For the Love of a Toy Camera (guest post)
Monday, July 4, 2011 at 6:00AM I'm taking a little summer beak through mid-July. During this time I'll be hosting some great guest bloggers and sharing some of my favorite posts from The Word Cellar archives.
Today's guest writer is Vivienne McMaster. Viv is a fabulous photographer who always has generous words of encouragement for me as a photography newbie. She knows how much I love my Diana F+ camera, so she wrote this fun post about toy cameras just for us! (All of the photos in this post are hers.)
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It is so lovely to be here at The Word Cellar while Jenna is away.
I thought that since Jenna takes such fabulous photos with her Diana camera that I would share a bit about toy cameras with you today.
When I got into photography years back, toy cameras were one of the first things I was drawn to. I loved how simple and unpredictable they were. While I was seeing so much fancy photography online, but not yet at a skill set where I could create it, this kind of photography where there was room for mistakes felt really appealing.
It was before the time of apps and iPhones, before you could mimic any toy camera with your phone. As much as I am a total iPhonography addict, there is something truly special about these cameras. There is nothing like getting a roll of film back and seeing what incredibly unique shots we can create with them!
You'd be shocked how much of the digital effects in apps these days are based directly on Toy Cameras.
A few of my favourites include the Holga, Diana, Fisheye, and Lubitel, but there are also so many more types of toy cameras you can get creative with!
Let's go old school film style today and talk about the real deal.
Here are some of my favorite things about toy cameras:
They are Cheap
Okay, yes, when you go to Urban Outfitters they surely aren't cheap to buy. That is true. I encourage you to keep your eyes open for them in thrift stores. I have found a few that way!
They are actually really cheaply made. That is a part of their charm! So many of the things that are great about them exist because they are a piece of plastic. No glass, nothing fancy. I love how something really so simple can create such incredible images.
Some of them are more contemporary in their creation, but others are more historical. The present Diana cameras, for example, are based on a camera from the 1960s that companies gave out as a promotion or sold for very cheaply at carnivals. How fun is that!
Vignettes
Many toy cameras have a vignetting effect where there tends to be darkness emerging into the photo from the corners. This is something that folks often add to their digital photos, but this is the real deal!
Double Exposures
One of my favorite parts of Toy Cameras is that you have to wind them yourself, which means that often you forget to and you accidentally double expose your photo. Often these mistakes make the best images!
Of course you can also do it on purpose. Double exposing is another thing I love to do digitally, but even better to do it film style with your toy camera!
Light Leaks
Due to the fact that they are cheaply made, they often create light leaks. With cameras like the Holga you are recommended to put put tape around the edges to prevent light leaks. Or you can invite them in for some very cool effects!
Shooting from the Hip
Many of these cameras are not actually intended to be shot with you looking through the viewfinder. This puts a wide smile on my face. They are meant for you to "shoot from the hip" literally. They are great for taking photos where you don't want to be obvious about it. This makes them perfect for street photography and adds a really unpredictable element to them. I love that.
It's Unpredictable & Experimental
Toy cameras are perfect for perfectionist photographers in that they don't at all allow for perfectionism. Pick up a Toy Camera and you will be invited to step into the unexpected and unpredictable.
They are light, easy to tuck into your camera bag and a ridiculous amount of fun.
Lomography
When you hear about toy cameras, you often hear the term Lomo or Lomography along with it. It originates from a certain type of camera but has grown to be a term used for this genre of photography.
Lomo is all about experimentation, documentation, creativity, and playfulness. Doesn't that make you want to join in?
You don’t need to be a fancy photographer to use a toy camera. That is part of what drew me to it. Often one's mistakes make for the best photos, which makes it feel really accessible. All you need is a playful spirit to try a toy camera. Sure, you can do all of this with an app these days but I encourage you to put down your iPhone and give them a try.
If you'd like to know more about the cameras, here are a few resources I adore!
Lomography
Four Corners Dark
ToyCamera.com
Photojojo
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Vivienne McMaster is a photographer and leader of the You are Your Own Muse E-courses. At present she is running a brand new e-course called Light Hunters, which is a light, summery adventure that will surely make you fall in love with light. It starts this Friday, July 1st!
p.s. I'm so excited to be teaching online with Viv this August! We'll be joined by Liz Lamoreux for Emerge, the premier Live it to the Full class. I invite you to join us as we share stories and tips on navigating life's transitions using creativity (including photography, writing, and mindfulness practices). The course is designed to give you bite-sized pieces of inspiration that you can fit into your busy schedule. And it's just $49! (Sweet!)
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