Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity Free

FREE PLASTIC CAMERAS: TOYING WITH CREATIVITY PDF

Elsevier prints its books on acid-free paper whenever possible. The Cameras. Recently, the following people have helped pave the way for this project to come into being. Several people assisted in the creation of this book. Leandra Darcy was assistant photographer wrangler. Mark Sink pointed me to many photographers, shared his archive and his endless enthusiasm. And Mary Ann Lynch most generously gave me photographers, history, advice, and her invaluable expertise in reviewing and editing the manuscript. Vashon Island, as always, warmed my heart. The contributors to this collection gave very generously of their images and their time, and wrestled with finicky computers to share them with me. B ATES. This was an image I made with my first Holga, for which I created my unique negative carrier to encompass the whole image. Skowhegan State Fair, Maine. Plastic cameras, such as the original Diana, its many clones, the Holga, and the dozens of other toy cameras available, appeal to a wide range of people. To some, they are a novelty; a cheap toy to play with. For others, they are a way to inexpensively get into medium-format photography. For many veteran photographers, they are a breath of fresh vision, allowing lightness and joy back into tired eyes. It was there that I created my vision through the plastic lens, aided by a cardboard negative carrier created to print the whole of a Holga image. The fun these cameras stimulate in photographers has led me to teach workshops to demystify their use and energize users into taking a Holga or Diana or Action Sampler out to play. It is a delight to give photographers permission to immerse themselves in Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity joy of photography without the stress of having to have the latest and most complex, expensive equipment, or even to know anything about apertures and shutter speeds. At the same time, working with simple equipment provides a fun. Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity begins with a history of the cameras and how they came to be the popular tools they are today. In Chapter 2, and Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity the book, are images by the 33 contributing photographers, to whom I am grateful for their participation. The work represented here crosses the worlds of fine art, commercial, fashion and documentary photography, photojournalism, and portraiture. The photographers work in black-and-white and color; they tone, handcolor, digitally manipulate, and combine their images. They exhibit them, publish monographs, and use them for advertisements and in newsweeklies. In other words, photographers do the same things with a camera that costs about as much as a couple of movie tickets as they can do with any other camera. Chapter 3 is a guide to some of the most popular plastic and toy cameras from the past and today. From there the book is a guide to photography with the Holga, with lots of information that can be used for shooting with other low-tech cameras as well. Finally, the Resources chapter provides you with a wide selection of websites, books, magazines, and galleries, where you can see more plastic camera images, get information, shop, and meet like-minded photographers. Putting this book together has been a wonderful experience. There were the moments of giddy excitement during the process, like when I spread out the hundreds of thumbnail images of all the work contributed to the book and started to pick what would go where. What a joy to be in the presence of so much great photography and have the pleasure of putting it into print! Courtesy of Robert Mann Gallery. Welcome to the low-tech, yet high-spirited, world of plastic cameras. Toying with Creativity is your guide Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity a camera experience far from the complexities of hightech equipment. Even better, the images you make can proudly take their place alongside photographs made with the most sophisticated cameras and lenses. The ways plastic cameras have managed to infiltrate the world of photography over the past 40 years have surprised even their champions. New photographers are attracted to them for their affordability and high fun factor. For experienced photographers, these featherweights offer a break from more demanding cameras. Some even go on to adopt them into their arsenal of cameras. Even commercial photographers have taken the Holga or Diana on as part Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity their stash of equipment, often publishing plastic camera images without even a mention of their humble origins. Plastic cameras are a surprisingly inexpensive way to get into photography. And for old pros, well versed in the most technical of equipment think heavyphotographing with a Holga can be like flying, re-infusing photograph with the thrill lost over the years. So-called reverse technology also has the power to bring people together, almost the opposite of the often competitive world of photography. Communities have sprung up among plastic camera aficionados, resulting in a multitude of projects, from group exhibitions, web sites and forums, to World Toy Camera Day, involving photographers from throughout the world. On-line bulletin boards and websites, such as the original toycamera. The Lomographic Society has taken this community-building to its extreme, drawing together hordes of photographers in various countries via its website to take part in carefully crafted photo games, whose completion are celebrated with all-night revelry. Although Holgas may be somewhat better quality than Dianas, their essentials are similar: both cameras are a sort-of lighttight box with a simple shutter, plastic lens, and few exposure adjustments. The selection of cheap toy cameras taking 35 mm, or other size film, continues to expand, and toy digital cameras are a snazzy new addition to the market. As long as these cameras and the required film are available, no photographer ever need be Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity an image- making Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity. In this climate of more money, more megapixels, and more complexity, all-manual plastic cameras provide a lifeline to photographic fun, a creative outlet for inspired artistic vision, and an antidote to the tyranny of Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity. Where did these toys-turned-serious photographic tools come from? Diana cameras first appeared in the US in the s. They were manufactured by the Great Wall Plastics Company in Hong Kong, and sold for anywhere from sixty-nine cents to three dollars. With three apertures, one shutter speed plus bulband three pictographic focus settings, the camera is Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity a box for holding film and letting in a little light. Originally stumbled upon in Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity by curious photographers, Dianas were Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity discovered by educators at university photography Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity, including Jerry Burchard at the San Francisco Art Institute and Arnold Gassan at Ohio University. By adopting the Diana in their beginning photography classes, they immediately leveled the field of equipment for their students. Using these simple cameras, students learned the same skills in composition and. Because both their cameras and the film were cheap, the students were encouraged Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity shoot with abandon. Dianas in hand, students and faculty alike loosened up. Dianas had appeared on the scene at a time when photography was expanding its reach, just beginning to Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity accepted in the academic and fine art worlds. They fit right in with the cultural explosion of the times, in music and the arts, and the photographers who turned to the Diana came at camerawork from a broad range of perspectives and experiences. InThe Friends of Photography in California put together The Diana Show, a juried exhibition that attracted over one hundred entrants. The Arrow, Banner, Dories, and several dozen other Diana clones continued to be made, usually in a shade of blue similar to the Diana, but in varying degrees of quality. The last of the line, the Lina, ceased to be made in the late s, but. My thanks to them and Mike Barnes for information Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity in this chapter. For the Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity modern plastic camera photographer, we are currently in the Holga Dynasty. Holgas were invented by Mr. Lee, and introduced in by Universal Electronics, Ltd. This was shifted a little, for easy English pronunciation, to Holga. After a few years, 35 mm film caught on and the Chinese demand for the larger format fizzled. As their popularity grew, imports increased, surprising even their manufacturers. Bysales had increased to 10, a year in the US, and they currently sell overper year worldwide. Bymore than 1, Holgas had been sold. These days, Holgas are still an international hit. Even in the digital age, plastic cameras are keeping their foothold a bargain at just one percent of the cost of my new digital camera. Selling around the world on websites and in camera and specialty stores, museum shops, and catalogs, they have escaped their predicted faddish demise every year since I bought my first Holga, in The line has since evolved and expanded, to include models with a bulb setting, tripod socket and color flash, but the basic unit is still the same shell of a camera. In some ways, Holgas are even simpler than Dianas. The focus ring has little figures to represent approximate distances, while Diana and her clones have actual distance numbers. The Diana has one image format, which creates 4 cm " 4 cm images on film. Holgas offer the options of two formats, either 6 cm " 6 cm squares, or 6 cm " 4. When Mr. Lee discovered this, he was Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity, and ordered the counter switch to be glued to sixteen, forcing use of the smaller format. Luckily, he reconsidered, and with a simple adjustment, one can have a choice of the smaller rectangles or the vignetted squares, which Mr. The Diana-F line sports a dedicated detachable flash, while the Holga comes with either a Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity flash or a hot-shoe, for connecting any modern flash unit. The Holga SF was the first camera with built-in flash, and its current versions may still be the only cameras with Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity feature. More details on both cameras Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity in Chapter 3. The Lomographic Society which even has Lomo boutiques has played a huge part in this, creating an atmosphere of photographic giddiness around their flagship LC-A glass-lensed camera, as well as their newer creations of multi-lens toy Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity. In the States, Holga distributor Freestyle Photographic Supply has championed the Holga cause, offering a Holga enlarger and other accessories within the realm of affordable equipment. See Chapter 3 for a rundown of plastic cameras past and present. Coming up next in Toying with Creativity is a selection of some of the best and most innovative work with Dianas and Holgas, from the very beginnings to the present. First Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity, swing it around in the air and give a cheer for the joy of our simple but lovable toys! In-camera double exposure. Some of the photographers in this section shoot exclusively with their plastic camera of choice, while some keep them as just one tool in their array of camera equipment. Some are champions of low-tech photography, while others publish their images without calling attention to their source. Images here have been used for fine art, advertising, to communicate the news and humanitarian crises, and to spread joy through the magic of photographic imagery. What all the photographers have in common is a natural talent for creating beautiful photographs, and a passion for their work. You can find more about all these photographers through links in the Resources section. Plastic Cameras, and Toying with Creativity - Photographs by Michelle Bates | LensCulture

Uh-oh, it looks like your Internet Explorer is out of date. For a better shopping experience, please upgrade now. Javascript is not enabled in your browser. Enabling JavaScript in your browser will allow you to experience all the features of our site. Learn how to enable JavaScript on your browser. Take a tour of the burgeoning world of plastic cameras and low-tech photography in this fun and funky guide to creating the most artistic pictures of your life! Whether you're an experienced enthusiast or toy camera neophyte, you'll find this guide full of tantalizing tips, Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity facts, and absolutely striking photographs taken with the lowest tech tools around. You'll learn how to prep your plastic camera, their advantages and quirks, and what film to feed it. You'll also explore what makes a good subject, vignetting, multiple Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity, panoramas, close-ups, night photography, color, flash, problems and solutions, and so much more. Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity Bates also takes you from a negative to either prints or pixels so that you can show off your photos and jump on the toy-camera revolution! Since then, she has used these plastic cameras for everything from fine-art to editorial to commercial photography. Her work has won several awards and been published on numerous web magazines, included in toy cameras exhibitions worldwide, and printed in many magazines. She also guest lectures nationwide, and was a featured speaker at the Society for Photographic Education's NW regional conference in With her history of creating toy camera imagery and activity in the national and international toy camera communities for well over a decade, Michelle Bates is a well-known and respected name in the field. Show More Table of Contents. Learn to love your plastic camera's quirks and make artful images. Read an excerpt of this book! Add to Wishlist. Temporarily Out of Stock Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity Please check back later for updated availability. Overview Take a tour of the burgeoning world of plastic cameras and low-tech photography in this fun and funky guide to creating the most artistic pictures of your life! About the Author Michelle Bates has been playing with Holgas since Show More. Plastic cameras toying with creativity by Andrea Bigiarini - Issuu

Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity problem. Return to Book Page. Preview — Plastic Cameras Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity Michelle Bates. Take a tour of the burgeoning world of toy cameras and low-tech photography with Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity. Whether you're an experienced enthusiast or toy camera neophyte, you'll find Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity chock full of tantalizing tips, fun facts and, of course, absolutely striking photographs taken with the lowest tech and simplest tools Take a tour of the burgeoning world of toy cameras and low-tech photography with Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity. Whether you're an experienced enthusiast or toy camera neophyte, you'll find Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity chock full of tantalizing tips, fun facts and, of course, absolutely striking photographs taken with the lowest tech and simplest tools around. I got me a Holga. Now What? Holgas need a little TLC before they're ready to go out in the world and start snapping. Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity digs through all the different Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity models available, lays out thier advantages and quirks and helps you get up to speed on all the prep you'll need to do to jump in on the toy-camera revolution. What should I Feed my Holga? Holgas, Dianas, other toy cameras can use many types of film. Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity, lays all their pros and cons on the line letting you get some images you want, and some you could just never imagine. Can Holga come out to play? Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity help you steer your way through all the details and quirks of taking wonderful and weird pictures with your toy camera. We'll explore possible subjects and the best way to shoot them and play with all sorts of techniques from vignetting, to multiple exposures, to panoramas, close-ups, movement, Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity photography, flare, flash, color and more. For the Intrepid Holga-ographerFor the Holga master, we've diagramed and described advanced toy camera modifications and introduce you to a variety of problems, solutions and inventions born from toy cameras' "limitations. From negatives to prints or pixels, we help you navigate your post-shooting choices. We'll look beyond the Holga to show a whole wide world of toys. Denis;-p r a b u! Get A Copy. Paperbackpages. Published September 1st by Focal Press first published January 1st More Details Original Title. Other Editions Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Plastic Camerasplease sign up. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 3. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Start your review of Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity. Shelves: adviceartcomputers-technologyeducationhistoryhumorphotographyreferencetravelwar. Bates, who has used a Holga for the past 20 years, provides a good overview of the history and the work that can be created from these cheap, nearly entirely plastic cameras. As she notes in the introduction to this second edition, much has changed in the world of toy Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity photography. More exhibitions and competitions have emerged as a result of the renewed interest in this family of cameras, and medium format film remains in production, despite the continued decline of film photography. While Bates does cover many of the processes involved in film photography and film processing, do not expect technical discussions on f-stops, ISO, and the like. May 11, Rebecca McNutt rated it liked it. Great little coffee table book, but it was that alone; much of it consisted of more photos than text on how to get these same results in your own cameras. I'd recommend it more as an art book than as a photography guide. Excellent book about the Holga and about Toy Cameras in general but still mostly about the Holga. It is entirely made out of plastic, the lens as well, and the build quality is crappy at best. But the Holga has the ability to produce mind-blowing unpredictable surreal images and therefor it has attracted the attention of photography students, hipsters and professional photographers alike. The book Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity Michelle Bates is a joy to read. Everything you always wanted to know about the Holga and about photography in general as well, because as any good book about any gear it reminds you of the basics of photography as well. Heavily recommended! This is the first edition. There will be a second edition shortly. I for sure will buy the second edition as well! Really good book about plastic cameras! Its little bit focused on Holgas, but also about for example Processes and Presentations and it includes a Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity of pictures. When you shoot since a longer time with plastic cameras, you will know a lot of what you find in this book. So 4 stars if you know much about plastic cameras and 5 stars if you are a newbie. Nov 26, Drew rated it it was ok Shelves: nonfiction. An Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity coffee table book pictures are great. But, most of the text covered ground I was already familiar with. I think that anyone who picks up Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity Holga today probably did some research likely online where there's dozens of great sites devoted to toy cameras. Nonetheless, was fun to look at and I'll be keeping it on my shelf. Chock full of detail and ideas for photographing with toy cameras - or homemade cameras. I loved this book for the demystifying of how to get excellent results with cheap lenses and cheap cameras. This Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity also contains profiles and portfolios of artists who use these cameras for documentary and art photography. Well worth the cover price. May 22, Ietrio rated it did not like it Shelves: junk. This is an ecstatic sermon to the believers. Put all the materials involved and the digital starts to become cheap and time saving. As for creativity, the camera seems to do all the work and the human becomes a glorified camera support. Oct 02, Chang Shu rated it really liked it Shelves: tore-read. Good to have all the information in one place. Extensive biblography end reference lists I wish it have more info on the Diana. Anyone know whatever happened to Mary Ann Lynch's "Photography through a plastic lens: Diana and her siblings"? Hope Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity book is coming out soon Oct 01, Stephanie rated it it was amazing. This is the perfect introduction to toy cameras. Not only because it describes different types of toy cameras, but it also offers credible opinion and regarded artistic examples. This is a good spring board into Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity world of toy cameras and affordable medium format options. Jul 31, Zinzi Graham rated it liked it Recommends it for: Amateur lomographers. A good introduction to lomography for beginners. Avid lomographers will most likely won't take much if anything new away from this book however. Dec 29, Frank Deschain rated it really liked it. It doesn't really have too much text, but I'm just trying to reach my year-end count. It's a great resource for Diana and Holga enthusiasts. May 29, Tom Hammer rated it really liked it. Inspiring introduction to the artistic world of plastic cameras. One downside: some technical issues could be explain in greater depth. Jan 29, Sally rated it really liked it Shelves: crafty.