It's funny how a toy camera like the Holga can become such a big thing. I bought my holga in 2002 for $10!! What is it now....$80?! Its a fun little camera to shoot with and its light. I just wish I use it more often. Hhmmm... why don't I? I love that you can do multiple exposure on this camera.
Photography
ISO1600
I have more film cameras than digital right now. Unlike most people I'm traveling backward. If I want to get better at photography I need to take more film. Two years ago I found a Canon Canonet G-III 17 QL at a second hand store. I quickly bought it for $25, not knowing if it was still functional. I bought a roll of fuji 400 to try it out and to my surprise it works! Though the shutter button was very sticky and was the main reason why I stopped using it. Some time last year my dad gave me his Nikon F3, two lenses and a flash. The shutter sound just sounded so awesome and the camera is very heavy. I bought three rolls of Fuji Velvia 50 and three rolls of Fuji 400. I didn't want to waste the Velvia 50 so I practiced with the 400s. The problem I had with the F3 was that its all manual. Every time I had to guess the shutter speed and aperture. Without anything auto, most of the photos I took were underexposed. So finally I bought a used Nikon N8008s. I was interested in shooting black and white with ISO1600 films. It's definitely tricky to shoot at night so it was important for me to have a camera that will tell me if I the right exposure or not. I kept looking at the back of the camera every time I snapped a photo.
See the rest here.
Matt & Phae
Finally....FINALLY they're getting married. They are 2 of the most wonderful, warm and brilliant people I know. They have truly become my 2nd family here. They constantly amaze me with their intelligence and creativity and their ability to consume large quantity of alcohol. Their ideas have helped me solved many of my problems and have sparked so many ideas for me. I still remember that day when I sat next to Phae because we both picked a blue circle. Who would've thought we become such close friends. Also thanks to her for getting me my current job. I really don't dare to think what I would be doing if I didn't stay here after grad school. I owe her a lot. As for Matt, well because of him I have come to appreciate Pabst, weird things on tv and on the internet and how to talk nonsense constantly while riding the subway. The me today is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay different from the me of 5yrs ago and I believe a large chunk of that is because Matt & Phae. I will do my best best as your wedding photographer.
Thank you.
*cries
Beauty In All
What photography has taught me is the ability to see the beauty in everything. A chair, an open field, even garbage can be beautiful. I feel as the older I get, time flows faster and I need photography to slow me down. We miss so many things in life because we just don't notice. Photography also taught me to appreciate "normal" more. Normal meaning everyday life. Things you think aren't worth documenting or not exciting enough can be exciting and beautiful. It's really how you shoot the photo.
Sometimes I think I would teach a photography class. First lesson I would give everyone a disposable camera. I want to teach them composition before going technical. As for the second lesson, go find something boring like a tree or a flower or a trash can and make it look interesting. Learning about shutter speed or white balance or aperture are important but those you can learn from reading books.