Tuesday, July 26, 2005
A couple of days ago I read an article by Mark Sink on the Diana camera, which is similar to the Holga camera in that they are both all plastic and looked at his website.
Also, I looked at images fromNancy Rexroth's book "Iowa" that were taken with a Diana camera in 1970-76.
I don't know what happened, I got real bummed out about Holga photos. I guess I thought, great, people have been taking this kind of picture for decades, what am I doing it for. Maybe because it's so trendy now. Maybe because I thought I was doing something different. Maybe because sometimes I think it's gimmicky or too easy. I don't know. And I know that people have been using the Diana camera for a long time and that I'm not doing anything new or groundbreaking. But it kind of shook me up. Anyway, I'm fine now, I still love, like, tolerate, adore my Holgas.
Even the pinhole camera is in a resurgence and it is the oldest form or photography.
Here's a pretty cool comment about the Diana camera which applies to the Holga now.
"The Diana questions many photographic axioms, such as "a photograph must be sharp," "a photograph must have maximum detail," and "a photograph must possess a complete range of tones to be considered good." The Diana challenges the photographer to see beyond the equipment and into the image.
"This camera also is easy to use. There is no need to use a light meter or to calculate shutter speeds and f-stops.
"Finally, the Diana summons up the Dadaist traditions of chance, surprise, and a willingness to see what can happen. This lack of control can free you from worrying about doing the "right" thing and always being "correct." Since the Diana is a toy, it allows you to look and react to the world with the simplicity and playfulness of a child."
--Hirsch, Robert, Photographic Possibilities, Boston: Focal Press, 1991, pp. 141-3.
Also, I looked at images fromNancy Rexroth's book "Iowa" that were taken with a Diana camera in 1970-76.
I don't know what happened, I got real bummed out about Holga photos. I guess I thought, great, people have been taking this kind of picture for decades, what am I doing it for. Maybe because it's so trendy now. Maybe because I thought I was doing something different. Maybe because sometimes I think it's gimmicky or too easy. I don't know. And I know that people have been using the Diana camera for a long time and that I'm not doing anything new or groundbreaking. But it kind of shook me up. Anyway, I'm fine now, I still love, like, tolerate, adore my Holgas.
Even the pinhole camera is in a resurgence and it is the oldest form or photography.
Here's a pretty cool comment about the Diana camera which applies to the Holga now.
"The Diana questions many photographic axioms, such as "a photograph must be sharp," "a photograph must have maximum detail," and "a photograph must possess a complete range of tones to be considered good." The Diana challenges the photographer to see beyond the equipment and into the image.
"This camera also is easy to use. There is no need to use a light meter or to calculate shutter speeds and f-stops.
"Finally, the Diana summons up the Dadaist traditions of chance, surprise, and a willingness to see what can happen. This lack of control can free you from worrying about doing the "right" thing and always being "correct." Since the Diana is a toy, it allows you to look and react to the world with the simplicity and playfulness of a child."
--Hirsch, Robert, Photographic Possibilities, Boston: Focal Press, 1991, pp. 141-3.
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