Holga

The Holga camera is an all-plastic child's toy camera that creates beautiful, ethereal photographs. Holga picked up a cult following among photographers and photo enthusiasts following it's introduction in the 1980's. It's known for it's lack of precision, light leaks, happy accidents, and the fact that each Holga is slightly different than the next. The plastic camera allows the photographer to focus on the  feeling of the image and the scene in front of them and not rely on the perfection that is so often afforded the common photographer and her camera. Holga is often known as the Diana camera's little brother--Diana was an all-plastic camera famed in the 1960's  for it's low-fi, ethereal quality images. Both cameras are celebrated for creating art images with a toy camera. 

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What am I learning: Different alternative photography techniques: Holga “plastic” camera

Why is this important?: To learn different forms of photography outside of the usual or expected techniques

When will I know I am successful?: When I have explored and photographed with the plastic camera to create dream-like photographs

Assignment:
You must photograph an entire roll (12 square frames) using the Holga camera.  You are not limited on shooting one subject but definitely photograph outside as there is not enough light for indoor photography. Holga can take beautiful portraits so don't shy away from portraiture with this wonderful plastic camera. The idea behind this assignment with the plastic camera is to take away your ability to control everything and force you to have more fun with your photography. Allow the accidents (happy accidents) and see what you can create. Christopher James talks all about the idea of play in photography in this article about plastic cameras.   

Steps:
• TAPE YOUR HOLGA, it will leak light and you will be sad. :(
• Holga only has 3 focal lengths (one person, three people, and a mountain range) to choose from but they can help to get a clearer image depending on what you are photographing. 
• Holga also has two aperture settings, sunny and cloudy being approximately f/11 and f/8, but only one shutter speed of 1/125 second so you want bright overcast or open shade shooting conditions if possible...and I'm not entirely convinced that the switch actually does anything at all.  
• You also have the option of putting your Holga on a tripod and shooting with the B (bulb) setting for beautiful night photography (especially fun in the rain) but make sure it is set to N (normal) for all other shooting conditions.