Your first Holga film is scary! There are a lot of different things that can go wrong, and most of the time the results leave new Holga users seeking the answers to many questions. This post will help you to do the best you can on your first Holga film and avoid any basic mistakes that could happen.
1. Always Advance Your Film
Get in to the habit of advancing your film as soon as you can. Ok obviously later on you will want to experiment with double exposures, but learning this habit will be more help than it is a hassle.Advancing your film is the first thing you should do when you take a photograph with your Holga camera.
2. Check Your Lens Cap
A lens cap left on means that you will get a blank or empty frame, and this is not something that you want when you are paying out for your first ever Holga film!Either take it off and leave it at home, or make sure you take it off before every single shot.
If you plan on leaving it at home, don't throw it away though. It can be used for other interesting hacks.
3. Check Your Shutter Button
Turn your Holga camera over and check the shutter button. It should be over on the N side and NOT on the B side. I recommend placing a peice of tape over it so it doesn't move in your bag. Only use the B mode for long exposures.4. Check the Focus
Always check your focus before you take a photograph. Make sure your subject is the correct distance away, otherwise you will get very blurry photos and that is something that you definitely do not want!5. Remember the Viewfinder is Crap!
Remember that the viewfinder on the Holga camera isn't really that great.You should either use your eye over the top of the holga, or allow for the fact that it is slightly to the left when you are taking a photograph.
6. Check The Back Is On Safe
The back of the Holga has a tendency to fly off, so you might want to add some tape to make sure this doesn't happen. It could ruin a few frames on your first film, and no one wants that to happen!7. Finally....have fun
After reading these tips you will be well prepared for your first roll of Holga film. Take your time, relax and enjoy it. Don't worry if things don't come out the way you planned. It happened to us all, you are not alone.Come back and keep reading the blog if you feel you can get better results from your Holga. Its the best place to learn new tricks!
If you have any more tips, or would like to ask a question then please leave a comment below!
Hope it helps!
Labels: Film, Help, Newbies, Tips, Tricks
Durkin is a keen blogger and toy camera enthusiast from the UK that has been shooting for around four years. His main subject interests include Architecture, automation and nature.
