Cross Processed!

It's been awhile since I've done any film shots with slide film and this time, I tried using cross-processing. Pictures were taken on Fuji Velvia 100 slide film but processed as normal negative film to give it weird funky colours. I love the results and I think I'm gonna do lots more cross processing from now on.












My personal favourite. Love the funky colours on this one.

On the same day, I also took pics using my trust Nikon FM2, again on slide film. All pics shown here were taken using the tack sharp Nikkor Micro 55mm f/2.8 lens, a superb lens for closeup work. However, the results were totally different, being more grainy with the colours being rather bland. Perhaps it's the film type, Konica, if I am not wrong.













My personal take, I love my Nikon FM2 and definitely will want to use it a lot more these days. Nothing beats the tactile feel of film so I have sent in my old Nikon lenses for servicing. I am now also considering switching to Nikon for my DSLR so if anyone is looking for a well-maintained, less than 2600 shutter count Canon EOS 350D with battery grip. Canon remote switch and kit lens, do let me know.

New Holga 120N

I sold my previous glass lens Holga, the 120GCFN. It gave me loads of interesting shots but I wanted something more, so I got me the basic N model, which uses a plastic lens, no flash but has a hot shoe.



Some of my friends asked me why I gave up the GCFN which comes with glass lens, built-in flash and colour filters for red, blue & yellow flash. It is so I can use an external flash, which I've owned since my Nikon FM2 days and need not buy a new flash. The Nissin 5200 GTE flash has to be attached via an adaptor, which I also use for my DSLR since that does not come with a PC sync attachment.


YAY!!!! Guide Number 52 power!!!!! Comes damn close to my DSLR's Metz!!!

As for what those strips of velcro at the side of the camera body are for, they're so I can seal up any extreme light leaks and also acts as a protective padding against accidental bumps and knocks or the film back from popping open and destroying the whole roll of 120 film. The padding also gives me a nice grip on the camera body, which is rather plasticky and thin. I also gaffered the front area to cut back on any light leaks though I suspect that's probably not necessary.





Besides the 120N, I also got 5 rolls of Shanghai BW GP3 film and a fisheye attachment for the Holga 120 series of cameras.

I just shot off my first roll of black and white film. I will get the results back on Wednesday. I am so looking forward to seeing the results of the Fisheye Lens attachment.

Holga! At last!

I have often toyed with the idea of getting into Lomography but never quite got round to it for several reasons. Then, prices of an entry level camera were quite high, and not many places were stocking Lomography cameras.

Lately, two of my students got me interested again when they showed me some pics they took using their Holga cameras. I was hooked and decided there and then I would get one.

They recommended me a Holga 120 series, which in layman terms, takes medium format film. Some research revealed that being a popular brand for Lomography, Holgas had a wide range of accessories available, including 35mm adaptors and filters for their 120 series cameras and there are even several mods available for the base level Holga 120!

I was in two minds whether to get the cheaper plastic lens version or the glass lens version but in the end, one of them suggested the glass lens version, since it was afterall, going at a cheaper price of $75 at InQ Box Suntec. Thanks for the headsup guys! So off to InQ Box at Suntec I went, to put my money down for the Holga 120GCFN which stands for G(glass lens), CF(Color Flash - built in flash with four different color filters for the flash, red, green and yellow as well as the standard white), N(night mode or Bulb mode where the shutter remains open as long as the shutter release is pressed down)

I got a roll of B/W film from a colleague at a throwaway price and the moment I got my Holga, I loaded the film. It's been a long time since I've used film and this is the first time I am using a medium format.

Further reading revealed some minor home modifications one can do to seal up the Holga from light leaks. I am however, going to take my first roll au naturel before sealing it up with gaffer tape or black velcro.

Here it is, straight from the box in its all plastic glory.



I can't wait to develop my first roll of B/W but I am also prepared for the quirkiness of a Holga in that every shot is an experiment!

Random thought of the day - Ansel Adams once said, a good photograph is knowing where to stand.