Monochrome Monday; Old Truck

Abandoned Truck; Holga camera. (click to enlarge)

From time to time, I like to experiment with my photography and photographic tools.  For a while several years ago, I shot with a Holga camera, which I believe I paid $19.  B&H now sells them for $40 US. 

I bought one because I wanted to see what I could do with a cheap Chinese camera, plastic lens, very limited four-zone focusing (a person, two people, a group of people and a mountain; see below), light leaks (I had to tape the inside of the camera and Velcro® the back on to prevent light from leaking and this is very common) and heavy vignetting in the image corners.  There is not real aperture control only icons for sunshine and rain.  The camera takes 120 size medium format film and utilizes square image dimensions.  A very primitive picture taking machine, to say the most about it.

Needless to say this is not a Leica Q3 and you can't expect images to be sharp.  Leica quality is not why you buy this camera.  

Since I didn't have a darkroom at that time, I shot with Ilford XP2 chromogenic film, which is a color chemistry (C-41) film but without the color.  That way, I could easily take it to a store and have it developed.

Here is a link to an online PDF version of the Holga user's manual for more information if you are interested.

I shot quite a few rolls of film and had a good time seeing if I could make 'art' from a real crappy camera.  The above image is one.  I'll post more in the future.

This old, abandoned truck was located on U.S. Route 17 about 10 miles north of Tappahannock, Virginia.  I used to drive that highway regularly for work.  I ended up photographing the truck a few times.  This is the Holga version.

I had a good time experimenting with the Holga camera.  I still have it.  For those of you who may be interested, here are a few images of my Holga showing some of the "attributes" I described.

My Holga camera.  They make other, more 'sophisticated' models such as ones with a built-in
flash. Notice the Velcro® wrapping around the sides to hold the back tight to the body.
 (click to enlarge)

What you don't see is all the tape inside trying to prevent additional light leaks. (click to enlarge)

I want to point out three things in this image.  First, the sophisticated 'zone' focusing.  Second, the slide switch in the middle left of the camera.  That is your aperture control.  Sunshine or rain.  That was it.
Third, the film wind lever.  There is no interlocking mechanism so after you make your exposure
you have to remember to wind the film. Otherwise, you will easily make a lot of double exposures.
In the middle image, in the red window, you were barely able to see the numbers on the  paper
film backing as you wound the film.  (click to enlarge)

Even though the camera is a lot of nothing, I enjoyed the experience.  Anytime you can be challenged and meet that challenge, there is satisfaction to be derived.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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