American Lomographer

2011-11-06T02:52:00.003-05:00

Another new camera by Lomography!

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
The Lomographic Society Proudly Presents

The LomoKino - Super 35 Movie Maker

Lomography in Motion: Take the next step in Lomography with the first camera that makes your Lomographs move on any kind of 35mm film
Unique Art: Become the director of your very own LomoMovies and produce unique and precious pieces of movie art by simply winding a crank
True Gadget: Irresistible design and unlimited creative possibilities will make gadget loversí hearts pound faster
LomoMovies Online: Upload, watch and share your very own LomoMovies on www.lomography.com

Lomography in Motion
How great it must have been to witness the first pictures as they started to move or to see the Lumiere brothers amazing the crowds with their very first short films. After over 200 years of movie making, million-dollar-special-effects, big scale film studios and endless Hollywood dramas, we give you the chance to return back to the roots of movie making and witness the very first steps of moving Lomography. The LomoKino allows you to become a director yourself and capture Lomographic movies on 35 mm film of any kind: no sound, no special effects, no post production ñ just simple Lomography in motion.

Unique Art
To become a true LomoMovie director, just simply wind the crank of the magic box to capture 144 shots on one roll of 35 mm film - which makes 36 to 48 seconds of LomoMovie. You can use any kind of 35 mm film for different effects: Slide film, colour negative, redscale or B/W. After developing the film, spool it into the specially developed LomoKinoScope and watch your Lomographs moving over and over again. What sounds very simple produces a unique piece of art which can either stay in your hands only or can be given as a special present to somebody who really deserves it. Show your sweetheart how fast your heart is really pounding or capture a flying birthday cake for your grandma who will feel catapulted back in time.

True Gadget
A wise man once said ìform follows functionî ñ naaaah ñ we like to say ìform follows motionî and thatís why we designed this camera to become a true gadget. Its irresistible design takes you straight back into the time when people left the audience screaming because a locomotive was speeding towards them on a movie screen and the movies were still a true business without special effects. It comes in a package either alone or with the LomoKinoScope, one film canister and a marvelous book. Its creative possibilities are so diverse that not even we can tell the limits. Itís up to you, gadget lovers, to take this baby in your hands and explore what movies used to be like the Lomographic way!

LomoMovies Online
Unlike the very first filmmakers we can call a powerful tool our own: the internet! Linking the simple technology of the LomoKino with our website, enables you to upload, watch and share your own LomoMovies. To give you a taste of the special LomoKino aesthetics and the sheer endless creative possibilities, we asked filmmakers from around the globe to create their own LomoMovies. Visit our website to get some inspiration and start shooting your first LomoMovie!

www.lomography.com

Technical Details
Film type: all kind of 135 roll film
Lens: 25mm
Exposure area: 24mm x 8.5mm: 144 images/film
Continuous Aperture: f/5.6 - f/11
Shutter: 1/100
Hand cranked: approx. 3-4 fps, 36-48 sec. movie per roll
Film counting: volume display
Focusing: (normal) 1m~infinity,(press button for) 0.6m close up
Tripod mount: yes
Retail price: tba

WHAT THE HELL IS LOMOGRAPHY?
http://www.lomography.com/about

The Lomographic Society International is a globally active organization dedicated to experimental and creative snapshot photography. Boasting over a half-million members across the world, the concept of Lomography encompasses an interactive, vivid, blurred and crazy way of life.
Through our constantly expanding selection of innovative cameras & photographic accessories, we promote analog photography as a creative approach to communicate, absorb, and capture the world.
Through the efforts and skill of our Lomographic Society members, we seek to document the incredible planet around us in a never-ending stream of snapshots ñ literally a global ìLomographicî portrait as seen through the eyes of countless individuals and cultures.

The Future is Analogue!

Indie film, new lomo cameras and other things

2011-08-13T10:28:00.000-04:00

Wow...it's August already!!! And I haven't posted a thing on this blog for months! I should be so ashamed. But in reality this summer has been really busy for me. First off, I took a trip back to Oklahoma in April to celebrate a milestone birthday in my family. Then it was off to Santa Fe, New Mexico via the old Mother Road, Route 66. I decided since I'd never been there to just go and photograph it. And it was tons of fun, even if it was just me, myself and I. I came back with some fantastic images.

I started a digital photography class here which I still have yet to finish because of other travels I took this summer, in June, to Las Vegas and Palm Springs California. In July I spent 2 weeks in Oklahoma for high school reunions. I drove the entire trip from Ohio, along Indianapolis, St Louis, and yes that Mother Road down to OKC.

Now I'm leaving for Houston tomorrow to be part of an independent film being released soon. I will disclose details as soon as the film is released in a few weeks. After that it's over to Austin to check out the music scene and catch up with extended family.

In October we go back to Norman for OU's homecoming game against Texas Tech, which should be fun. Marching in the alumni band should get a few laughs since I haven't picked up my horn in about 10 years. Plan to have lots of lomocams handy to capture that fantastic action, among them my new La Sardina just released. I also picked up the LOMO LC-Wide. I really like that camera a lot!

November brings a real vacation for my husband and I. At this time we are looking at taking a Southern Caribbean cruise out of San Juan to visit some islands I've never seen...St Lucia, Grenada and others. Or we might go to Jamaica, just can't decide yet.

And it looks like I may be doing some work to help out over at lomography.com with their online magazine. Editing and such. Lots of exciting stuff happening! So much has changed since I started writing this blog just a few months ago. (Has it been a year maybe? Or longer?)

New Sardine Camera from Lomography

2011-06-20T23:50:00.001-04:00

LSI just unveiled its next creation in long line of "toy" cameras...

OFFICIAL LOMOGRAPHY PRESS RELEASE

La Sardina
The Fresh and Unique 35mm Fish Can Super-wide-angle Camera

Fishy Fantasy

Straight from the La Sardina fish market, Lomography brings you four stylish cameras that will take analogue lovers' hearts by storm. Meet El Capit·n, Fischer's Fritze, Sea Pride and Marathon, the first four colorful clones (with a 1000 more to come) of the brand-new La Sardina camera.

La Sardina is a point and shoot camera, using 35mm film and equipped with a plastic wide-angle lens that enables pros and beginners to shoot beautiful Lomographs easily. No need for long explanations at your local lab, the processing is really easy due to the regular format of the shots. As different as these four models may be, they all have one thing in common - a crazy wide-angle plastic lens and the best lens ring of all time.

El Capit·n and Fisher's Fritze are also equipped with Fritz the Blitz, Lomography's newest and most powerful flash. Not only is this stunning flash the most powerful Lomographic flash ever, it also comes complete with 3 unique distance settings that allow you to set the power of the flash - giving you maximum creative control. This flash is also packaged with yellow, red and blue filters that will drench even the darkest pirate adventure in colorful light.

While its designs are flashy and stylish, the technical features of La Sardina are humbly reduced to the basics to enable even the greenest of greenhorns to make a first step into Lomography. Say hello to your new favourite camera!

Get it now! shop.lomography.com/cameras/la-sardina-cameras

Technical Details
Film Type: Standard 135 roll film
Exposure area: 36 x 24mm
Lens focal length: 22 mm
Aperture: 1:8
Angle of view: 88 degrees
Focusing range: 0.6m - infinity
Shutter speed: N (1/100), B (bulb)
Multiple exposure: Independent MX switch
Flash contact: Unique Fritz the Blitz flash contact
Flash Sync: first curtain X-type synchronization
Flash Battery: 1xCR123A
Tripod socket thread: Standard 1/4" tripod socket
Cable release: Universal cable release socket
Retail price: El C·pitan, Fischer's Fritze with Fritz the Blitz Flash: EUR 89 / USD 99
Sea Pride, Marathon: EUR 49 / USD 59

WHAT THE HELL IS LOMOGRAPHY?
http://www.lomography.com/about
The Lomographic Society International is a globally active organization dedicated to experimental
and creative snapshot photography. Boasting over a half-million members across the world, the
concept of Lomography encompasses an interactive, vivid, blurred and crazy way of life.
Through our constantly expanding selection of innovative cameras & photographic accessories, we
promote analogue photography as a creative approach to communicate, absorb, and capture the
world. Through the efforts and skill of our Lomographic Society members, we seek to document the
incredible planet around us in a never-ending stream of snapshots - literally a global "Lomographic"
portrait as seen through the eyes of countless individuals and cultures.
The Future is Analogue!

The Big and Wide Scoop

2011-05-20T21:02:00.000-04:00

Lomography has released its newest camera, the LC-Wide! Now you can get wide shots, square and half frame, all in one camera!

They have also simplified the zone focusing switch. One user I spoke with on lomography.com says it's way over the top, far and above the original. Gotta hand it to them, they are doing very well with creating their own product lines now!

LOMO LC-WIDE

PRESS CONTACT

Lomographic Society International

communications@lomography.com

T + 43-1-899-44-650

www.lomography.com

LOMO LC-A LEGACY

It's been 27 years since the Lomo LC-A entered our analogue life and took our hearts by storm with its shadowy framing, super saturated colours, sharp contrast and multiple exposures. To cherish this little camera in the past we even plated it with gold but never before expanded its lens. Now the day has come and we are welcoming the new offspring of the Lomo LC-A Legacy: The Lomo LC-Wide, that will challenge your Lomographic perception. It is a passionate celebration of the ultra-wide-angle: Still celebrating the classical features of the Lomo LC-A+, the Lomo LC-Wide adds a new dimension of format frenzy to its specially developed ultra-wide-angle 17 mm Minigon glass lens. Switch from half-frame, to square to full format and enjoy a new quality of wide-angle Lomography!

GO EXTREME

Go close, even closer than your perception of closeness tells you to and watch your favourite caterpillar being sucked into the vortex of this 17 mm glass genius. Go wild, even wilder than your mother ever allowed you to and dive into Ultra-Wide-Angle- Lomography! To up the ante a little bit we equipped the Lomo LC-Wide with three formats to choose from: full-, square- or half- format. If you don't want to think too much while you are shooting, switch to half-frame-format and fit an amazing amount of 72 shots onto one roll of 36 shots film. Fans of retro will stick to the classic square format while panoramic shots are most effective on the full format.

ULTRA-WIDE-LOMOGRAPHY

No matter if you are hooked on breathtaking panoramic shots or if you are more the-closer-the-better-type, we designed the Lomo LC-Wide to satisfy lovers of all extremes. Its delicate 17 mm Minigon glass lens combines the classical features of the Lomo LC-A with an ultra-wide-angle that will open your eyes to an unknown extent. Follow your curiosity and let the Lomo LC-Wide take you into the wide! With all this options, the Lomo LC-Wide catapults you in a format frenzy that triggers unbeliev- able creativity and proves itself to be a trusty offspring of the Lomo LC-A Legacy.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Exposure area: 36 x 24mm, 24x 24mm (square format), 17 x 24mm (half frame format)

Film Type: Standard 135 roll film

Lens focal length: 17 mm

Maximum aperture: 1:4.5

Angle of view: 103 degrees, 89 degrees (square format) 81 degrees (half frame format)

Focusing range: 0.4m - infinity

Maximum shutter speed: 1/500

Minimum shutter speed: Unlimited

Auto exposure mode: Programmatic

Exposure range: Unlimited ~ EV18

Multiple exposure: Manual shutter cocking with independent MX switch

Film sensitivity supports (ASA/ISO): 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600

Flash: X-type synchronization hot-shoe

Tripod socket thread: Standard 1⁄4" tripod socket

Cable release: Universal cable release socket

Overall dimensions: 108 x 68 x 44.5mm

Weight: 220g (film and battery not included)

WHAT THE HELL IS LOMOGRAPHY

The Lomographic Society International is a globally active organization dedicated to experimental and creative snapshot photography. Boasting over a half-million members across the world, the concept of Lomography encompasses an interactive, vivid, blurred and crazy way of life.

Through our constantly expanding selection of innovative cameras & photographic accessories, we promote analog photography as a creative approach to com- municate, absorb, and capture the world.

Through the efforts and skill of our Lomographic Society members, we seek to document the incredible planet around us in a never-ending stream of snapshots – literally a global "Lomographic" portrait as seen through the eyes of countless individuals and cultures.

Some test shots with D5100

2011-04-18T22:31:00.000-04:00

I have some test shots I took over the last 2 days. Some are just a few shots around the outside of my house and then I used the color sketch effects filter. It's very cool except I notice that the effect drops off the further back the image goes. Maybe it's my focusing with the lens I don't know.

Haven't tried the video yet.

The Nikon D5100

2011-04-18T04:30:00.000-04:00

It's here! THe Nikon D5100. I picked it up at Best Buy yesterday afternoon. My very first DSLR. I basically did the box opening, charged the battery, attached the lens, etc. While at Best Buy previously I tried out the D7000, the D5000, the D90, the D3000 and the D3100. I even looked at some Canon's in their Rebel line. But I held out for this one for several reasons:

1) 16.2 megapixel CMOS sensor
2) Swivel LCD monitor screen that allows you to shoot stills/movies from various viewpoints and it will make this task easier when it is on a tripod
3) an actual input for a mic (the D3100 and D3000 models do not have this)
4) Lightweight. The D90 seems to be a preferred DSLR among prosumers, but that camera just felt too big in my small hands. Ditto the D7000.
5) The in camera effects setting (this one has several to choose from and you can do stills/movies with them. Low key, High key, silhouette, nightvision, miniature, color sketch, selective color)
6) Smaller and lighter than the D5000
7) 11 point AF sensor
8) 4fps shooting
9) 1080HP video recording (up to 20 minutes per clip)
10) HDR capability
11) ISO 100-6400

The Canons were just brick feeling for me and did not feel intuitive. So I guess this makes me a Nikon gal. Granted the 5100 does not come with the on screen tutorial like the 3100 does, but I have a feeling as much as I will be using this, I will outgrow that pretty quickly.

Now I just have a few days to pick up the basics because in 2 weeks I will be going to Santa Fe with this bad boy to capture some (hopefully) brilliant shots of that icon of the American Southwest.

Starting a photography class

2011-04-17T04:04:00.000-04:00

I will be starting a photography class in May. Before then, I plan to get my hands on the new Nikon D5100 DSLR that is being released this month. That is the prerequisite: A digital SLR. Last year I took a film development class over the summer. I learned a lot from that. And, being the lazy person that I am, I have several rolls of undeveloped film that need to go to the lab. The winter really dragged me down a lot and I lost any passion for any photographing over that time period.

But soon I will travel to Santa Fe, New Mexico for a few days and will be taking that DSLR with me, along with a bag of lomo friends, new styles of film from Revolog and the Impossible Project. I also ordered some Kodak EIR Infrared film (12 rolls) and it arrived here this week. All of that photographic goodness just waiting for the right place to prove itself. I think the adobe structures of Santa Fe and the surrounding desert mountains will be the perfect place to experiment.

And in June we will be going to Las Vegas and Palm Springs. I plan to capture a lot of xpro slide of the MCM architecture there and the surrounding desert.

Maybe by fall I will have a decent portfolio to actually enter some contests and apply to some photography schools in the area (finances permitting) I have my eye on a few different ones.

Here are the links to the Revolog film being produced in Vienna:
http://www.fourcornerstore.com/

And this is the website for the Impossible Project film:
http://the-impossible-project.com/

My Kodak infrared film I got from a guy in Europe named Dean Bennici.
http://www.bennici.net/

Dean is a nice guy. He will ship fast and let you know how much he has available.

I guess it was going to happen sooner or later...

2011-03-29T22:18:00.000-04:00

I went to a camera show over the weekend. Wasn't really expecting to find much but wanted to see if anyone had any toycams for sale or some film I could snatch up. There were LOTS of old Canon SLR's, used camera bags, straps. VHS tapes, etc. and a few antique large formats. Nothing of real excitement. And no toycams! However I did buy a vintage "Prince Albert" cigar tin for $5. What that was doing at a camera show I have no clue!

And then my eyes landed on it. A Hasselblad 500 C/M. of course I wasn't there to shop for anything high end, but I just HAD to touch it and see what it was all about. Curiosity got the best of me. As soon as I did, I couldn't stop playing with it. The lens was so big and nice. Loved the noisy shutter too. I asked how much and my ears heard $100. I thought holy crap...I've hit the jackpot! But after talking to the dealer a little more it was actually $1100. I'm sure it was wishful thinking on my end...but as I studied it I decided that even though it's a lot of money to part with for another film camera, I think I want one, at least eventually. That large viewing screen is what really sold me. I find myself constantly squinting to see what I'm getting in the viewfinder on my other cameras. At this point I don't even know if I would want a prism viewfinder with it but who knows? It seemed so intuitive to use.

The guy gave me his business card and a price for the unit including 2 A12 film backs, the 80mm kit lens, rapid crank, WLF and prism VF. So I've decided to think about it, read up on it and study a pdf version of the manual.

With film rapidly going by the wayside and digital taking over, now is really a good time to snatch up film cameras if that's your thing. But the lenses are still really expensive. The 120mm macro planar he had was $800. I think I can find cheaper if I just hold out though and keep looking. But the seed has been planted.

Next to the Hasselblad was a full Bronica set with everything one could ever want for MF photography. But as I handled it it just didn't feel right in my hands. Like a big bowling ball.

There's always the Kiev 88 too. But there was something about that Hasselblad. I can't stop thinking about it. Amazing that I go shopping for toycams and get bit by the big time bug. What a kit to shoot that EIR film with I'll be getting from Europe next month!

Sigh....

Infrared EIR film

2011-03-21T10:54:00.000-04:00

There is only one supplier left that sells Kodak EIR film. He is in Germany and processes it a few months out of the year. Last night he emailed me and said he is getting ready to run a new batch in April. I ordered 12 rolls and with shipping it cost me $302.00. OUCH!!!!! However, I know that I will be glad I bought it because I plan to use it in my toycams and enter some contests with the images. The problem will be what to shoot. I will have to find various subjects like landscape, portraits etc. that would be good for that kind of film. I'm open to suggestions...

A few Diana pics

2011-03-04T18:38:00.001-05:00

My sister came to visit me a few months ago and we went to see Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Unfortunately most of the roll didn't turn out because there wasn't enough sunlight to capture everything. But here are the best ones:

What does Lomography mean to you?

2011-02-24T04:20:00.000-05:00

I see these posts a lot on Flickr and decided to answer one. Most of them come from college art students that are looking for input for a class project or paper. So here's my "go to" answer. Feel free to add your own thoughts on the matter.

1) In your own words, what is Lomography?
Lomography to me is a trendy, fun way to document our daily lives using all kinds of low budget/antique film cameras and quirky, out of the box processing techniques.

2) What meaning does Lomography hold for you in your life? Why is it important to you?
When I was a kid, I used to sign up for pen pals in foreign countries. I loved it when I got those yummy letters from all over the globe with all kinds of colorful stamps on them. Even better if they contained photographs! This was 20 years ago and a lot has changed with the internet. Lomography has rekindled that joy in exchanging creative ideas and positive feedback in an analogue global community. It makes me feel young again and takes away the dullness of everyday life.

3) What camera do you find yourself using the most?
This is hard to answer because I use so many, but I would have to say my Lomo LC-A+RL, Fisheye, or most of my 35mm because I can get a lot more photos with those rolls. But when I want something soft and moody with lots of vignetting I go for my Holga or Diana F+.

4) What sets Lomography apart from other forms of photography?
The quirkiness of the cameras and funky processing. When I shot film years ago, it was for travel and fun. Of course I got lots of off the wall shots in college with my old Kodak Disc Camera, but I always used 400 speed color negative film in my other cameras. I never shot black and white and never used slide film for xpro. Lomography turned me on to that technique. I absolutely love learning about how to achieve a certain kind of color with a particular brand of film.

5) How do you feel about digital lomography?
Well it's certainly another tool in a photographer's bag of tricks that can be utilized whenever he/she wants and really shouldn't be discounted as a technique. For me personally, I love the aesthetic of learning how to "teach and train" my cameras to do certain things without my having to go to photoshop or another program to get that "lomo" look. Plus it's boring to sit at a computer and constantly tweak an image. If I want a serious photograph or if I want to make absolutely sure I captured an image, I will take it with a digital camera.

Hot Shots and Plastic Cameras

2011-02-21T22:16:00.001-05:00

I just got a copy of Kevin's first book, "Hot Shots," published in 2008.

http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Shots-Kevin-Meredith/dp/0811866408/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1298344503&sr=8-3

It's a great little book, full of wonderful tips for creative snapshot photography. Many of the examples can translate over to digital as well. A nice investment for just a few bucks. He even covers online photo sharing, scanning techniques, and making a travel portfolio.

I also picked up the latest edition of "Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity" by Michelle Bates. More in depth info about shooting with Holga and Dianas, film and processing, and examples from some of the genre's best photogs.

http://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Cameras-Toying-Creativity-Second/dp/0240814215/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1298344788&sr=1-1

Both books come highly recommended!!!

Kodachrome pictures

2011-02-16T01:16:00.001-05:00

I finally received my Kodachrome I sent in over the holidays for processing!!! I mainly used my Pentax K1000 for these images. Some of them turned out quite nice but some did not. I attribute that to 1) not having a tripod, 2) the state of the roll of film used and 3) less than ideal exposure. But here's a look at some of the better shots:

Now I can concentrate on more medium format photos, and break in the new Lomography Sprocket Rocket I ordered this week.

Happy 2011!!!

2011-01-15T18:37:00.000-05:00

Well it's a new year. Time to make and break those New Year's resolutions. I've decided it's better to just let the resolutions come to me, rather than making them, and thus setting myself up for failure. Life has a way of letting me know when it's time for a change.

Instead, I outlined more or less some personal goals I'd like to achieve. If I don't hit them all, not to worry. There's always 2012, unless one believes the ancient Maya prediction that the world will end next year.

In the film world, 2010 saw the end of Kodachrome processing. I was able to send in about 6 rolls for development before the deadline but I have not gotten them back yet. I was able to obtain some of my father's old slides from decades past that he shot on Kodachrome and happy to say that in all that time in storage, they have held up extremely well. This particular one he took of the Sand Hills in Monahans, Texas, probably early 1950's, with a simple Kodak 35 Rangefinder just takes my breath away. It looks like it could have been on the cover of National Geographic:

Unless I told you this was of the Sand Hills you would probably think it was in Africa somewhere in the Saharan Desert!

We spent the holidays with family and friends in Oklahoma, where we are from. I took my faithful plastic friends with me to capture children, landscapes and architecture. I drove around Oklahoma City and shot photos of some of the best mid century modern buildings in slide film and black and white. When I get some extra cash to develop those hopefully they will be worth it!

I'm finding myself drawn more and more to 50s style architecture and design, especially the Danish furniture and "space age" homes of yesteryear. They exemplify a less stressful time and were built smaller, thus proving that over time we as Americans have become less about aesthetics, entertaining and family values and more about spending and consuming. Bigger isn't always better.

But I digress. It is another year. Time to get the house cleaned up...er...after I take my nap.

The Apple Ipad

2010-10-08T20:59:00.000-04:00

It's been a few weeks since I've written. I've a huge stash of color film yet to be developed, and this week I received my first batch of b/w chemicals for home use. Soon I will have more images up and running.

Since my last post, I had a couple more articles published at lomography.com, plus I received the "Lomo Home of the Day" award so I used my piggies from those to purchase the LC-A Big Book and the LC-A+ RL camera. I had said long ago when I first started this blog that I would probably not buy the Chinese LC-A. However, I began to rethink that when I saw images produced with the wide angle and tunnelvision lenses.

The wide angle lens I found on ebay for about half of retail. I have used it quite a bit. Came in very handy for shots at a football game at Bengals stadium I went to a few weeks ago.

This week I also got an Ipad. I have been at odds with this one ever since it was released. Should I buy one? Do I really need it? How much storage? Wi-fi or 3g? What will I use it for?

I bought a Sony ereader several months ago just for books and thought I would really like it. I didn't want to shell out the money for a Kindle in case I wasn't happy with it. I didn't mind having to download my content from the internet instead of wirelessly. After reading a few chapters on the Sony I shelved it. In a well lit room it was fine. As soon as I took it to bed with a book light, however, I started getting a migraine that lasted well into the next day. I was pretty sick.

I think it was the glare from the book light, I'm just not sure. But whenever I look at that Sony reader I can't fathom continuing to use it. It's like getting really sick on tequila, and years later when people offer to buy you a drink you shudder at the thought of ingesting a margarita??

Reading backlit material on my iphone was never a problem, it was just that the screen was too small.

So I got the 64g ipad, without 3g. Since I pay for an iphone data plan with AT/T I saw no reason to throw more money at something I may only use a few times a year, i.e. 3G. Wi-fi is plentiful in most places now anyway. Pretty excited because now I can watch movies on something larger than a postage stamp when I'm traveling, and I can stream Pandora radio, write emails, check facebook, read a novel, etc. In fact I read Shutter Island in 6 hours in a dark room with the backlit screen. No eyestrain, no headache.

I'm a little disappointed that the ipad doesn't have a USB port, a camera, or more storage. But it is a first generation. I think for what I bought it will suit me just fine though. Many people think that the $499 version is the best way to go just to save money, but in my opinion, if you will use it a lot for music storage, go for the largest you can afford and skip the 3g. 16g is not that large. I have already taken up 8g on this with the playlists I synced to it. If all you will use it for is a book reader though, then smaller may be better. Just a few months ago Amazon was trying to sell their Kindle DX for just shy of $400 and that was just for reading books!

I wanted to like the eink readers. I really did. But when I found myself wanting to tap the screen on a Nook or Kindle to drag content, getting impatient with screen load times, and the boring black and white screen, plus realizing the true limitations of those products, the ipad won out on sheer versatility/function.

And it doesn't make me sick.

Diana Instant Back

2010-09-01T01:19:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I got the Diana Instant Back and used it in Vegas. The pictures didn't turn out the GREATEST and I had to use iphoto to salvage a lot of them. But it's a fun camera and I got a lot of questions on the street about it. I took lots of other pictures but haven't developed them yet. I mainly used the 38mm super wide lens but also took a few with the fisheye lens.

Lomo "Home of the Day"

2010-08-14T12:35:00.002-04:00

I finally got the coveted "Home of the Day" award on my lomohome page at lomography.com.
This means I won 50 piggies to use however I want! I'm hopeful that the submissions I wrote on product reviews get posted as well....

Las Vegas

2010-08-09T21:48:00.003-04:00

We head to Vegas in about a week and I'm planning on taking a lot of cameras with me to get some good shots. I hope to get some night photos with long exposures and do a bit of black and white as well. I just received a Diana multi pinhole camera, a fisheye lens, the Instant back, and a telephoto 110mm is on the way. Also picked up the Lomography Ringflash.

Finished my b/w development class last week and got some really nice 8X10 prints from some of my Holga and Pentax pics.

A new article on Lomography.com written by yours truly! Really excited....

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, Hamilton, Ohio

written by sthomas68, posted on August 05, 2010, and 2 Likes

Tags
USA, landmark, modern art, park, Hamilton, Ohio, and Sculpture
Where
Hamilton, Ohio
Hamilton
United States
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A whopping 265 acres of rolling hills, verdant greens, paved pet friendly nature trails, gardens, forests, and seven lakes help make up this wonderful outdoor paradise dedicated to modern art sculpture. Welcome to Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park!

I have only lived in Cincinnati for two years. When I became a Lomographer in March of 2010, I began searching for some unique locales to photograph for my folio. When I discovered Pyramid Hill and watched some videos about it, I knew it would be the perfect place to document in analogue. You can drive through it, park your car and simply walk the nature trails leading from one sculpture to the next (there is a handy map you can get online or at the front gate)

At least 40 artists have contributed to this unique outdoor space. Only one of its kind exists that I am aware of at this scale. They offer picnic facilities, an annual art fair, kids programs, a tea room, an amphitheater, and holiday lighting during Thanksgiving through New Years.

Some of the sculptures were small, some were absolutely massive, like “Abracadabra” by Alexander Liberman. Three of this artist’s works are on display in the park. The “Ohio Star” is another one of my personal favorites. “Tory’s Comet” is a really interesting wooden structure, and “The Age of Stone” resembles a replica of Stonehenge with a modern twist. If you are ever in the Cincinnati area, or live here locally, you owe it to yourself to come and experience Pyramid Hill firsthand. I experienced it with my little friends the Shkolnik, Agfa Isola, Holga, Fisheye, and LOMO LC-A cameras.

And they sure didn’t let me down.

What Lomo memories will you make at Pyramid Hill?

The Diana Instant Back

2010-07-27T23:12:00.000-04:00

Well after getting my piggy points from LSI I had to use it for something before the end of the month. So I went for the Diana+ Instant Back and 20mm fisheye lens combo. Even though I use the Fuji Instax Mini and Instax Wide, I can't get the fisheye view, vignetting, double exposure, or long exposures I would like to experiment with. I think this would be fun to use for light painting as well.

The Diana camera setup is actually quite versatile once you really examine all the possibilities with 120, 35mm and instant photos. It's just not something you can invest money in all at once, as with all camera systems.

I haven't shot in the last 2 weeks because it's been unbearably hot here but I need to get back out very soon.

Shkolnik camera review on Lomography

2010-07-19T21:20:00.000-04:00

Yesterday my review of the Shkolnik camera was published on Lomography.com. I was really excited when they emailed me the news! I didn't include the pictures here just to save space.

The Shkolnik

written by sthomas68, posted on July 18, 2010, 4 comments, and 3 Likes

Tags
lo fi, toy camera, plastic, Russian, and Shkolnik
Brand
Be Lomo
Name
Shkolnik
Format
120
Focus
zone focus
Flash Types
no flash
ISO Speeds
Cable Release
yes

The Shkolnik ("Student" or "Pupil" in English) camera was a rather obscure Russian plastic camera manufactured by the BELOMO plant in Belorussia between 1962-1969. About 500000 of these simple box cameras were made between 1962-1969. It shoots 120 6x6 film with a fixed focal lens of about 75mm. Best focusing range is 3.5 meters to infinity.

I came across this absolutely gorgeous camera on eBay after searching for “bakelite cameras.” I love all bakelite cameras and own a few, but this one is super special. Not only is it considered rare, it shoots amazingly sharp and beautiful pictures. The design looks distinctly Art Deco. They were so inexpensive that any child could afford one. I understand that once the 35mm Smena became popular, use of this camera dwindled. People just weren’t that interested in preserving them, thus they are becoming increasingly harder to find.

I had the lucky advantage of being able to buy a Shkolnik with the original box and “passport” in Russian. It has an N setting at 1/60 and a bulb setting. Three apertures: 8, 11, and 16. It even has a cable release socket! Film loading is relatively easy. Access is from the bottom. There is a twist knob to open it. There are spring loaders on either side and it winds on the right. Careful though, the winding knob has a tendency to have it’s grooves worn down a bit so take it slow.

I love the feel of this camera in my hands. It’s larger size makes it fun to use. I took it out on a sunny day to a local sculpture park where I live. The subjects were big, bold and simple. I used Kodak Ektachrome 100 and had it cross processed. The results were amazing.

Fed 2 images

2010-07-12T18:54:00.000-04:00

I developed some images from the Fed 2 Rangefinder over the weekend. Some turned out very nice but since the shutter speed dial is still messed up I'm not going to be able to rely on this camera very much. But the shots look very vintage and that I'm extremely happy with.

2010-07-04T00:20:00.001-04:00

Well here are some images from my first roll of the Lomography Spinner 360. I scanned at 1200 dpi. It took me awhile to figure out how to get this long negative to scan correctly. I will need a larger MF mask to get the sprocket holes to show. But at least they are up!

Diana Mini images

2010-07-03T23:41:00.000-04:00

As promised, here are a few shots from my first roll on the Diana Mini. I'm happy with the results. I just need to learn to use the same angle when shooting half frame.

This and that...

2010-07-01T11:55:00.001-04:00

In addition to posting my images, I will be adding product reviews, first impressions as well as providing information on upcoming products and trends as quickly as I can get them listed. At the moment, over at lomography.com the buzz has been over the new spinner 360. They have a callout for submissions and reviews from users. Since I recently shot about 3 rolls, as soon as I get them developed I will be sending them my feedback.

They had a 24 hour sale that ended today. I picked up the fisheye underwater submarine case for 20% off as well as a couple of rolls of Sensia 200 expired for $3.50 a roll. At least this time they had it listed on their website and you could actually see what products were on sale. The last time they had a sale with coupons it was very discombobulated and completely unorganized. The coupon codes didn't work and it was on their twitter feed, not facebook, that there were only a limited number of coupons available for use. A lot of people, myself included, were pretty mad over this. This is definitely not the way to promote any kind of sale. I hope as LSI grows their business they are able to learn from these mistakes.

Of course, running an internet business that spans several time zones and coordinating stock in international stores has its own set of headaches. I am glad they have at least 2 U.S. stores that keep things in stock, otherwise I'd be pretty frustrated.

I would love to see LSI come out with a mail order catalog with coupons inside to apply online at checkout, things like that. And they should stock up on other things like large tripods, dead stock retro flashes, etc.

I picked up some of these the other day, Lomography Fotoclips, so I can start making my own "lomowall" at home. Instead of shelling out big bucks for framed pictures for my walls, why not use these??? They are a bit fiddly and you'll need to have patience to assemble what you want, but the end result looks so chic and retro.

What I think would be REALLY cool is if LSI could team up with an international distributor of LP's and record players, a whole new line of analog t shirts that not only includes cameras but music as well. In some ways they are limiting themselves with their product lineup when they could be aligning with some big names in the record/fashion business as well. There's a lot of Hollywood players out there that use their cameras, why not take advantage of that relationship and build something even bigger???

The Diana Mini

2010-06-30T04:08:00.001-04:00

I've become more intrigued about the half frame camera and what it can do, specifically doubling the images by shooting in the half frame format. 36 exposures becomes 72, 24 becomes 48, etc.

Since I don't have the funds to splurge on a vintage Olympus Pen, I researched the other big players: the Holga 135 TIM, the Lomography Diana Mini, and the Superheadz Golden Half. I checked out flickr pages, customer testimonials, prices on different webpages, and considered my specific needs. So today I selected, and decided on the Diana Mini. I am glad I did. I was afraid I would have buyers remorse immediately afterwards, but I didn't. It's so compact you can slip it in your purse without a problem. I barely notice it's there with the strap around my neck. It's got the usual N/B setting with Sunny and Cloudy apertures, and a focusing wheel for distance just like the F+. It can be used with the F+ flash as well as the adapter I bought for the colorsplash flash. The pictures tend to be a lot softer with this camera, but that's ok. WIth 72 exposures in half frame, you can afford to experiment! Of course it shoots in square format as well; you just need to select which setting you want from the switch on the back. It's pretty easy to figure out this camera. Just takes a little practice. The shutter is crisp and a lot punchier than the F+ which tends to be softer.

The cons I noticed are that when loading, you have to jiggle the rewind crank a little to get the back secure after loading the film, otherwise it doesn't close properly. The long exposure shutter release thread will take some getting used to with a cable attachment.

So why did I not go with a Holga TIM?

First of all, the flickr pages showed this to not be as compact as you'd think. I just didn't like the overall goofyness of this camera to be honest. It has a nice feature with separate shutters though, and it is cheaper. But no English directions come with it, and having those color gels sticking out from the flash seems distracting. I just don't think I would use this if I bought it.

Then there is the Golden Half:

Although lightweight and compact, this camera does not have the ability to switch between the half frame and square frame like the Diana Mini, or the ability to use a flash that I can see. I wanted those options.

I plan on posting some images soon from the Diana Mini.

The Ohio Reformatory Prison

2010-06-29T02:35:00.000-04:00

We went to the Ohio Reformatory Prison last weekend and I got some great shots with the Pentax and developed them in my film class over the weekend. I also got some of the Marblehead lighthouse. I used Fomapan 400 35mm.

Pop Art Cameras

2010-06-23T02:37:00.000-04:00

I found the neatest thing the other day:

It's just like the Lomography Action Sampler, but with 4 colored lenses. I've seen these before at expensive online shops and art museum stores but never paid much attention until now. This one is at http://www.entertainmentearth.com (wholesale site) for $9.99 each plus S/H. That's a real bargain!

I am also interested in trying the Lomography Oktomat and Pop 9 cameras. I located those at http://www.ecamerafilms.com for $24.95 each plus S/H. Even Amazon, B/H Photo and Adorama can't beat that. Those are all at $32.95 at least.

On the ecamera films site, they sell some instant photography doo dads as well. I located a Polaroid camera bag there for $1.95!!! They have some Polaroid film for less than ebay right now.

Digital Harinezumi on Lake Erie

2010-06-22T15:52:00.000-04:00

I shot this little award winner over the weekend up at the lake and edited in Imovie 09. The look is really nice. The camera is quite capable for such a little guy. It even has sound now with the newer model. The controls are fiddly though and you can't pause and start recording where you left off. You can take still photos with it but I won't be using that feature. Takes a little bit to get used to. But it was fun and I'll be shooting with it a lot more.

http://gallery.me.com/sthomas68#100062

The ten rules of Lomography

2010-06-16T17:47:00.001-04:00

Okay, so I'm bored and therefore I'm going to attempt my own interpretation/analysis of Lomography's "Ten Golden Rules."

1) "Take your camera everywhere you go."
Since I like to make the most out of my picture taking time, I usually have at least 3-4 cameras with me if I'm planning on shooting anything. If I spend a day at an amusement park, I want the most out of what I have paid for my ticket. Ditto for driving a long distance to get to somewhere I want to photograph. My only issue with this first rule is that it's simply not possible in today's post 9/11 society to take a camera literally with you EVERYWHERE you go. I've witnessed this at my local mall and at festivals where I have been asked not to photograph, despite there being any written laws against it. Places where I used to be able to take photos are not allowing it anymore. And Americans are funny people. They don't like others invading their space all the time, so one has to be careful when waving a camera around. It's also ironic that in London there are cameras everywhere watching you, yet when you produce one, suddenly the police go crazy as if you are about to commit the crime of the century.
But, still, I discreetly tuck some sort of camera in my bag because you never know when that perfect shot will come along.

2) "Use it any time, day or night."
This is actually good advice. I'm all for spontaneous photographs provided no one is being compromised or hurt. I haven't really come across any lomographs like that though. Unlike digital cell phone photos taken inside locker rooms then posted on the internet, people are actually thinking artistically when they shoot film, and going for the colors and other special weird camera features rather than for the youtube sensationalism.

3) "Lomography is not an interference in your life, but part of it."
The camera lens acts as extension of our brains and of our hands. When we see something, we want to capture it before that moment goes away forever. This ties in well with 1 and 2.
We have to learn to shoot like press photographers in a way, and also to learn to see life and frame it through an artist's eyes.

4) "Try the shot from the hip." This one I will have to work to master. I've heard several jokes on this one; that you need to have the right "swing" in your hip to make it work, the camera has to be held right on the hipbone, all sorts of stuff. For me it's just seeing something and snapping it before they notice and just hope it comes out.

5) "Approach the object of your lomographic desire as close as possible." Well it depends on the subject and the camera that you're using. If you want a macro shot, using a camera that doesn't shoot that type of photo well obviously isn't going to work. You have to be careful about people too. Many people just don't like to be photographed. So in applying this rule, use common sense.

6) "Don't think." I think that LSI's goal here is to get you to loosen up and not worry so much about taking a picture. But in its application, this can sometimes wind up in a roll of disappointment at the lab. Did you shoot toward the sun? Did you forget a flash while indoors? Were you too far away from the subject? Did you leave the lens cap on? There's always some sort of planning and preparation whenever I get my cameras ready to go out.

7) "Be fast!" Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes waiting a few extra minutes can give me a better shot.

8) "You don't have to know beforehand what you captured on film." This applies to the "happy accidents" we see all over the place. But the majority of the time you do need to know what you are capturing or else you can wind up with roll after roll of wasted film.

9) "Afterwards either." See number 8.

10) "Forget any rules." Well there are rules to follow for good basic photography, so instead of arguing with LSI here, I'll just follow my instincts and apply what I have already learned and I should be ok.

The Spinner is here!!!

2010-06-15T15:43:00.001-04:00

When my doorbell rang after lunch, I knew it could only be one thing: the UPS man bringing me my Spinner. And so it was! Here's a few pics of the unboxing:

First impressions: It's definitely built better than a Fisheye. The outer cup over the lens can be removed and it comes with a lens cover. The cup is made of solid metal. The rewind crank is nice and large. There is a level on top to check for landscape shots, etc. and the pullcord does not have to be tugged on very hard. It's much more rugged than a Supersampler. There is an instruction book to tell you how to load it. It's a bit different in that there is a small "curtain" made of a velvet like material between the exposure slit and the take up spool. You must set the aperture after loading a new cassette, and you must also switch to R for rewind before you can rewind your film. The rubberized grip has a nice feeling...I was expecting a little more like the LC-A in terms of build feel with an all metal grip. The flash shoe is a cold shoe only. Recommended film speeds are 400 ISO on sunny aperture, 100 and 200 for cloudy aperture.

I would think night light painting would be unusual with this camera, but you would need good constant light in order to pull it off. It comes with an extra band as well. They advise you to remove the rubber band when the camera will not be used for extended periods.

Self developed film

2010-06-13T02:22:00.008-04:00

So I developed my very first roll of black and white film in my class today. Fomapan 400. Shot in the Olympus XA2. I think they came out really nice...

The joy of photography

2010-06-11T16:28:00.003-04:00

Just received a large order of prints from the Apple Iphoto store. The prints are very well made and they shipped very fast. 4x6 prints were .12 each and 5x7 were .49. A bit pricey for the larger ones but well worth it if you plan to frame them or display in a nice album. They do not make 5x5 prints however, so you will need to trim for those beloved Holga squares. Easy to click and order after you make your edits in the software, which is why I probably won't be using photoshop very much.

I can't figure out why digital fanatics poo poo film so bad. These prints, while not professional in the slightest bit, definitely have a nice edge to them with the xpro and unusual angles I shot with. You can see the grain which is a HUGE plus for me. And the fact that I took them with such cheap cameras is even better.

Can't wait to get my "lomography" album set up. Out of all the years I've been shooting, I haven't ever been this excited to make a photo album before!!!!

I started my darkroom class last Saturday, and it promises to be a lot of fun. Gotta go finish up those rolls I promised my instructor for tomorrow :).

The new Lomo Spinner camera

2010-06-09T19:50:00.003-04:00

Well Lomography just announced its new "mystery" product, a 360 spinner panoramic camera for 35mm film. It looks fun...it's a lot less expensive than the Horizon....and it takes very unusual pictures. But on a 36 exposure roll, you only get 8 shots, according to their website. Wow....so that means that each picture will be the length of at least 4 negatives long. And this is if you get 8 good pictures. The images on their website now are from beta testers, not the actual consumers.

Having said that, I had a look over their tutorials on scanning and printing. You can do some very nice artistic things with the photographs, i.e. stitching, enlarging, etc. Plus, all the images come out with the sprocket hole which is very cool and unique. The cost: $145, almost half of a Horizon.

Lomography's "Spinner 360"

But wouldn't you know it, this isn't an LSI original. Turns out there was a model called Spinshot 35S invented in 1991 by a guy named Rick Corrales. Very similar. Maybe LSI bought the patent from him, who knows? Or maybe they didn't....but at any rate that camera sold for $650 new.

The Spinshot 35S.

Okay, so after thinking about it overnight, I placed an order this morning. I want to be one of the first to test and upload some images from this crazy thing. Call me nuts, but I think I could have some serious fun with it.

More images!

2010-06-09T00:00:00.001-04:00

Just got a stockpile back last Friday and scanned them in over the weekend. I shot some Tungsten 64 in the Diana and I am pleasantly surprised at the results:

"Lomography" vs Photography

2010-06-02T04:55:00.006-04:00

I've been reading a lot of older blogs and websites lately about the argument for/against LSI. I think it must be a real hot button among photographers out there. I realize that using "lomographer" in my blog title might meet with some "uh oh not ANOTHER one of those damn hipster wannabes" reactions, but I'm not really too concerned about it.

Most of those who are against LSI don't like them because of their high prices for cheap cameras and shrewd marketing. I try to remain neutral and see both sides of the issue. Part of me thinks it's jealousy on one hand, that it wasn't them that came up with the idea and got their hands on the lomos. But on the other hand when serious photographers are met with questions about whether or not their equipment is a "lomo camera" I can't help but do a facepalm. Are we REALLY that far away from film that we don't know the difference????

I've noticed angry flickr users shouting that if a person doesn't first understand what true analog photography is, then they will get duped into spending a lot of money for a camera that could wind up in their attic or dumped in a shoebox somewhere after a few rolls. That person could just be mad at LSI for whatever reason (insert here) or there really could be people out there that buy a Diana without knowing what to do with it, or to truly appreciate what you can get out of it, it's going to cost more than just the camera and a few rolls of film.

This is why, since discovering "lomography," I am striving to learn the basics of regular photography as well, because, well, you just need to. I feel like I'm a little late in the game and pedaling backwards, but I never got interested in doing more with it on my small digital camera other than just take good P/S pictures during my travels or when I went to a special event. My previous analogue experience was limited to a P/S Canon for 10 years, a Kodak disc camera and a Polaroid I bought in 1979 for $20.

Eventually I will be able to embrace digital photography again with new eyes, and with more skill and creativity than beforehand and invest in a good DSLR system. I think some of these tips and tricks and playing around with film again will help me in my journey.

There is a wealth of information to be had just by perusing LSI's site and google searching. I wouldn't have begun to study the history of photography or learn about films without stumbling onto lomography. So, they can both go hand in hand. After all, a camera is just a tool for creativity just like brushes are to a painter.

In this economy though, it's going to be a tough go to sell a plastic camera and flash for $100, no matter how fancy you make it. For a strapped young college student wanting to take analogue pictures, maybe it's better to dust off dad's old Nikon, start a lomohome, and save up some piggies.

Kodachrome sellers on ebay

2010-05-27T23:54:00.001-04:00

Just an FYI out there for anyone who wants to shoot with Kodachrome before the end of the year. Some of the ebay sellers are being a bit dubious. For example, I bit on a lot of 10 a few weeks ago and was immediately outbid. I waited until the end of the auction and bid a little higher. Immediately outbid but only by .20 cents. At the end of the auction, within 60 seconds I got a "second chance" offer from the seller. It seemed just a little fishy to me. This particular lot of Kodachrome has been rotating like this for some time. I am avoiding this seller now.

Next I won about 12 rolls on another auction and after 10 days had still not received it. So I contacted the seller and his response was "we are very slow to ship now." A few days later I got the film. I decided to make sure any future film was in stock before I bid because with this being in high demand there are probably 3rd parties involved with supply and demand.

Next I bid on a lot of 8 and had no problems. Received promptly.

Then I found a lot of 20 rolls of Kodachrome 200. I emailed the seller and he said yes it was available and he could ship it ASAP. So I bid and won on 5/16. It's 5/27 and I still don't have my film. The shipping was $20 priority mail. A bit steep for something that has taken this long to arrive. I have emailed the seller 3 times asking about it, and no response. So I called ebay today to open a case.

Update: On 6/1/10 I received my film along with 6 extra rolls. It pays to be diligent.

Lomography on Facebook

2010-05-25T02:03:00.002-04:00

Okay, so lomography's facebook page has reached 100k plus fans. Really happy for them...honestly I am! They had been saying that when they reached 100k fans they would put something special out there for EVERYONE. Apparently today they posted on their twitter page that to celebrate they would be giving out discount coupons...but there's a catch. Only 5 for 25% off, 15 for 20, 30 for 15, and 50 for 10. ???? They did not state this ANYWHERE on their FB page that I could see. It was just an announcement that there would be coupons. People were giddy...and I mean sugary giddy. But there were no coupon codes that I could see online for at least 10 hours, and nothing on their online shop about it. I think people were getting really confused and asking questions so then they posted the codes. Curious, I tried to use one in a cart for just some film. Didn't work. So it's been about 14 hours now and my guess is that they're all gone. I did email them and the response was "they should be working..."

I don't understand. Why not just have a 24-48 hour blanket sale and be upfront with the coupon code to begin with?? When I am eligible for a coupon to shop online from Amazon for example, I get it in an email with details and an expiration date. And I can use it at checkout. Why can't LSI do the same?

I hope they improve this feature or a lot more people are going to be upset.

Happy Day

2010-05-19T17:18:00.000-04:00

Received my "new" Lubitel 2 today. It's a bit dirty but works. Tried to clean some of the glass elements but I'm afraid it may need more than what I can do with my limited expertise. Also received the British Purma Bakelite 127 and a 1980s Olympus XA2 with flash. The Olympus is much like the LC-A. All work as they should. Weather still pretty overcast so not good for toy shooting until it clears up.

Lubitel photos

2010-05-16T18:17:00.000-04:00

Well what I expected to happen, did happen. These images were overlapped and twelve exposures were literally bunched into 5. I managed to scan what I could get and the result is the following:

So I'm eagerly awaiting an $18 Lubitel 2 I won yesterday. It should be here in a few days. I'll test it out to make sure it works. But the Lubitel 166 Moscow Olympic Edition I definitely do not recommend for photography. Great collector's item though. The other 166 versions are okay from what I understand. If the Lubitel 2 doesn't work I may have to look into getting a Seagull or Yashica Mat. Maybe even a Mamiya C220. But then we are getting out of the toy camera realm so I don't know.
But I must have a TLR to play with. They're so fun to use, and the vantage point is so much different than an eye level camera.

More images!

2010-05-14T02:01:00.002-04:00

I just got the rolls back from the Agfa Isola, Shkolnik, Lubitel, Fisheye, some LC-A and more Holga. Here are some samples:

Fisheye from the Sculpture Park:

Agfa Isola: These were a bit washed out when I first scanned them so I had to do a color boost in iphoto.

Shkolnik: These images really blow me away for this little simple camera. Could not believe it!!!

Diana 35mm:

Pentax K1000

2010-05-11T04:23:00.002-04:00

Dropped my stockpile of film off today for processing. Should have them back in a couple of days. I think the Lubitel shots are going to be toast because of the film counter issue I discovered on the model I bought. There's nothing I can do about it...except get another TLR later if these pictures turn out the way I think they are going to. Disappointed yes...but not out much on the camera so it's not a big deal. But TLR's are fun to shoot with...so I will keep finding a way!

I found an entire Pentax K1000 35mm SLR student kit with 3 lenses on ebay for $71.00. It was the seller's personal student camera (not a flip like many of these auctions are) and he had tested the shutter and lenses thoroughly. This is just an image I found online...it's not from the auction. Most camera shops have a huge markup on these used cameras and I just don't think it's worth it even with a warranty. Find yourself a good seller on ebay and hopefully you won't run into any snags.

I'm really glad I went with the Pentax because all the lenses that come with this package can be used on the modern DSLR's. When we decide to buy a DSLR we'll have to get a Pentax but that's perfectly okay with me. They are really good cameras. My brother used a 6X7 MF for years.

With the Kodachrome 64 film coming soon, I want to shoot the majority of it on a better camera than the LC-A, and learning photography on the Pentax couldn't be a better choice. It's completely manual. I could have gone with an older Canon or Nikon...but everybody has one of those!!!!

I picked up a Vivitar 283 flash as well for about $17. Those run at least $60 new. One thing that is really cool is that you can get 35mm infrared film now...that's not something I can really shoot on a P/S because you need long exposure and a filter like the Hoya R72. But I can use this!

All I really need now for this setup are some filters and one of those 70's hippy camera straps. When I go to my B/W development class in about a month I think I will be completely set with some great equipment! I am really excited to learn about the different types of chemicals used and just the whole way of doing it. My husband is thrilled for me since he is a chemist and can't wait to see what goodies I bring home for this project.

On the side, the Bilora Bella came today. Aside from some minor wear it's in great shape. A roll of film was stuck inside which was okay because that means I have 2 127 spools!

The Purma should be arriving in the next few days. It's coming from the UK. I'll have to get a few rolls of 127 to shoot in them. They are available now through frugalphotographer.com and there is a place here locally that will process it.

More LC-A pics

2010-05-09T03:05:00.002-04:00

Here's some more from the LC-A. Pretty much all I did is remove scratches from the negatives and improve the color just a hair, except for the last one. I had to work with it a little and just decided to give it a sepia tone. I'm getting a stockpile of exposed film from my other cameras that needs to be processed!

Seriously looking at either a Pentax K 1000, Canon AE-1, or maybe a Nikon SLR setup for my upcoming film class. They can be had for dirt cheap on ebay now, and if I can score one with some lenses as well, I can use them with a DSLR, which I probably will buy at some point. All I have ever shot with my entire life is 35mm autofocus point and shoot cameras. I'm ready to take the plunge and learn the ropes on a completely manual camera.

As I read back over the last few weeks of my postings, I am astonished that my collection of lo-fi cameras has grown to what it is. Initially I started out with a very small budget, and while it is still within reasonable limits, I find myself wanting to try even more types of film, etc. I guess this is what they mean when you get the photography bug, you get bit really bad lol.

More plastic lovelies

2010-05-08T00:31:00.000-04:00

I won a Bilora Bella 44 this week. It's really quite awesome! Uses 127 film. I'll have to shoot some of that when I get the chance!

I also won a British Purma with a gravity shutter. However, I am not sure if the seller will actually ship to USA...I tried to ascertain before bidding since it said UK but figure if not, then I guess the next highest English bidder will get it. But hopefully I will receive this bakelite beauty!

Ansco pix panorama

2010-05-07T12:00:00.000-04:00

I just got this! Yay! The package was really dusty, but nice to get in original box though. I can't wait to find out about the "special dinosaur offer" details inside. Stay tuned.

Considering getting a used 35mm manual SLR. Not sure if I want to go ebay this time...thinking B/H photo or Adorama. Don't really want a repeat of my Fed 2 shutter issue. The seller has agreed to absorb the cost of repair if I ship it back to him. This could turn out to be an okay deal but the skepticism is still there.

Holga black and white

2010-05-05T12:48:00.006-04:00

I got my first b/w negs back from the Holga yesterday. Of course out of about 3 rolls I only had a handful that turned out. Par for the course when shooting film! The darker ones I had to edit the exposure a bit for my flickr page, but except for scratch removal I have left them unedited. These look much better in iphoto and on my flickr and facebook pages.

I picked up the Ansco Pix Pano on ebay for $12 and a Supersampler for $37 including 4 extra rolls of Kodak film. Would love to have a Horizon but not in the budget.

Film projects

2010-05-03T20:17:00.000-04:00

I started a written journal of what I shoot, where, what films I use, etc. and also keep a tab on what cameras I'm using. So far when I go out I take at least 4 with me, so I can record the setting in many ways and formats to decide which camera captured my vision the best.

I had to get a cheap no name photographer's bag. What I was using is not big enough to carry my growing collection and gear. $37 on ebay.

So now I just load this up with my favorite cameras, gear and film, and off I go. Only thing it doesn't carry is the tripod. It's plenty big enough for everything else.

I discovered some issues with my Fed Rangefinder. The shutter knob does not exactly drop in the right places when I try to set the different speeds. And B setting just isn't working at all. So I've emailed the seller to try to figure out what I can do. I'm not out much on it so it's not that big a deal, but I would like to know what shutter speed I am using! lol

I may be able to get it fixed through Fedka.com. The seller is being very cool about it so we'll see what happens. That is the fun of Soviet cameras. One day they work, the next they may give you some issues. At least I will learn more about how to use these beasts! I have to say, despite their odd quirkiness I am falling completely in love with them. It's probably because of that dubious nature! I mean, why walk around with Brand X 35mm when you can be seen with a large boxy lovely like a Fed or Zorki??? It's all about the lo-fi aesthetics you see.

My brother is a professional photographer and audio engineer. Over the course of my life, a lot of my insight and creative inspiration has come from watching him work. He taught me to use my very first automatic loading 35mm P/S years ago. He calls what I'm doing "ghetto photography." It's totally true! My badge of honor.

Nikon users, I laugh in your face. Mwaa hahaaha....of course when I need to upgrade my digital gear I'll probably get one of those Coolpix advance P/S. I think those totally rock because of their simplicity. And the price is very good as well.

But back to my film projects. Number one on my list is the Kodachrome Project. I found some 36exp expired stock on ebay for about $8 a roll. Bought 12 rolls. When I get it, I'll run it through the LC-A, fisheye, sprocket, maybe even the Fed and Smena. I've got my eye on a sexy Ansco Pix Panorama for $12 on ebay, and may pick up a SuperSampler as well.

I would LOVE to have a Horizon Pano, but for $200 a pop that's just not in my budget at the moment. Maybe later.

Dwayne's Photo in Kansas is the last remaining place to process K-14 Kodachrome, and they charge $10 a roll for slide mounting the 64. Turnaround time right now is 2 days. I think that's pretty fair.

Kodachrome film

2010-05-02T15:22:00.000-04:00

I think I better get my hands on some Kodachrome before Dwayne's Photo in Kansas turns off their machines at the end of this year. Kodak announced the end of the iconic film's production last year. I should be able to get my hands on some expired lots (hopefully) on ebay.

I lost a bid on a vintage English Purma 127 bakelite so I'm in search of another for a good price. I still have to find 127 film for it as well.

Also exploring the possibility of getting another instant camera. Waiting to see how the new Polaroid films do on the market...or I may just go Fuji Instax. I've got a Polaroid "One" but I don't know if it will work with a new film pack or not. It won't turn on. So not sure. I know I don't want to invest a lot of money in that venture because I still have so many Polaroids from my childhood that need scanning and retouching.

The Smena 8 and Photax

2010-05-01T17:42:00.001-04:00

Received my Photax and Smena 8 today. The Smena decoration is definitely after market lol. I think the lens cap was made from some sort of pop bottle and the Lenin medal still has a little glue on the side.

This Photax is in great shape for being a 70+ year old camera. The shutter is soft but fires and should take some decent images outdoors. I'm thinking of taking it to a period 1940's dinner train event coming up locally.

Fed2E, Corina, and Kodak collection

2010-05-01T00:11:00.002-04:00

I received my Fed2E, Corina 2 and Kodak lo-fi collection today.

The Fed 2 came with its original box, manual and leather case. It's like a Fed 3 but with Fed 2 markings and lens. The box looks like a commie footlocker. The seller shipped this to me free with purchase of the Shkolnik. I guess he really wants to unload his collection! Everything appears to be working normally. Just have to remember to cock the shutter before setting the speed.

The Corina 2 is a plastic wonder from Czechoslovakia. The flash bulb area is very different from anything I've ever seen. You have to pop up a lid in the middle and I know I won't be able to find anything to fit in it. This will be strictly an outdoor camera.

For my Kodak set, I got a Instamatic 104 (apparently not working) a Holiday Mansfield Turret 8mm, and a Instamatic M2 Super 8mm. $10 for all three on ebay.

I went out to a sculpture park yesterday and shot with no less than 6 cameras. I should have those pics developed soon and posted within a couple weeks.

Agfa Isola and Shkolnik

2010-04-29T13:02:00.001-04:00

Well they arrived yesterday! The Agfa Isola I and the first Shkolnik. The guy that sold me the Shkolnik put a 2nd one up for sale the day after I bought this one. It had the original box...so I asked to trade. He'd already sent the first (provided me tracking number to verify) but he also had a nice Fed2 with Industar lens for $30. He agreed to send me the Fed2 for free if I bought the 2nd Shkolnik. So now I will have 2 Shkolniks!

The Agfa is in absolute mint condition. I am very pleased. The leather case is intact, a little wear but very solid. The camera is CLEAN. And it doesn't smell like smoke the way my Realist does. It's definitely tricky to load and shoot. But the fact that it doesn't operate like every other "toy" out there is why I like it. The lens barrel must be extended before the shutter can be fired. There are arms that swing out on the bottom to load the film and take up spool. The film must be advanced before you can fire the shutter. But focusing is really easy. They have it listed in meters and feet. You can't do multi exp like on the Holga. But hey, it's a German camera, why would they let you do that? ;)

The Shkolnik is a true beauty. Sturdier than I expected but the shutter button is different than on most cameras. The cocking switch and shutter remind me of watch parts. Delicate in a way next to the big hunky plastic.

It looks like an art deco camera but it was built in the 60's. The shutter window inside is prone to moving around a bit so this could have an effect on the final image if I'm not careful. I spent last night cleaning the inside with a q tip. I will film test these this week.

Still waiting on my Photax. Hopefully it will be here soon. And a Czech Corina found on etsy.com for $18 is on its way, as well as my Kodak Instamatic trio that has not arrived yet.

I've also decided I'd like to look into a Rolleicord. Less expensive than a true Rolleiflex but a great TLR. I want to see how the Lubitel pics come out.

The Zumi digital

2010-04-26T17:56:00.000-04:00

I'm thinking I must get one of these soon. It's a little digital camera that can capture great 8mm-like video and still shots. It's very small yet will record about 2 hours worth of video I believe. They remind me of 110 cameras or maybe a mini boom box from the 80s. Can't replace my Canon Vixia, but when you need something decidedly small that captures vintage images the way you want, it looks like a fun little toy to have for under $200.

Excited

2010-04-24T22:16:00.001-04:00

Well I finally found a Shkolnik on ebay for less than $100 with shipping AND from a USA seller.

Lightleaks.org had a contest on their website that ended yesterday. I didn't win :(

The prize was a Polaroid SX-70 instant camera with the new instant film they are testing called "Artistic." Looked like a cool prize. Whoever won it got a fun package. Personally I wouldn't want to buy another Polaroid instant camera but if I won it as a prize, hey, who would I be to argue? :)

Not sure if the film is as spectacular as the hype over at The Impossible Project. We'll see how it goes.

Lightleaks.org does sell rolls of Lucky Chinese 35mm and 120 black and white film for $2.00 a roll, so I picked up some. That is dirt cheap and would be great for home developing. I have read that some of those cheaper films have a tendency to curl a lot though.

I shot a roll of Shanghai Chinese film a couple of weeks ago, similar to Lucky. It's at the developers. Once I see the pictures I'll have a pretty good idea how they look.

I don't start my darkroom class until June. I gotta find some projects to keep me busy.
I received my Lubitel yesterday. I would like to do a grouping called "The Birds" and shoot them Alfred Hitchcock style. They could all come from different cameras and films. Only rule: No digital. Minimal post processing.

I've been "had!!"

2010-04-24T02:48:00.002-04:00

Chalk it up to stupidity I guess. This recent purchase I made at etsy.com turned out to be a fake:

It's still a real Smena 8 camera. What's not real is the designation "Lenin edition champion of Communist work" with the bas relief and lens cap. Those have been glued on to make it look like a special edition camera. I never could find any information about a series of these and also learned about some fake Leicas from the 90's that turned out to be Feds and Zorkis with rubbed off markings. So I emailed a guy that runs a Soviet camera website. He said "Congratulations you have just bought a "fantasy" camera." HAHAHAA! I can't help but laugh over this though and remain good natured about it. I imagine some guys swarmed the tourist buses in Russia just waiting to dupe souvenir shoppers with these and God knows what else. I remember a guy approaching our bus in 1990 to sell badly made t shirts with CCCP on them.

On one hand it's cool that this is a fake...at least someone had an original idea and made it artsy fartsy. I wasn't out much money on it.

Hahah...pro photographers, if you ever come across this blog, you have my permission to laugh at me all you want.

What I see when I use an old camera

2010-04-23T16:37:00.000-04:00

I've been making a mad dash to collect a lot of vintage cameras lately. Maybe it's a metaphor for my getting older, I don't know. I've always enjoyed taking photographs, and have had some interest in learning more about the art of photography over the years. But not until recent months have I gotten dead serious about it. Years ago, I got tired of lugging around rolls of 35mm film, buying batteries for my Canon, having to stop and reload or unload. When I bought digital I was happy to not have to process pictures anymore.

But lately something has changed within me. There's something about holding an actual photograph of someone, something or some place that means a lot to you. It's not pixels on a screen but an actual paper image. As I go through boxes of photographs of family members that are no longer with me or of friends and my travels, I feel differently about those images. The smell of the paper, the grain, the faded colors....they all have an effect. Somehow if digital had been around in the 70s or 80s I don't think these photographs would mean near as much to us. How many times have you lost track of time simply because you were going through your memories? Cleaned out a closet and found a photo of you and your dad fishing, or of your mom cooking in the kitchen? Maybe someone took a great snapshot of the Grand Canyon. Or maybe you have a picture of a relative that is no longer alive, and you almost forgot what he or she looked like.

If we didn't have photographs, imagine how our lives would be now. We could not watch period movies with as much detail as we are able to do. Science and medicine would not be the same. Entertainment...travel...everything! Photography has paved the way for so much in our world. I know I ramble, but I feel I must express this.

Why do I want to collect old cameras and take old style pictures? When I look into the viewfinder of a camera that is as old as or older than me, I want to see an image that is reminiscent of days long gone. I don't want to see a perfect digital image. Sure I like being able to "clean up" my photos a little after scanning them in, but only for preservation. I never want to take away from what was there when the shutter clicked. When I want a perfect, quick picture, I'll grab my Panasonic Lumix.

Old cameras speak for themselves. How many birthdays did they record? Anniversaries? Holidays? Vacations? And if it came from halfway around the world, what kind of political events did it capture? Cold war? Revolutions? Protests?

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. A vintage camera can tell us much more, enough to last several generations.

Pictures!!!

2010-04-22T03:15:00.004-04:00

I got some of my LC-A, Holga and Diana 35mm images back. I was disappointed in some but very pleased with others. A mixed bag. Definitely decided this is a good hobby for me, as long as I don't put a fist through my scanner first. It works great but the masks are just so flimsy. I need to work on customizing my own. But at least I have sprocket hole, and cross processed slide pictures from the Holga. I was disappointed in the LC-A's performance a little bit. A few of the shots were "magical" but most were not. I admit I had to boost the color on the shots a little bit in iphoto. But it all just comes down to practice. Here's a few samples from the LC-A:

And the Holga on Ektachrome 100 cross processed:

I love Ebay and Etsy

2010-04-20T21:39:00.002-04:00

Ebay really is about the best place to find anything you want. Etsy.com is also good, but you can't bid and shipping can be very high. Still, a nice alternative if you don't find what you are looking for on ebay. For example, I located this very interesting camera yesterday and snapped it up for my collection:

A Smena 8m from the LOMO factory in Leningrad. I'm not sure what year this was made, but it's a safe bet it was before 1990. I don't care if it works or not. It comes with the original box and paraphernalia. If I'm going to get a smena, might as well be a collectible one. $18 plus $12 shipping. About $30 total.

I located a Kodak Instamatic 104, an Instamatic M2 Super 8 and a Holiday Mansfield Turret 8mm for $10 to add to my lo-fi collection, and I don't care if they work or not! But if they do, I might have to shoot a canister of super 8 at some point and get it formatted to edit on my mac.

Hipstamatic 104

Mansfield Turret 8mm

Instamatic M2 Super 8mm

Also enrolled in a darkroom photography course at a local college so I can learn how to develop b/w film. Very excited. This could prove to be a cost saver in the long run if I plan on shooting a lot, which I am.

I am also rethinking the LOMO LC-A+. I know, I know....I've bashed LSI quite a bit in my blog for their prices. But after shooting with the original LC-A, I've decided that I would like to be able to take multiple exposures easier. I can do it with the one I have but it's tricky. Also the higher ASA settings up to 1600 could prove useful at some point. I'm not that keen on the cable release or the ability to use it underwater and attach a wide angle lens..all that. And the warranty on it is nice to have. However, having said that, $250 a pop for one of those or $280 with Russian Lens is just too steep for me to spend right now. So I'm really going to try ebay for awhile and see what I get.

Maybe I will strike gold and score a few extras in the purchase.

Taking my hobby to new levels

2010-04-19T02:36:00.002-04:00

For color filters, I got a $3 gel pack sampler that has tons of colors in it. All I have to do is hold them over the lens while I shoot. But I did order an official Holga filter set with mount as a backup. The gel pack is rather flimsy and may not last long.

Received some 120 color slide film (26 rolls) off ebay. I wound up paying less than half of what I would have given for retail had I ordered from a regular store. Most of it is expired anyway.

I read the "Toycam Handbook" over the weekend and decided on which ones I want to invest in as a collector. There are still several models floating around out there really cheap like the Imperials and Kodak brownies, but some of the rarer ones like the Shkolnik, Agfa Clack, Isola and Photax are harder to find in the US. Only way to do it is to go ebay.

I found a Photax II for about $8 from a British seller. It's French made, late 1930's. A beautiful camera. It takes 620 film. I hope it will work well enough for me to get a few shots out of it. Definitely won't be going out of the house much.

Another one I picked up is the Realist Stereo 3D. This is from the 50s, better than the Kodak but not as pricy as some of the other 3D models out there. I realize this camera may only yield me a few carefully chosen shots, and the cost of processing and slide mounting could get expensive, but it's worth it to try it out just to see. It might be a lot of fun, who knows? And it is one hell of a collector's item!

I need to find a viewer for it so I can have a set just in case I ever want to sell it. But I don't know that I will want to. It's just simply dazzling!!

The Shkolnik I will just have to wait for until the price is right. At this moment they are listed on ebay for about $100. Way too much. But they were made about the same time as the Photax I believe but were not as well preserved over the years so there are less available. But this is just so simple in its aesthetics.

The Agfa Isola takes some great pictures with a period feel, and that is another one I am considering. I think they are worth about $20 in good condition.

I have others I will look into. Meanwhile I think it's time to hit the antique shops around town and see what I can come up with.

History of the LC-A

2010-04-16T21:56:00.001-04:00

I've been reading more about the history of this little camera, and I find it absolutely fascinating. Point and shoot 35mm cameras were very popular and widely available in the US in the 80s and 90s. When the LC-A was made and released to the general population, they cost maybe 75 roubles (about $3.00USD) and apparently were quite the sensation. However most Russian households could probably not afford such a luxury.

I don't think there were very many competitors (if any) in the USSR for this camera at that time. When I was there in 1990, I'm sure I saw them in the shops I visited, but had just purchased my Canon Sure Shot for that trip and was not looking to buy a Soviet camera. Now I wish I could go back in time and buy up a whole bunch!

There were several models and copies made. This site, http://www.sovietcams.com has a lot of information about the LC-A's early history. Compared to the history of Kodak cameras, or Canon's or Nikon's, it's pretty extraordinary how it has become the cult sensation that it has. If I had the chance now to go visit the factory in St Petersburg I would do it in a heartbeat, if only for the nostalgic experience.

The newest and much more expensive Chinese version of the LC-A does have quite a few improvements, like a 2 year warranty, increased film speed settings to 1600, the manual exposure switch, etc. It is still essentially the same camera, though. Do these changes justify the $250 price tag? People will pay whatever LSI is willing to charge for them I guess. In my opinion, it's kind of high. But LSI can charge whatever they want to, as it is now their product and they have virtually no other competition, save for ebay really.

With film processing getting increasingly harder to find, and film as well, I don't know how LSI will be able to justify their prices for these much longer. The economy is not exactly thriving for most people to be able to afford one. This is why they start with a Holga, Diana or another type of lomo camera, if they can even afford that.

I think that anyone who wants an LC-A+ should be able to get one. It was a communist consumer camera available for the masses. That part of its history should be preserved. It's easier to walk into a WalMart and buy a cheap megapixel digital camera (made in China more than likely) than it is to get an LC-A.

Scanner

2010-04-14T03:04:00.000-04:00

I received my Epson V500 scanner today. Didn't take long to set up and use. Can't wait to get started with scanning negatives!

My friend and I nixed our plans for Palm Springs and San Diego for the time being...maybe in the fall we will try. But I must go and take vintage style pictures of all that great architecture at some point. In the meantime, I will learn how to use the cameras to get the best use out of what is left for the film shooters out there.

Diana F+ frustrations

2010-04-12T23:48:00.002-04:00

Today I took all my cameras out to shoot some photos at a local museum. I got to about picture 16 on the Diana F+ with the 35mm back and the knob stopped turning. It just completely jammed on me. I couldn't rewind or anything, so I trashed the roll and put in another. This time I got to picture 18 before it stopped.

Once I got home I tried it in the backup Diana and 35mm back, and it did the very same thing. I used an old roll that I didn't mind exposing so I could see exactly what was going on. I counted the number of shots I could take, this time I got to 20. But no more than that. I watched it roll across the back as well...everything seemed smooth for the most part.

It's pretty aggravating because I can't attach a flash to this thing as it is to take pics indoors if I'm using the 38mm super wide lens and viewfinder, something that has been highly suggested if you're planning on shooting sprocket holes. This limits me to outdoor photography and less photographs per roll. All so I don't have to rewind 35mm in a modified camera!!

I got an answer from Kaituba over at dianacamera.com as to why this is happening, and I should have been able to figure this out on my own. Apparently you get less exposures when you use a panoramic mask.

Well DUH! lol

Scanner

2010-04-11T15:57:00.000-04:00

Well I decided on the Epson V500 Scanner. It should be here in a few days. Now I can get my film developed and just scan in the images and print the ones I want later.

A friend and I are looking to go to Palm Springs and San Diego in a few weeks, and this will afford me the opportunity to take lots of pictures of the retro architecture in the area.

I also have some 620 film coming for my Bullseye. I figure I can at least try a couple of rolls in it to see how it behaves.

Tomorrow I head out to the American Sign museum to see what kind of shots I can get.

Holga fart

2010-04-09T16:10:00.001-04:00

Well today when I picked up the Holga she started rattling inside. Then when I tried to engage the flash it would not come on. I figured out the problem. One of the flash batteries decided to come loose and I did not have the mask in. So I finished out the roll of film then opened her up. The left battery can slip back rather easily so I decided to tape them both in securely.

I had taken the mask out to take full advantage of the vignetting but did not even consider this possibly being an issue. I guess the next roll will determine if I did the right thing or not. The shutter is still operating just fine after I put some WD40 on it but still a little sticky. Maybe she will loosen out for me over time.

In other news, I located some Agfa Precisa 100 35 mm on ebay for cross processing, as well as some Ektachrome. And I think I have found a scanner. A guy at the local camera shop is looking to sell his Canon 8800. Hopefully I have struck gold!

And....since I want to try a TLR, I just could not pass up this beauty on ebay:

1979 Lubitel 166 Moscow Olympics edition for the 1980 games. Sigh...yes I know I'm getting just a little obsessed. I can't wait to take some shots with this!

The Kodak Brownie Bullseye

2010-04-07T16:39:00.001-04:00

I received this today!

It's much smaller than I expected! A bit larger than the average camcorder, but still not that big for a mid century consumer camera. All the dials work, lens is clean, etc. Only thing is that it most definitely came from a smoker's home. I don't think I will ever be able to get the odor out!

Here are some more pics:

This lets you know when you look in the viewfinder that you need to cock the shutter. Kind of neat in an atomic age sort of way.

Here's the back with the knob to open.

Here's where you roll the film across the back of the camera.

A 620 spool and a 120 spool. There is a difference in the size. This is why I will probably need to respool my film, because 620 is hard to find and very expensive.

This is the flash arm. It detaches very easily and there is a small button on top to depress the bulb.

In addition, I received a second Diana F+ and 35mm back attachment as a backup. I got both used on ebay for about $30. I figured I could use a backup in case something breaks.

8mm old school film

2010-04-06T02:12:00.001-04:00

Wow I found this today http://www.super8camera.com and I'm interested in learning more about shooting with the Zenit Quarz or a Kodak Brownie. Simple to use, hand cranked home video. Many of these things still work! So much neat stuff out there!

Urban Outfitters and Fisheye camera

2010-04-05T20:04:00.002-04:00

Well today I hit some thrift shops but didn't find anything of interest, so I called around town to some others to see if they had at the very least, camera film. Nothing. I've read all the hype about Urban Outfitters selling Lomo products. Today I ventured out to their store here and took a look at what they had. The store's architecture was more impressive to me than the goods inside. It's a refitted old church, Anglican from all appearances, and they've kept some of the stained glass windows and basically the guts of the building. They don't allow photos inside unfortunately. I got this with my iphone. Did not have the other cameras with me.

They do carry some lomos, basically Diana F+, Fuji Instant, Fisheyes and minis. No LC-A's at this location.

I can best describe UO as a combination of Aeropostale, Spencer's Gifts and Walmart. Most of the stuff there is geared to the younger mentality of their buyers. Photo albums with names like "LOL," "WTF," and "OMFG." Books on dope, "coffee" shops in Amsterdam, sex, etc. etc. That's what reminded me of Spencer's Gifts. All they need now are fart machines and "happy sperm candles." Methinks many of the people that buy there on a regular basis are more interested in being trendy than being a photographer. I noticed the majority of the camera stock is dusty, so that means it probably isn't selling. One thing that was interesting though and that is that they had a version of the Diana called "The Aviator." I'd never seen this one online. I think it's a special edition just for UO.

Their fisheyes were $48.00. One of the clerks mentioned they had a few downstairs on clearance for $30, so I picked one up. That's cheaper than Amazon and ebay. This is the Robert Ryan edition. I'm guessing it didn't sell too well. But it's the same camera!

This is what you see when you look in the viewfinder;

The fisheye 2 has a viewfinder on it, but that one won't work with the underwater housing or so that's what I've gathered from my research. So my shots will probably be off. I don't know why they couldn't design a simple basic viewfinder without this lens blocking your field of vision. They had some lomo film there, $18 for a 3pack of ISO 100 120 B/W or $14 for a 3pack ISO 100 35mm color negative. I passed.

Books

2010-04-05T04:30:00.000-04:00

I'm coming across a list of books that I think may be useful.

"Plastic Cameras" by Michelle Bates. Average price about $20 on Amazon.

"Toy Cameras: Culture and Celebration" by Chelsea Klukas. About $30 new on Amazon.

"Lomo On" by LSI (I received this one from the seller of my LC-A but unfortunately it's in German.) About $5 on Amazon.

"50 photo projects" by Lee Frost. About $10 used. This looks like a fun way to get started.

"Don't think just shoot" by LSI. About $25 used.

"LOMO LC-A" the Big Book. This one is incredibly expensive. This will have to be an ebay purchase. About $100 new!

With the purchase of my Diana and Holga, I received a book each on those, but there are more out there I'm sure I will want to read. The above is just a sampling.

I think this bug is really starting to get me....

2010-04-04T22:52:00.001-04:00

I found a 1960's model Kodak Bullseye Brownie gold edition on ebay in really great condition. So of course I just HAD to have it. I will need to either reroll my 120 film onto a 620 spool or buy respooled film in order to use. But I probably won't use it much, and unless I can get cheap bulbs, I'll be doing outdoor shots with it. But what a great addition for my collection for under $20!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T19:40:00.007-04:00

I decided to take the Holga with me to Pascha last night and get some b/w shots of the altar and candles using yellow flash. Also tried some double exposures of the Pantocrator icon and red candles using alternating color flashes on the LOMO. A few people gave me some weird looks. I even got the old "why are you shooting with that instead of digital?"

I won't have anything posted here until my lot of film is used up and developed. I've still got to figure out how I'm going to do my sprocket hole developing and scanning. Been watching ebay and Amazon for a good deal on an Epson or Canon scanner.

I did shoot some iphone pics of my new babies with the Hipstamatic app with black and white:

Shooting with the Holga

2010-04-03T19:33:00.000-04:00

Well I took the old girl out for some fun earlier today. Basically just did some outdoor shots around my house. Tonight is Pascha, the Orthodox Christian Easter service. I would REALLY love to get some shots of the candlelight processional but I'm afraid I don't know this camera well enough and don't have my cable release yet, so anything I take might turn out to be a waste of film. I think I will take the LC-A. It's loaded with 800 and might do better.

Loading the film in the Holga was a little tricky, but advancing has been easy for the most part. Just have to remember to look in the window for the next number, as this is not like 35mm!

Speaking of shooting, I've made a list of some local places I'd like to "lomo" like parks, downtown and such, but two that keep sticking out in my mind are Vegas and Palm Springs, neither of which are local. Shooting mid century architecture would be an absolute blast. I'm sure I can find a few neighborhoods around here like that though if I look.

The Diana F+ and her accessories

2010-04-03T13:55:00.009-04:00

Received my Diana F+ and accessories this morning. Here are photos and my thoughts:

The basic F+ camera package:

The camera, no flash, instruction manual, lens cap, some masks, a commemorative hardback book, and the LOMO leaflet. The shutter is softer and responds better than the Holga at first sight. Lens very easy to remove. Viewfinder clear and all markings easy to read. Tripod mount on bottom. Film knob firm to turn and responds well.

Until I use it I cannot say 100% but seems like a well designed plastic camera. I do think they should include the flash, or better yet, design a Diana with a built in flash similar to the Holga 120CFN. The book is a nice touch because it's hardback and any photographer will appreciate it.

The 35mm back kit:

The back attachment, 4 masks, a book on how to use the different formats, the LOMO leaflet, and a carrying case.

The case is large and well made. I have yet to assemble this to the Diana.

Here is the Diana with the flash adaptor I bought separately for the colorsplash. It serves its purpose better than buying their flash IMO. I also attached the 38mm Super Wide lens. It was very easy to do.

Here is the viewfinder accessory that comes with the wide angle lens kit. It appears it will be very helpful to get what I want in the shot. Took me a sec to figure out how to put it on, but there is an adjustable knob on top and you can just fit it over the regular viewfinder.

However, as you can see, this does not work well with the flash adapter. OOPS Lomography!!!! Even with their own flash, I think it would be too wide to share that space on top. So....they need to come up with a way to take wide angle photography indoors with their own adaptors and flashes or else just don't use this viewfinder so you put on the flash. I don't know...maybe the mini flash would work. But I don't plan on buying a mini.

And here they are, two plastic sisters (or cousins) or whatever. I did the velcro mod on my Holga last night to keep the back on, and also taped up the front and the inside of the counter window.

Yay!

2010-04-02T16:53:00.001-04:00

Today I received the Holga kit, tripod, Diana wide angle lens, and colorsplash flash.
The following are some photos and first impressions of the products:

This is the Holga 120CFN beginner kit. You get the camera with built in colorflash, 2 AA batteries for the flash, a small roll of tape, a strap, an extra mask, a roll of B/W 100 ASA film, a LOMO LC-A+ advertisement (hey they gotta plug their flagship camera somehow!) and the "Plastic lens" softcover book with pictures, tips/tricks and anecdotes. About $50 with shipping on Amazon.

Overall the quality of the camera body is slightly higher than what I expected. Still flimsy on the back but better built on top than I thought it would be. Knob turns and clicks nice. The take up spool on the right falls out easily though. I suspect this is why they recommend using small pieces of cardboard to secure that. I will also get to work making the velcro mod from dianacamera.com. The counter window slider is easy to use, you just have to push in slightly to get it to move up or down. There are some strips of foam inside to keep the film secure so at least I won't have to worry about that. This makes me feel even better that I ordered the Diana F+ and 35mm back for separate sprocket photos, so I don't have to mess with this camera more than I need to.

As you can see from these photos, I've tried to show the front of the camera with the flash, and the back with the batteries in and the foam strips along the inside. Also note the switch on top for the flash. I am noticing a sticky shutter when I fire however. I'll drop a little WD 40 on it to see if that fixes it. It intermittently fires and sticks on both N/B settings. This isn't something you want to have happen with film loaded!

The book is nice, but a lot of the tips they offer I won't use more than likely. The batteries fit easily for the flash and there is an on/off switch on the back. Camera mounts easily on the tripod I purchased. I have some pics below.

I don't see any places to tape up on top on the inside like in the 120S because of the colorflash. Hopefully by using that flash it will not create light leaks in and of itself but we will see.

Colorsplash flash:

This is the lomography Colorsplash Flash, less expensive than the Flash Ring, and less weight. Note the cute little guy on the front and the flaps inside the box. Aww.

Okay, so this is what you get inside, the flash, the gels, and the AA battery. It already has about 3 colors inside, so with the mix and match you can get lots of great possibilities. The AA battery was easy to load and it fired just fine. Just make sure to keep it turned off when not in use, or it will run out of juice very quickly. Not too bad for $30.

Here is the LOMO LC-A with the flash mounted.

And here it is on the Diana F+ adapter.

Diana F+ Wide angle lens:

Here we come to the Diana F+ wide angle lens. You get the lens, a cover, a viewfinder adapter, and a little bag. Actually, I think the product is made better than I expected. I pictured extremely brittle plastic. This is not the case. And the viewfinder is decent quality as well. The bag is small and tough, not like a flimsy afterthought. Of course until I test it on the actual camera I can't say if it's good, but first impressions are that Lomography has done a pretty good job on this one. About $38 including shipping on Amazon. I just hope the Diana F+ is made out of the same kind of plastic.

Sunpak Tripod:

Okay so here is my cheap tripod for all my goodies. This is necessary if you want to get decent landscape shots or for when the occasion calls for a still hand, or for a panoramic. This cost $16 on Amazon and it's decent for what it does. You can extend it up in the middle, and each leg extends on its own. It's pretty much the perfect height for what I need. The first shot is with the Holga and then the LOMO setup. I should also be able to use this with my camcorder.

Overall, I think I did pretty good with my selections.

Waiting on Amazon sucks

2010-04-01T20:32:00.001-04:00

Yes I said it. There. My 5 year old rant for today. I thought my Holga would be here this morning but it looks like tomorrow. :(

At least my SR44 batteries for the LC-A arrived this afternoon, and I picked up some velcro and tape to make my Holga/Diana modifications. I also got a little yashica bendable tripod and it fits perfectly in my bag. I found a vinyl makeup case I wasn't using, with tons of little pockets and plenty of empty space to handle most of my tchotchkes. Why buy an extra camera bag when you can use what you already have?

So now my tally is up to about $386.00.

As I get shipments in I will post pics here of what you get in the box. I made a list of places and events I'd like to photograph around the Cincinnati area and which films and cameras I will most likely shoot with. Hopefully the next few months will see me snapping away.

Just have to laugh...

2010-03-30T22:45:00.001-04:00

After ordering my Diana F+ and 35mm back today, I stupidly realized that the camera does not have a hot shoe. I think all my information is running together and I just wasn't paying attention. I planned on just using my colorsplash flash on it instead of shelling out the money for the actual Diana flash which, although looks hip, cool and retro, I can spend my $50 in better ways and it won't take up as much space in the bag.

Lomography.com actually sells an adapter for $10 that will allow you to put on any hot shoe flash you want. So I was relieved to see that. After reading some flickr posts by some other photographers, I also decided to add the 38mm super wide lens to my order, to allow for better composition for sprocket hole photography. After I clicked 'ok' I received this email from lomography.com:

Hello ____,
We're seriously committed to making sure your Lomographic order arrives in the best possible condition. At the moment our holistic shipping experts are busy preparing your treasured cargo psychologically for the journey that lies ahead. After a bit of chanting and chakra balancing our packaging architects will set to work making your goods as comfortable as possible. Under the cover of darkness a no-messing security troop will escort your package to the post depot to ensure it departs without a sniff of trouble. It's at this point we release two pigeons of peace as a symbol of thanks for another successful shipment.

I'm wondering at this point what else do they do, have some kind of lomoman burning man festival? lol

Making some decisions

2010-03-30T03:55:00.001-04:00

After spending some time reading more about the cameras I like, how they work, what films to use, etc. etc. I came up with a plan. The LOMO LC-A will be my cross process slide and expired 35mm camera, the Holga my medium format color and b/w, and after much research and pricing, I decided to get the Diana F+ and the 35mm back with the changeable masks off Amazon. Ebay and the other sites didn't really offer any better prices even on auction this time. I got both for about $75.00. It is suggested I get a 38mm super wide lens for use for sprocket hole.

I can go sprocket hole without having to hack the Holga, and it can be rewound inside the camera, saving having to go into a dark room or use a changing bag, and possibly ruined film. I can drop these cameras all in the same bag loaded up with film and ready to go! On the fly, in any style I want, color slide, medium format b/w or color, or sprocket hole.

And as soon as I can get my hands on a reasonably priced fisheye submarine, I'll be adding that to my arsenal too. My husband and I scuba dive, and it would be awesome to have that along when we go out to snorkel. The camera is rated down to 65 feet but I probably would not take it past 5-10. Depends on the light and water conditions.

I'm keeping a tally on my costs as well. At RitzCamera they offer a student plan for people that buy their expired film. For $2 a roll, they will develop, scan and upload your photos to your own site at Ritzpix.com. Last week I bought several rolls of 400 and 800 35mm. When I am done shooting, I just take it in and they handle the rest. Unfortunately they do not scan medium format. Hence the scanner. Epson V500 and 4490 seem to be the most suggested on flickr and some of the other photo blogs out there.

So far here is what I've invested:

LOMO LC-A - $140 off ebay (incl shipping)

Several rolls of expired 35mm film 400/800 - $24.00 (includes processing)

1 roll of Fuji sensia 100 slide film - $7

Holga 120CFN kit - $50

Colorsplash flash - $30

Holga Cable release - $16

SR 44 silver oxide batteries for LOMO LC-A, pack of 6 - $6

Basic tripod - $16

Diana F+ and 35mm adapter kit - $75

Total: $364.00

I will now have THREE Lomo cameras, and plenty of film and supplies to keep me going.

In search of film and accessories

2010-03-29T03:43:00.002-04:00

Okay, so the last couple of days I've been scouring the flickr groups, ebay, amazon, adorama, B and H video, etc etc. for the best prices and recommendations for accessories and film for my new toys, as well as some general history of these plastic wonders. So far what I've assembled is the following:

For LOMO LC-A 35mm cross processing, some of the best slide color films recommended are:

Fuji Sensia 200, Kodak EliteChrome 100 for more green effect
Kodak E100VS for yellows, blues, and reds
AGFA Precisa 100 for reds and blues (AGFA is discontinuing so hopefully I can lay my hands on some soon!)
Kodak EliteChrome 200 for blues and turqoise, and I think Fuji Sensia 100 for red, pink, orange and purple.

Also lomography.com has a lot of their own film but I don't now about it's quality. Most sites say it is repackaged Shangai or Lucky Chinese film. For the Holga CFN 120 starter kit I ordered, my plan is to shoot medium format black and white, so I'm going for Ilford HP5 or Kodak. Then maybe XP2 and Fuji Neopan. I also would like to try shooting with some filters, so down the line I'll get some Efke 820 infrared film as well as a filter.

Holga has their own color filter set with adaptor that's pretty cheap. For the infrared I may try a Hoya 72 or something. This is all info I have gathered from flickr and searching around ebay. I'll need to invest in a cable release and a small tripod as well. A film scanner is also a must.

The Holga CFN 120 starter kit from Amazon includes the camera with a color flash, tape, some film, a book, AA flash batteries....for $50. The old S models are pretty basic with no flash. These newer N models also have tripod mounts and foam inserts to keep the film spool secure.

I also picked up Lomography's Colorsplash flash (About $30 on Amazon) for the LOMO, since the expired film I'm using may not give me the results I want without flash. I read a lot about lomography's flashring and I decided it is not for me right now, bulky, with too many pieces, and not much difference in the photo quality that I can see. But I may try it later.

If you go to youtube and check out kaituba's channel from Dianacamera.com, he has a lot of good how-to's on the Holga and the Diana and making modifications for them. The Diana F+ camera will probably be something I pick up to experiment with. From what I've read it's best to try both. But if all you wanted was the Diana, you can get a whole deluxe blinged out kit with lenses, masks, flashes, etc. from Amazon, Urban Outfitters or Lomography. But it will set you back about $200+.

My journey into Lomography

2010-03-28T19:34:00.003-04:00

This is my new photo blog dedicated to the quirky art called lomography. First of all, I'm not a professional photographer, nor have any aspirations to be. There, I've added my disclaimer. AND I know enough about photography to know that there IS a difference between the two. Toy camera photography is nontoxic, safe and fun for everyone. You can even try it at home! And unless I attempt to develop my own pictures, nothing should explode in my face.

Okay, so this new obsession of mine started out when I discovered the Hipstamatic iphoto app on a mac review site a few weeks ago. I downloaded it to my iphone then added the other lens, film and flash combinations. The first time I snapped a picture, I was thrown back to my Disc Camera, polaroid and instant Kodak days as a kid in the 70s and 80s.

I also have CameraBag, Colorsplash, and a bunch of other apps that are capable of turning the iphone camera into quite a nifty little toy. But this app was different. Much more interactive. The viewfinder is not that great, but I gave it a try with a few photos inside my house. The results were very unusual. I searched online to find out more and learned more combos. Even looked on youtube.

Then I discovered the history of the Hipstamatic 100 camera. I located this site:

http://hipstamatic.com/

These guys had tinkered with a Russian plastic camera as well, albeit in more detail than the guys at lomography.com did at first with their Lomo LC-A's. They actually took it apart and tried to rebuild the thing.

Unfortunately, the Hipstamatic project never really came to mass market fruition, as there were only about 100 made. But now thanks to the people over at Iphone, the app is now available for some great analog fun.

I was only slightly aware that the film medium was coming back onto the scene since digital took over, but this app proved just how much. I began reading more about it, as I'm a big vintage buff anyway. Give me 60s and 70s classic rock any day of the week. I like kitschy motels, neon signs, road art, pinup fashion, you name it.

Then I stumbled onto the term "Lomography." Okay, what the hell is Lomography??? (Everybody asks that question.) I figured it must be a different way of taking pictures, a different processing method or philosophy. Then I found lomography.com after googling it. There you can learn all about this movement within photography, and also about their "Lomographic Society." They've opened lomography shops around the world and host social events for clients dedicated to this cult obsession.

Once I saw all the cross processed saturated, dreamy and multi exposed images I was intrigued and wanted to know more. This was NOTHING like I had experienced with shooting my Canon Sure Shot 35mm for 10 years. I had traveled the world with that thing and taken some great shots with it for sure with nothing more than Fuji Superia 400. But I had taken nothing like the neon goodness that lay before me splashed out on those pages. I wanted to know how to achieve that look without using photoshop.

Once my Canon wore out in about 2001 I think I had one more 35mm P/S that went kaput before I went completely digital and never really looked back.

Of course the pictures you see on the lomography website are not intentionally composed photos, but more like the "happy accidents" fans claim to get from their cameras. I read up on the LOMO, the Diana, the Holga...thinking "wow...I had no idea this is what you could create with such cheap cameras." No photoshop!

But I am also skeptical. Once I saw the prices for these cameras in their online store my jaw dropped. I could not believe that something as simple as a plastic camera could go for so much money now. But like many things that enjoy a resurgence, when it happens it inevitably drives up prices for those goods.

As I delved more about the history of the LOMO camera that came from Leningrad, I considered purchasing one based on what I had read about the minitar-1 lens and the story behind the factory. And also because in May of 1990, exactly 20 years ago, I went to the USSR on a 2 week student trip for college credit. One of our stops was Leningrad. I have lots of photos from that trip taken with my trusty Canon Sure Shot. Imagine if that camera had broken though, or I'd lost it, and had purchased a LOMO to use just like the Viennese did. Sigh....the memories of my trip started to come back. If only that could have been me lol....

It was then that I started scouring ebay for the authentic model. I even looked at some Smenas, Lubitels, other less expensive alternatives, but for the ease of operation, low light adjustment and unusual wide angle ability, I wanted the original LOMO.

I thought how nice it would be to own a little piece of Russian photographic history, and it does hold some sentimental and nostalgic value. Besides, what's wrong with going back to analog?

LSI has promoted the analog genre well to appeal to a new generation, and I'm sure camera stores are happy for the business to sell the film and develop the pictures, the few that are left. A whole generation has passed since digital entered the scene. So this is a GOOD thing. And the range of cameras they promote is great too. Notice I say the RANGE. The plastic Diana that sold for $1 in the 60s and used as giveaways is going on this site for at least $50 I think. It's not the most reliable of cameras. None of them truly are when you get right down to it. But that's part of the beauty of using a toy camera. You just never know what you're gonna get, to quote Forrest Gump.

Personally, I love the site. It has lots of things to keep you excited about getting out there and taking pictures. And I learned a lot about toy cameras and experimental photography that I wouldn't have otherwise. In fact, I am also interested in shooting b/w medium format photography with a Holga. That's something I've never done before. So I'm grateful for the movement. I would like to see it develop more in the USA. Right now the main interest seems to be Asia and Europe. New York and LA have LSI stores, maybe more will come.

(Lomo LC-A model made in Russia around 2000-2002)

The original LOMO was "the people's camera," something for everyone. A camera for the masses. The new LC-A+ is a lot more money, something I'm not willing to pay at the moment until I become more familiar with this and decide if it's for me.

I actually did find a good deal on ebay for a used LC-A. I received it over the weekend and will be using expired color negative film in it for awhile to see how it behaves. Then I will try some slide film and cross processing.

The lomowall parties look like a good time, and a good way to meet other like minded people that enjoy the same thing. But what is the message behind all of it? Is it social? Photographic? Philosophic? Fashion and trends? Maybe a little of everything, certainly with the economic goals in mind first and foremost. I watched the 7 part Lomography documentary on youtube, and it was really interesting. But it never really said how much photography experience the founders have. I guess it's more the business and marketing for them.

But I digress. Like I stated above, the lomography movement, albeit almost 20 years old, has renewed a creative interest for me, one that I intend to explore as cheaply as I can. Eventually I will need to purchase a film scanner, and delve into more expensive slide films to get the looks I want. Processing costs can eat up a budget if you aren't careful. Any time a person gets into any aspect of photography there will always be costs involved, whether you are aspiring for a pro status or just tinkering like me. But with my arsenal I should be set for awhile. And maybe down the road I'll play around with a Twin lens and a 3D camera.

Lomography has really been around since film photography began. Lots of artists have experimented with the exact same things these cameras can do. It just took these guys to find a weird Russian camera, bring it out of hibernation, name the movement and sell it.