How I Motivate Myself To Use My Holga

Ever get into one of those zones where your just don't feel like picking up your Holga for months on end?

Well don't worry because its a perfectly natural feeling and it happens to us all. The key to overcoming these phases in your Holga photography is to motivate yourself to get out and use it again. That's easier said than done though.

I would like to explain some of the methods that I have used over the years to get myself buzzing about my Holga again. Hopefully, if you are stuck in one of these ruts, this will help you to climb out.

Trying a New Experiment

The Holga is one of the best cameras in the world for experimentation. Take a look back at your work and think about all the things that you haven't tried. Have your tried double exposures? How about panoramic shots, 'Pinholgaing' or 35mm film in your 120 Holga?

The Holga is so flexible, but its up to you to utilise it for what it is. Try a new hack or technique and get yourself interested in it again.

Recently I've been playing around with some panroamic work, and although its not perfect, Its really got me wanting to burn film again. Check out this shot I took of my house. I know the subject is boring but the motivation to use my Holga is back!




Change Your Scenery

From time to time, I walk around my local town and I just feel bored. I look at interesting features and think, "Woah I have like 5 pictures of that already." So what should I do about it? Well its quite easy to conclude on this subject. I need to go somewhere else and take some pictures.

I snatched at the opportunity to visit London with my girlfriend so quickly that I think I actually scared her a little.

Piccadilly Circus proved to be an interesting subject.



Change Your Film

I looked through my Flickr photostream the other day and concluded that there was a severe lack of color. As a result I got hold of some 35mm colour film and went out with my Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim. Ok so its not a Holga, but what it did do is inject some life back into my photostream and make me appreciate different film types again.

Have a look in your local online store and see what films you could try out. Change to colour or shoot some black and white. You never know you might get some fantastic results.

Here is one of the shots I got back from the Vivitar:



If you have any tips of your own I would be more than happy to hear them. Please leave any feedback that you might have as well.

Thanks for reading and I hope this post helped.

Labels: Motivation, Tips