Charlie's WorldLomo #fail
Posted on March 7, 2010
Regular readers may recall that Jay and I bought a couple of Lomo cameras last year – I got a Diana Mini and Jay got a Supersampler.
Well, as I mentioned, the Diana is shocking – the film hard to load, it gets jammed, the focussing ring is too small and the film strips on rewind. I have a film stuck in there at the moment – it refuses to move forward. Epic #FAIL.
We had similar trouble with the Supersampler – it’s a bugger to load, shredded the film on rewind but redeemed itself with excellent photos. I loaded up another film and took it to Melbourne – I’ll get the shots developed in the week, but I have every confidence they’ll be pretty cool.
It was a shit to get the film out though and a little metal tag thing inside had come away and scratched the film surface – fooook!!!
Then the next film would not load at all. It kept tearing the film no matter what I did.
So both cameras are going to go in the bin. Stupid arse things.
I’m ordering a Superheadz Golden Half next week – hope its better than the Lomo ones!
girl on film
Posted on March 6, 2010
An homage to the missus. Taken with the Holga and (mostly awful) Diana Mini.
looking good, wifey 🙂
films are back
Posted on February 18, 2010
Been sat on the latest lot of films for ages and I finally posted them off last week to get developed
I’ve been dreading it a bit – as I had a couple of Holga back opening incidents and the Diana Mini has frustrated me endlessly. Jay had a couple of films in there too, including from the equally brilliant and irritating Supersampler.
I popped up on the train to the lab after work and picked the shots up and had a natter with the lady who works there. Churchill Colour Labs – to give them a plug – do a great job and have an excellent gallery in their shop.
So, the results – as usual, the Holga irritates and amazes at the same time – I think this latest set of mine were less good than the last batch, but there were some interesting shots none the less.
And I’d forgotten I had the first shots from the new Holga wide-angle pinhole – they were underexposed, but then its a hit and miss thing with manually timing an exposure for 10 seconds. Is that under ideal light, or the light I have in front of me. Add a bit for luck and still not enough. Ah well, all good fun.
So, a taster of Holga goodness for you eager beavers
Footbridge over the Kwinana Freeway looking towards the centre of Perth
lights at the B52’s gig
(also captured here with the phone camera)
Taken with the Holga pinhole wide-angle camera – a little under exposed, but I love it none the less. Wide angle is AWESOME!
More pics to come in later posts, including from the Diana Mini (which overall disgraced itself, but there were a few corkers in the bunch)
down south, part 2
Posted on January 24, 2010
Continuing from part 1, we had a quick drink in the very posh cafe at Bunker Bay and then went round the corner to Eagle Bay, which is a very small little neighbourhood full of lovely expensive summer houses, Range Rovers, a brand new Porsche Panamera and million dollar for sale hoardings.
Eagle Bay itsself was beautiful with a white sand and even bluer sea than in Warnbro where I live or Bunker Bay that we’d just come from.
Am so going there again, it was quiet and unspoiled, even on a weekend in the height of summer with Australia day just 3 days away. There were lots of other little bays and places that would be worth exploring later in the day when the light was golden – particularly on the other side of the peninsular – Canal Rocks and Sugarloaf Rock being two very popular places for photographers. Save those for another time when we have somewhere to stay for the night 🙂
We mooched back to Dunsborough for some coffee, but even at 4:30pm on a busy Saturday, most places had already shut or were shutting. WTF, Australia? I see this so much and I really don’t get it. After a day on the beach or out exploring, who wouldn’t want to come back for a snack/coffee/cake/etc before dinner later. Apparently that message was only heeded by The Dome, so we headed there for a drink before we went home.
We drove through Busselton, which quite frankly was nothing much at all – the highlight is the huge mile long jetty, but that closed last year, leaving a fenced off eyesore and basically sod-all else. Some naked girls/young women skinny dipping and wrestling in the sand was pretty much the highlight (much to the delight of some passing teenage boys who were busy picking their jaws up off the floor..). Even the beachside water park/theme park thing was closed and neglected.. Took a few piccies with the Holga Pinhole Wide angle camera, forgot to take the damn lens cap off though – meh! thats 2 shots out of 12 that will be black.. *sob*
By this time Jay was feeling tired having done all the driving (she always wants to drive, so I get to be shotgun with the cameras) and wanted to go home and as she was driving and we had a long way to go, we headed off..
And that bit will be in part 3..
more holga goodness
Posted on November 4, 2009
so, some of the other half – temptingly tasty shots with the Holga and Trip 35.
These were taken in yee olde towne of York, WA. We only took film shots whilst we were there – so its good that a few came out well then 🙂 I’m going to have to either calibrate the scanner or buy a decent negative scanner – I’m not so convinced after all about the colours from the the Trip 35 set. Maybe I should use more black and white :))
I think this one was taken at the train station on the way up to the Perth Art gallery and to see Kevin Ballantine’s awesome Holga exhibition at the Spectrum Project space.
glossy
Posted on November 1, 2009
The only trouble with the latest batch of films is they are printed on glossy paper. It makes them look beautiful, so sleek, rich and deep, but they pick up fingerprints like a brand new black iPod.
Anyway – I’ve scanned them all in now, Holga and Trip and I have to say, I’m really happy with them. No post processing on them, only on a couple just to correct some slight washing out from the scanner, not to enhance the final result.
The Olympus Trip 35 shots that I was disappointed with initially have scanned from the print really well and come out with a definite vintage feel that I didn’t pick up from the print itself. Maybe its something in the scan process, they look very close to the prints to me, but somehow have picked up a little magic on the way.
The Holga shots were wicked, and I’m finally digging black and white – I might have to buy some more Tri-X and shoot off a load more
mixed bag
Posted on October 30, 2009
The films were an interesting bunch.
The Olympus Trip 35 shots were almost too good. Sharp, clear, well exposed, consistent. So we have a load of pictures that look like good but general snapshots. This was the most arty of them. I’ll scan more this weekend.
The Holga shots were a mixed bag, well, mine were – Jay’s black and whites were brilliant this time. Mine were variable, some were awesome and you’ll get to see them soon I promise. Some were also a bit crap – dark and under exposed due to the film I was using. Velvia 100 really only works in the bright mid-day sun – I have Portra 400VC in it now, which will be perfect for more general conditions.
I also had an old black and white film in the now broken Olympus OM10 and there were a couple of cracking shots in that lot.
more to come this week
fil-ums
Posted on October 30, 2009
Just got a call from the lovely people at Churchill Colour Labs where I get my films developed to tell me that our latest batch are all done.
As luck would have it, I’m in Perth and just around the corner from them today, so I’ll pop over and pick them up.
So, faithful followers, whoever you all are, be prepared for some photos over the next week or so.
I shall drip feed them if I can bear it! Its gorgeously sunny today and I have the Holga again – might be dropping off another film at the same time. I can’t believe I took the one out of my bag from yesterday now! gah!
picture taking
Posted on October 2, 2009
so, after yesterday’s post – I have finally finished a 24 shot roll in the Trip 35. I’ll send it and the upteen rolls of 120 film off to be developed on Monday – hell, I might even take them in in person.
Was a busy work day – the car was playing up as the garage somehow stuffed up tightening the new alternator belt – they sorted that quickly whilst I waited, not that they had much choice, I just handed them the keys and plonked myself in the reception with my laptop (had to do some urgent work).
Jay went out getting lots of craft stuff for the kids today, so they had a making stuff afternoon which they really enjoyed – so did I, glad not to have the noise of the Wii in the background whilst I’m trying to work!! .
Took some shots at the beach this afternoon too – I havent done that in ages, so its nice to get some more photos. There’s a really annoying purple fringed spot on my shots with the Nikkor 50mm though – have no idea why, it only seems to be there at f16 and over.
So thats today, I have red wine and I’m going to chill – photos to follow
dammit
Posted on October 1, 2009
Still havent managed to finish a film in the Trip 35. I must go out and take more photos with it or I’ll never see what it can do!!
Usage wise – it was a star at Araluen and in Perth when I took it out. Simple, focus and click. And its so light. I think I’ll get some Ilford black and white and take it everywhere.
Still hankering after a Diana Mini 35 though – 1/2 frame 35mm lomo.. *sigh*
If only my car (see the beast below) hadn’t just cost $900 to service. Can I get it serviced cheaper and still maintain the warranty, thats the $million question.
kia sorento
Charlie's World 