My newfound formats

Film has been my modus operandi since I got into photography; I didn't shrug it off for digital like it seems 99% of the rest of the world has. Even so, I find I'm playing catch-up to a lot of traditional methods. I think starting out at Freestyle got me out of my medium-format-and-Ilford-HP5+ rut I've been in for years (not that I have anything bad to say about it). I admit, change was in the air along with the seasons, and I took up 2 old-school methods I'd never done before: Polaroid and Holga.

My Kings Canyon polaroids were the 1st in this new adventurous experiment. I'd never used much Polaroid,hadn't shot one in years. Just from a couple exposures,I got the feel of the instant film's liberations and limitations. Apparently distance is everything :P



Next was Descanso Gardens nearer to me, in La Canada Flintridge (the 2nd longest city name in the U.S. There's some trivia for you. And yes,I know the 1st,but you're just going to have to Google it!) I had a better concept of what I could do with the medium now,and think I got better results because of it.


I also have to say another reason I took up Polaroid was that I heard the company had decided not to make the film anymore,and I was horrified I'd let the simplest of film formats pass me by all this time. So now the film almost twice as much $,so twice as precious for every frame. I find myself taking no less care composing an image than I would on one of my "serious" cameras. Each composition now has to be worth something.

The other one I took up was the Holga. I always considered myself anal in regards to my photos,and I wasn't sure I'd be able to let go and enjoy the unpredictable format. I was really surprised to get my 1st roll back and find that I liked the 'messed up' photos the most.



I'm still obsessed with shooting both,particularly the Holga. I love not knowing what to expect on each roll. Highly recommended for anyone who needs to lose control once in awhile.