On my bookshelf "Holga, The world through a plastic lens"

Title	Holga: The World Through a Plastic Lens, Lomography
Author	Lomography Society
Contributors	Adam Scott (photographer.), Lomographic Society International
Publisher	Lomographic Society International, 2006
ISBN	3902217065, 9783902217066
Length	305 pages

In this day and age more and more people are taking increasingly better photographs with the aid of auto focus, auto exposure and even you’re most basic point and shoot camera is better with each new model of camera that comes out each year. With the introduction of apps on mobile phones and the myriad of filters that they have to “spice up” ones photograph, they have the ability to recreate the analogue films of old. The photograph can be previewed and the effect tweaked. For many this helps them to be more creative, or at least feel they are being more creative.

Now personally I feel this takes some of the imaginative and creative moments, or thoughts, out of the equation. The creative part is sifting through the filters in Apps such as Instagram and Hipstamatic, to find the one that looks best. 

If on the other hand, you want to get your creative juices flowing then one needs to get hold of a basic, low tech film camera, normally made in china, with the most basic of functions. These cameras are also famed for their light leaks and often plastic lenses. For most this may sound like the exact opposite of what one needs to make a great photograph. Well this is where the “making” of a photograph really comes into play. These cheap cameras have limited shots whether it may be 16 frames on 120mm roll films or 36 on 35mmcassette films.  This forces one to slow down and think about what one wants to try to achieve in making the photograph. One can achieve an infinite variety of effects and they can be found by happy accidents and then one can fine tune these accidents to create all manner of photographs. 

If you are sat there thinking that you’re not sure about these cheap Chinese cameras then this book is definitely what you need to be reading, it will serve as a great eye-opener and introduction into this analogue world. If however you are already a user of analogue or are familiar what the whole Lomographic way of thinking, then you to will find this a great read as it is full of creative ideas and modifications that can be made to Holgas. 

The book comes in Hardback and is jammed full of gorgeously exquisite photographs taken by a vast array of photographers using the Holga family of cameras. There are 500 photographs in this book and a whole heap of illustrations showing hints and tips that will help one get more from your Holga. At first glance some of the photographs may look like they are wrong or badly taken but the more you get into the book, the more you will be drawn to this way of thinking and I am sure it will help you to enhance the other areas of photography that you may be interested in. All and all, this is a very well compiled, designed and printed book. This is a fantastic book for inspiration or as a coffee table read and conversation starter. 

This book gets a big thumbs up from me and I highly recommend you get yourself a copy, you won’t regret it.

If you liked this post you will like these posts ; Digital or Analogue ?

                                                                        What is Lomography?

Thanks for reading , please feel free to leave an comments or personal views on the Analogue vs Digital topic.

"Holga, The world through a plastic lens" can be purchased HERE

Written by Paul Casey Hemming 

@ Big World Picture Dot Com

Hover your pointer over left contents column then use your scroll wheel or button to view more posts.