How NOT to make a Holgarama

[Max P D]

Here's my first attempt at making a Holga panorama.

I found this cool how-to site at Toycamera. Obviously, one of the tricks to making a successful Holgarama is keeping the horizon straight. :blush2:

Also, my technique of advancing/overlapping the film didn't seem to work out very well (used the arrow positioning on the winding knob as suggested in the tutorial).

So, all you Holga fanatics, any advice?

Thanks,
Dan

[mtbbrian]

As I know you know there is a certain element of luck to using a Holga.
My first attempt was all about luck:




My second attempt wasn't so good:


My first question is where in the roll were you when you did this?
In my experience, I have found that you need to do a "Holgarama" in the first four frames, because you will get huge gaps inbetween the exposures as you go along.
But this doesn't look like that obviously?!
I am guessing you didn't advance it enough?
Did you do do it the 34 clicks like it says in the instructions?
Tell me what you did when you were out photographing.
Brian

[Max P D]

My first question is where in the roll were you when you did this?
In my experience, I have found that you need to do a "Holgarama" in the first four frames, because you will get huge gaps inbetween the exposures as you go along.
But this doesn't look like that obviously?!
I am guessing you didn't advance it enough?
Did you do do it the 34 clicks like it says in the instructions?
Tell me what you did when you were out photographing.
Brian

Brian,

The neg says it's the 7th frame. I'll keep the "first four frames" rule in mind.

I didn't count the clicks, I used the graphic provided at the Toycamera link I gave. Again, I'll keep that "34 clicks" rule in mind.

After shooting the first frame I side-stepped a bit to the right of my intial spot. It looks like I didn't hold the camera at the same height, though. That's about it.

I have a question about something you wrote, "I am guessing you didn't advance it enough?" I'm assuming you meant I advanced the film too much?

This is all great info Brian, thanks so much! :thumbsup:

Thanks,
Dan

p.s. I see what you mean about your second image, but they both rock.

[adina]

Okay, I love these how they are. I don't think I'd like them as much if they lined up.

I've got a roll of film in my holga from last summer, just need to remember to get it developed. Although mine always look like crap anyway...

[mtbbrian]

Although mine always look like crap anyway...

Then get out and use it more!

:thumbsup:
Brian

[Max P D]

I thought these cottages might make a cool Holgarama. (I shot this through a moving vehicle zooming down the highway so forgive the power lines.) It's about 80-miles from my place so it's not too far away.

[mtbbrian]

I thought these cottages might make a cool Holgarama. (I shot this through a moving vehicle zooming down the highway so forgive the power lines.) It's about 80-miles from my place so it's not too far away.

Go For it!
I see lots of potential!!
:thumbsup:
Brian

[Max P D]

Okay, I love these how they are. I don't think I'd like them as much if they lined up.

I've got a roll of film in my holga from last summer, just need to remember to get it developed. Although mine always look like crap anyway...

Hi Adina,

Sometimes it works when the frames line up and sometimes, um, not.

And sometimes, somebody gets it right, whether it was planned or not.

I'm sorta hoping the artist who shot this might offer some advice...

Best,
Dan

[Max P D]

Go For it!
I see lots of potential!!
:thumbsup:
Brian

Glad you see hope for me Brian! So what's your secret to producing these fine masterpieces you've already graced us with? You know, besides what you've already told us...

Best,
Dan

[megan]

Funny, I was going to chime in just about now anyway. Um - honestly? I followed the advice on Toycamera.com as well! Heh. Except I go a little more freeform - you can see in the first and last frames that I zoomed in on the face and on the seashell. Honestly, it was trial and error. I shot at least five rolls to get this one shot. There are some versions where I didn't advance enough and she's so compressed she looks like a pygmy. It's kind of funny. This was shot in 2005, and I seem to remember that I didn't count clicks, but I advanced the film one turn? Or 3/4's of a turn? Honestly, whatever it said in the toycamera forum. Megan

[Max P D]

Thanks for your input Megan!

Dan

[mtbbrian]

Glad you see hope for me Brian! So what's your secret to producing these fine masterpieces you've already graced us with? You know, besides what you've already told us...

Best,
Dan

LOL Dan..
To be honest with you, these two that I have graced you with were done two years ago, and I haven't done any since.
Try counting the number of clicks, 34 and see what happens.
I look forward to seeing what you come up with!
Brian
:thumbsup:

[Max P D]

Do you guys use your Holgas with the mask in place or did you remove it? This may make a difference when trying to overlap film frames.

Also, I've noticed a lot of other Holga photos are sharper than mine. It could be partly a focusing error on my part or maybe because I'm just jerky (pun intended). Just wondering if removing the mask effects the focus on the film plane...

Thanks,
Dan

[megan]

I take the mask out as soon as I get a Holga. They block out the good stuff!
Don't know about the sharpness - maybe others are using the Woca with the glass lens?
Or just sharpening in Photoshop?

[mtbbrian]

I buy my Holgas from www.holgamods.com, so I use the cut mask that Randy makes.
Stay away from the WOCA, it's not the same in my book.
The "S" is my preferred model, but the N "will do"...
Brian

[megan]

I agree with you about the WOCA! Plastic lens, all the way...

[Max P D]

Hmm...

This is gonna take some time to sort out.

Lately, like Megan, I've removed the included mask. The vignetting and overall image has improved but sharpness has also been an issue.

Like Brian, I used a modified mask in my early Holga days, but despite wet sanding to the cut edges, scratches showed up on the negs. So I went mask-less...



Dan

[Max P D]

So I guess the number of Holga users on PR.com is only about four shooters?

MtbBrian, Megan, Adina, and myself?

That can't be right.

I mean, the camera only costs about $20.

We need to recruit some more Toy Camera shooters!:arf:

Best,
Dan

[megan]

Matt Lit might be around here somewhere, bringing it up to 5...

[mtbbrian]

There are a few others that occassionaly post Holga stuff here.
photophourous(Sorry Paul), Herriott, two name two others...
And I even more "claim to have Holgas"...
Brian