Analog Visions

Columba liviaPioneer Square, Seattle, WA, November 2011 Shot...

liquidnight — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:03:39 -0700

Columba livia
Pioneer Square, Seattle, WA, November 2011

Shot with a Diana F+
Kodak Ektachrome E100G

FractureDiscovery Park, Seattle, WA, March 2009 Shot with a...

liquidnight — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:21:03 -0700

Fracture
Discovery Park, Seattle, WA, March 2009

Shot with a Holga 120CFN
Kodak Ektachrome E100G, cross-processed

They speak in rustles, creaks, and whispersForest Park,...

liquidnight — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:01:44 -0700

They speak in rustles, creaks, and whispers
Forest Park, Portland, OR, May 2013

Shot with a Diana F+
AgfaColor Portrait 160, exp. 10/93

Fragile RealmCapitol Hill, Seattle, WA, March 2009 Shot with a...

liquidnight — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:02:28 -0700

Fragile Realm
Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA, March 2009

Shot with a Holga 120CFN
Kodak Ektachrome E100G, cross-processed

Radiant SpireForest Park, Portland, OR, May 2013 Shot with a...

liquidnight — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:00:57 -0700

Radiant Spire
Forest Park, Portland, OR, May 2013

Shot with a Diana F+
Fuji Tungsten T64, cross-processed

Dream Span III Crystal Springs Rhododendron GardenPortland, OR,...

liquidnight — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:18:06 -0700

Dream Span III

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
Portland, OR, April 2013

Shot with a Diana F+
Fuji Tungsten T64, cross-processed

Closing InColumbia River Gorge, Multnomah County, OR, March...

liquidnight — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:00:35 -0700

Closing In
Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah County, OR, March 2013

Shot with a Diana F+
Kodak Ektachrome E200, expired 12/98, cross-processed

Autumn CasualtiesLone Fir Cemetery, Portland, OR, November...

liquidnight — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:35:30 -0700

Autumn Casualties
Lone Fir Cemetery, Portland, OR, November 2012

Shot with a Holga 120N
Kodak Ektachrome EPP 100, exp. 06/96, cross-processed

You probably get this question quite a lot but if you could choose between the Diana F+ and the Holga 120n what camera would it be ? I'm quite interested in going into film photography and I don't know if i should go for the cheaper option or invest in the Diana. Thanks

liquidnight — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:43:23 -0700

So much of the fun for me with this sort of photography is flying by the seat of my pants and trying not to overthink what I’m doing. I just want to enjoy myself and create photos that interest and please me. That being said, I think there are two different ways to approach this:

Both cameras produce wonderfully dreamy images and seem to have their own personalities. I began with the Holga simply because one was given to me. The Holga, unless you choose to cover all of its seams with electrical tape, is fraught with light leaks, which the Diana generally is not. Some people may find the resulting light leaks frustrating to start with or, if you opt for the taping, a time-consuming hassle to prevent, particularly when you need to switch out your film after only 12 shots. I began by taping up my Holga, but found that I enjoy the light leaks, which vary in severity from a gentle presence to all but obliterating the image I shot. So now I don’t tape it at all. But if either the taping or the light leaks sound irritating to you, you may want to start with a Diana.

To me, while you can buy adapters to mount different lenses and colour filters on it, the Holga feels like a simpler camera compared to the Diana, which immediately presents you with a variety of different lenses. All those lenses are wonderful options to have, as is the 35mm film adapter, but I could see how those options might feel overwhelming at the start. So the advantage that I see to beginning with the Holga is that I think it allows you time to focus on experimenting with different types of film and finding your preferences there before introducing the additional options that come with the Diana’s multiple lenses, film adapters, and so on.

I now tend to carry three different film cameras with me at any given time. I carry a Holga 120CFN, a Holga 120N (which I use for black and white film), and a Diana F+ (along with its assorted lenses and flash and so on). It may sound like a lot, but it all fits snugly in my camera bag, along with a handful of film, and enables me to have colour film, black and white film, and the Diana with a wide-angle lens mounted on it as my default (because the Holga’s field of view is small compared to the wide-angle options available for the Diana) all ready to go.

TL;DR: I consider Holga to be a simpler starting point than the Diana. You’d start out with just a camera and whatever types of film you fancy before progressing to experimenting with different lenses and still more types of film as well.

I hope this information is helpful for you and, whatever you decide, I hope you have fun.

“Travel only by day. And stay off the road.”Forest...

liquidnight — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:01:53 -0700

“Travel only by day. And stay off the road.”
Forest Park, Portland, OR, April 2012

Shot with a Holga 120N
Fuji Tungsten T64, cross-processed

In the Presence of GiantsColumbia River Gorge, Multnomah County,...

liquidnight — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:15:54 -0700

In the Presence of Giants
Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah County, OR, March 2013

Shot with a Diana F+
Kodak Ektachrome EPP 100 Plus, exp. 08/89

Sylvan VisionColumbia River Gorge, Multnomah County, OR, March...

liquidnight — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 18:00:40 -0700

Sylvan Vision
Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah County, OR, March 2013

Shot with a Holga 120N
Kodak Ektachrome E100VS, cross-processed

Under their watchful gaze Crystal Springs Rhododendron...

liquidnight — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 18:00:18 -0700

Under their watchful gaze

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
Portland, OR, April 2013

Shot with a Holga 120N
Kodak Ektachrome E100G, cross-processed

Lothlórien IForest Park, Portland, OR, April 2012 Shot with a...

liquidnight — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 18:12:57 -0700

Lothlórien I
Forest Park, Portland, OR, April 2012

Shot with a Diana F+
Kodak Ektachrome E200, cross-processed

Dream Span IIColumbia River Gorge, Multnomah County, OR Shot...

liquidnight — Fri, 31 May 2013 18:30:42 -0700

Dream Span II
Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah County, OR

Shot with a Holga 120N
Kodak Ektachrome E100VS, cross-processed

Let your mind go and your body will follow Crystal Springs...

liquidnight — Thu, 30 May 2013 18:30:04 -0700

Let your mind go and your body will follow

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
Portland, OR, April 2013

Shot with a Holga 120N
Kodak Ektachrome E100VS, cross-processed

Shared Journey Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, Portland,...

liquidnight — Wed, 29 May 2013 18:30:05 -0700

Shared Journey

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, Portland, OR, April 2013

Shot with a Holga 120N
Kodak Ektachrome E100G, cross-processed

The Leering UndeadMural by EgoSeattle Street Biennale, Seattle...

liquidnight — Tue, 28 May 2013 18:37:07 -0700

The Leering Undead
Mural by Ego
Seattle Street Biennale, Seattle Center, September 2010

Shot with a Holga 120N
Kodak Ektachrome E100VS, cross-processed

(View more artwork by Ego)

Taur-nu-FuinColumbia River Gorge, Multnomah County, OR, March...

liquidnight — Mon, 27 May 2013 18:00:59 -0700

Taur-nu-Fuin
Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah County, OR, March 2013

Shot with a Diana F+
Kodak Ektachrome EPP 100 Plus, exp. 08/89, cross-processed

Little Girl LostStayton, OR, April 2013 Shot with a Holga...

liquidnight — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:14:50 -0700

Little Girl Lost
Stayton, OR, April 2013

Shot with a Holga 120CFN
Ilford Delta 400, exp. 11/03