:00.000+02:00

Still

2009-01-10T15:38:00.000+02:00

Click the image for my Holga gallery at DeviantArt

Ivory towers are obsolete

2009-01-03T12:16:00.000+02:00

Click the photo to to see more of my Holga-shots at DeviantArt.

Go home

2008-12-28T15:45:00.000+02:00

Merry Christmas and happy new year!

Snow

2008-12-20T12:02:00.000+02:00

Click the image to see more Holga shots at my deviantArt gallery.

Every step you take

2008-12-14T12:07:00.000+02:00

Another era of silence has ended.

I don't even bother you with my apologies and promises. I'll just settle with saying that I'll update this blog every once in a while when I have a free moment. It may take a while but I won't abandon this project.

Frozen lake

2008-10-24T22:37:00.000+03:00

I'm sorry about the way too long silence (once again). I blame school for getting my way.

Click the image to see more of my Holga shots at deviantART.

Three

2008-09-28T10:33:00.000+03:00

Click the image to see more of my shots at DeviantArt

Cut

2008-09-23T16:26:00.001+03:00

This time if going to write something too:

Nine people have died in another school shooting in the town of Kauhajoki here in Finland.

How did it happen? Just like before: getting a gun, posting videos on youtube, (being questioned by the police for the videos), shooting people, putting the last bullet into one's own head.

Why kill innocent people?

Why do it just like the one before you?

Why didn't anyone do anything?

This photo is dedicated to the ones who lost their lives today.

I really hope people start to see what's happening around them.

Windy

2008-09-21T11:15:00.000+03:00

Click the image to see more of my holga-shots in dA.

The Five Strings

2008-09-12T23:21:00.000+03:00

Click the image above to see more of my Holga-shots at DeviantArt

Paperwalls

2008-08-30T18:50:00.000+03:00

Click the image for my Holga-gallery in DeviantArt

Light in a tunnel

2008-08-22T19:17:00.001+03:00

Click the image for my Holga-gallery in DeviantArt

Three brave wanderers

2008-08-18T21:36:00.000+03:00

Just like I remembered

2008-08-14T10:04:00.000+03:00

Some liberty

2008-07-21T15:12:00.000+03:00

Ending the awkward silence now.

Air France

2008-06-17T17:02:00.000+03:00

Sacre Coeur

2008-06-05T19:38:00.001+03:00

Panorama

2008-06-01T12:29:00.000+03:00

Along with this image I added some info of taking holga panoramas.

Seeking Morpheus

2008-05-30T14:59:00.000+03:00

Light in Paris

2008-05-28T12:08:00.000+03:00

Pizza Panini

2008-05-24T17:21:00.000+03:00

Even earlier that I promised ;)

Holga blog is not dead!

2008-05-09T09:26:00.001+03:00

Plastic fantastic never dies!

I'm sorry for the long silence. It's coming to an end. Just three more weeks.

I have brand new stuff waiting for the grand comeback.

Stay tuned.

The light side of Versailles III

2007-12-22T22:24:00.000+02:00

Click the image for the dark side

The light side of Versailles II

2007-12-04T15:30:00.001+02:00

Click the image to see the dark side

The light side of Versailles I

2007-11-30T17:51:00.000+02:00

Click the image to see the dark side!

Look up

2007-11-26T15:05:00.000+02:00

An artist on his way home

2007-11-17T20:23:00.000+02:00

Whispers in the darkness

2007-11-09T17:47:00.001+02:00

Countryside

2007-10-30T20:34:00.000+02:00

Lake Sorrow

2007-10-26T22:40:00.001+03:00

The Winter King

2007-10-24T18:31:00.000+03:00

Antwerpen

2007-10-17T10:53:00.000+03:00

Spiral

2007-10-14T13:38:00.000+03:00

Tilted

2007-10-08T20:07:00.001+03:00

Feeding the birds

2007-10-06T12:24:00.001+03:00

Cathedral

2007-10-01T18:25:00.000+03:00

Distorted

2007-09-26T21:29:00.001+03:00

Aulanko Tower

2007-09-22T21:42:00.000+03:00

Confusion

2007-09-20T08:26:00.000+03:00

Until the 26th of September

2007-09-12T16:59:00.001+03:00

Because of my studies I can't update this blog until that date.

I'm really sorry.

Harbour

2007-09-08T20:02:00.000+03:00

Somewhere in France

2007-09-06T16:55:00.000+03:00

Pigeons

2007-09-04T16:24:00.000+03:00

Monument

2007-09-02T08:40:00.001+03:00

Dazzling Light

2007-08-31T07:59:00.001+03:00

Strange time

2007-08-28T15:46:00.000+03:00

Otherside

2007-08-25T10:43:00.001+03:00

Dark Island

2007-08-23T21:04:00.001+03:00

Touch

2007-08-21T16:30:00.000+03:00

Clouds fly low

2007-08-19T15:04:00.000+03:00

Playing for food

2007-08-17T22:15:00.001+03:00

Installation 101

2007-08-15T20:22:00.001+03:00

The Ghost Who Touched Me

2007-08-13T14:04:00.001+03:00

Paranormal phenomena

2007-08-10T18:06:00.001+03:00

A Block of Flats

2007-08-08T16:35:00.000+03:00

A Block of Flats

Wall and Sky

2007-08-06T14:34:00.000+03:00

Wall & Sky

Bushes

2007-08-02T13:53:00.000+03:00

Bushes

Flowers leak

2007-07-31T20:19:00.001+03:00

Flowers leak

Arx

2007-07-28T12:22:00.000+03:00

Arx

The local center of art education.

The 1. Holga-shot: Autobahn

2007-07-26T21:18:00.001+03:00

Autobahn

Links

2006-08-27T19:03:00.002+03:00

HolgaRocks.com

A Finnish community of Holga users. The website is mostly in Finnish but there are beautiful photos and how-to-do:s

2011 EDIT: I seems the site has changed it's course a bit. It's now in English and puts heavier emphasis on photo galleries and sharing.

Holga.net

You liked the photos here? Buy a Holga here and start taking your own. This is the place where I bought my own Holga. Recommended for people in Europe.

Lomograhpic Society International

A society devoted to lomography. Poor optics, cheap cameras and nice, open-minded people. There is a shop in which you can buy all you need for lomo-photography. I'm not 100% sure but I believe they deliver all over the world. Nowadays I've got a feeling they've gotten a tad too commercial. Some item's are reasonably priced but others are outrageous. Credit for nice packages with books and manuals.

Toycamera.com

A site full of plastic cameras like Holga, Diana and Lubitel. Like they say, most people would never touch these cameras but some can see the beauty behind the plastic surface. Toycamera.com is, in my opinion, one of the best Holga-related sites around. They feature articles and how-tos + the site is full of beautiful photos!

GoHolga.com

Tons of tips for hacking and modding your Holga. It has a brand new forum for discussing with other holgaholics. And last but not least: there's a gallery filled with interesting holga-shots.

Light Leaks Magazine

A beautiful project dedicated to toy cameras of all kinds. I understand they don't make profit my selling the magazine so it's a genuine community project.

Holga Project 365

A fellow Holga user launched a project in which he publishes one photo taken with Holga every day in 2011. I myself am following the project with great interest.
More coming soon..

About Holga

2006-08-24T23:36:00.000+03:00

Holga is a camera designed in 1969 in Honkong, China. It was originally meant for Chinese working-class for a camera to capture family events and portraits.

The camera itself is extremely simple and it suffers from poor design and poor quality caused by cheap price. Even the lens is made of plastic. Even most disposable cameras are more able than Holga in traditional terms.

Somehow Holga found its way to the hands of artists. The flaws caused by poor design and quality (vignetting, light leaks, blur etc.) made every image unique. Photos taken with Holga have actually won several photography awards.

Another thing that has made Holga so popular among photographers is that it is easy to modify. Because of the cheap price you don't lose much if you fail anyway.

Different Holga modifications:

Holga panorama:

Holga definitely isn't designed for taking panoramas (excluding a 35mm camera produced by the same factory that actually has a panorama option that crops the image to panorama-format). How people make panoramas with Holga is that they wind the film only partially so that part of every frame is exposed partially on the last one thus creating a panoramic image. Another way is to build or buy (I've seen some on ebay) a special mask that crops the image similarly to the 35mm version I mentioned before.

There panorama can be taken in two ways:

1. You can do it the fancy way and set your holga on a tripod. Then you expose a shot, move film and turn the camera expose again. You know the drill.

2. Or you can do the things my way and take the first shot, wind film a little further, walk forward and take another one.

Here's a photo that should give you some idea:

More coming soon...

About Me

2006-08-24T23:19:00.000+03:00

Fall 2010 UPDATE:

I've now spent 2.5 years in Tampere studying medicine. During that time my priorities have varied and this blog has been on the brink of existence for several times. But the reason for that is lack of time, not lack of interest. I guess one think you understand when you grow older is that time is our most limited resource. I try to shoot some photos every once in a while but there will be pauses and it takes time to get things running after a pause because one I have to find time to develop and scan the film as well.

And I also try to have a life in the middle of all this. Take care.

Fall 2008 UPDATE:

I'm a student from Finland. Right now I'm spending my first year in medical school.

Short history of me

I've been more or less interested in art through my life. It started from books and I used to write short stories. I still write but I haven't finished anything in years because of my permanent lack of time.

After that there was a phase when I focused on drawing and traditional arts. I studied the subject in a local art school for 3-4 years. My problem was that I didn't work enough and made only little progress with my drawing skills. I left those lessons circa five years ago. From here began the medieval time of my artistic part of life.

For a few years I wasn't really interested in arts at all. I drew occasionally and wrote some short stories here and there but I didn't really get into the stuff like I used to.

Everything changed in the spring of 2006 when I suddenly decided to buy a dslr. I shot a lot and often with it. In the first six months I developed basic skills and the earliest shots I still like are from that time.

I kept shooting with the dslr until I decided to buy a Holga in Spring 2007. It was love from the first roll. I was amazed how such cheap camera can put my expensive dslr in shame. A couple of months from buying a Holga I bought a Polaroid.

And here we are in Fall 2007! I'll write more history once I've lived it first :-)

Why I started Holga blog

Like I said, Holga has been great for me. I've taken many of my favorite shots with it.

I got the idea when I searched the web for a blog with Holga photos. I found zero. I thought it would be nice to share my shots with the world and make people more familiar with this wonderful camera.

(More will come)