HOLGA Background: The Holga camera is an all plastic camera that takes 120mm size film—almost 3 times as large as 35mm film! This funny looking camera has been around for about 30 years and has a large following of photographers who love the unpredictable low-fi results. Directions: For this assignment you will be shooting a roll of film with the HOLGA, developing the negatives, printing a contact sheet, and at least one photo in the darkroom. To begin you’ll need to understand a few important items about the camera: • To take photos you will press the lever

on the right side of the lens. Once a photo is taken you will need to advance the film to the next frame. As you wind, watch in the red window at the back of the camera. You should see a number that tells you which frame you are on.

• Each roll of film only has 12 shots, so once the camera is loaded with film, so don’t shoot until you have your subject in range. By looking at the camera you can see the lens and the viewfinder are not the same as the Pentax K1000 that we studied in Photo 1—so be sure you adjust as needed so you don’t cut your subject’s head off.

• To focus the camera choose a setting on the lens—the single person is 3 feet, the next is 6 feet, the next is 9 feet, and the mountain is 30 feet or infinity.

• In addition, you will need to set the camera to the sun—not the flash. • On the bottom of the camera, but sure you are set on the “N” for normal, not the “B”. The “N” will give you a shutter

speed of about 1/100th of a second. The “B” will hold the shutter open for as long as you hold the shutter release—this would work for longer shutter times (like night photos or blur).

• When all the photos are taken, continue to wind the film until you no longer see the numbers, paper, etc. in the little red window. At this time bring the camera back to class, so the film can be removed for processing.

Processing: This step includes only three changes from regular 35mm film. First, the film is wrapped in paper, not held in a metal canister. While in the changing bag, remove the film from the paper, just unroll it and pull it loose from the paper. Second, the film is larger, so you will need to expand the white reel to hold the film (do this before you start with the black bag process). Third, since the film is larger (taller) than 35mm film, you will need 16 ounces per chemical. Time and agitation are the same as 35mm film. Printing: Once the film is dry, get a 120mm negative sleeve. Use the light table to measure how many frames will fit into each row; then cut accordingly. Label your negative sleeve. Make a contact sheet in the darkroom. Use enlargers 6-14. For the prints, you will need to use a 120mm negative carrier. In the darkroom, use only enlargers 1-5 as these are the only ones with the proper lens to print a 120mm negative. Review the steps to make a print if needed. If a filter is needed, be sure to use one. Hand in the following items:

• 120mm film in negative sleeve • contact sheet • 1 or more prints • Film self-evaluation

HOLGA

HOLGA

Examples courtesy of Mr. Carl Shutoff – Now retired Edmonds SD Technology Guru

HOLGA

Student contact sheet examples