Holy Diana! You Guys Seen Light Leaks Magazine?

CameraQuest · 01-06-2008

I happened upon a really neat well done Toy Camera Magazine site, http://www.lightleaks.org/ for "Light Leaks Low Fidelity Photography."

You can download a preview copy from
http://www.lightleaks.org/current_issue.html Click PREVIEW

Many of you may know about Light Leaks, but it was new to me and I was happy to find it. The current issue has a feature on the new updated Diana, the "Diana +".

I don't know though. They aren't talking about the latest $6,000 Noctilux and the joys of the latest full frame digital wonder camera. I mean, are they still talking about real photography? (yes, I'm kidding).

Stephen

sooner · 01-06-2008

Thanks for providing this link. I perused the preview, and it's fun--there are some nice pictures there, for sure. I'm beginning to think I need to get a Holga or Diana for my son, and then once he's hooked steal it away and give him something more "serious."

Mike Ip · 01-06-2008

Thanks for the link. I just looked at the preview issue, I think something like that is neccesary to bring back the fun of photography when you forget how fun it can be at times. I recently shot a roll through my holga, curious how it ended up.

CameraQuest · 01-08-2008

bump.

I like the photography in the Light Leaks preview download a lot, reminds me of Sally Mann.

with some Leica nuts spending $25 grand for small bag of Leica gear in their quest for ultimate sharpness, it's very refreshing for me to see a group of people going the opposite direction towards unsharpness and a different idea of image quality.

Stephen

chikne · 01-08-2008

Is this camera fitted with a noctilux?

Seamus04 · 01-08-2008

I've been aware of this magazine for a bit and find it's perspective (and photos) refreshing especialy considering Stephen's point about the sometimes insane quest for sharpness...

Jim

whitecat · 01-08-2008

I think the Dianas are fun. You must try one. More fun than the Holga. I did want to get thier magazine but very expensive.

eric · 01-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by CameraQuest

I happened upon a really neat well done Toy Camera Magazine site, http://www.lightleaks.org/ for "Light Leaks Low Fidelity Photography."

Stephen

Been a member with toycamera forum for a while and I've had my Holgas since '89 or or '88 or so when Zone VI was still selling them. I have a battery of toy cameras at home but with prices of film going up, I tend to use my 120 film on my other cameras. I tend to put outdated or cheap film that I buy on CL on my toy cameras.
The light leaks bug me, I tape up my toy cams all over. I like them for the lenses, not the leaks.
Everyone needs to try it and see what its like to shoot with 1 lens. I go through HCB's Retrospective book and he only shot with a 50mm. I tend to pick a camera body and 1 lens when I go out. If I can't take a good shot with that combo, I should give up.

MickH · 01-08-2008

I love it!

Here's another website I enjoy along the same lines.

http://www.onetwoseven.org.uk/

Sadly it doesn't seem to be updated very often. I'm searching round for some reasonably priced 127 film for my Kodak Vecta. I haven't used it since I was about 10, so am expecting some interesting results.

chambrenoire · 01-08-2008

I've had pictures published in several issues of Lightleaks, even had a showcase in #7! Great little magazine, well worth the price. Shooting less toycams now and more RF and MF.

mtbbrian · 01-28-2008

I wrote the "Paint Your Holga" article. I'd love to hear what any of you thought of it.
Thanks!
Brian

crawdiddy · 01-28-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by chambrenoire

I've had pictures published in several issues of Lightleaks, even had a showcase in #7! Great little magazine, well worth the price. Shooting less toycams now and more RF and MF.

Black room-- is that you, Mattia?

Nice piece!

shadowfox · 01-28-2008

I just have to disagree...

I think even with $10,000 worth of Leica gear we can still produce good quality images...

no?

JoeV · 01-28-2008

I've enjoyed lurking at Toy Camera Forum, and have seen the download version of Light Leaks magazine (which is published by the Toy Camera Forum folks.)

Sadly, Toy Camera Forum is now locked out for just lurkers; you have to join up in order to read the postings. I'm not so sure that I'm comfortable with this new business model; there's a certain satisfaction in being able to read forums for 'free' without trading your email information. The internet wouldn't be the same if every website demanded a valid email address before you could enter.

Back on topic, I love the look of many of the images created by toy camera shooters; reminds me of "Shots" magazine in the old days, when they had lots more toy camera images than they do now.

~Joe

chambrenoire · 01-30-2008

Correct! Thanks

Joel Heffner · 02-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtbbrian

I wrote the "Paint Your Holga" article. I'd love to hear what any of you thought of it.
Thanks!
Brian

I knew that Randy Smith of HolgaMods.com painted Holgas and never even thought about customizing it myself. Thanks for the Idea.

Joel

PetarDima · 02-05-2008

Stephen you are first camera seller* which I know* who is talking honestly about personal point of view, my compliments. This is lesson for a lifetime!
Be creative,
be creative,
be creative!

Best regards, all best from
Vlad.

sirius · 02-05-2008

I'm not sure, but I wonder how many Leica nuts there are in the world these days? I know there is a "rangefinder renaissance" but I suspect there is a large growth in photography in general now that digital point and shoots are becoming ubiquitous. I suspect that the rangefinder user-numbers are actually dwindling in comparison to the masses.

The global market may keep the medium alive but it's getting rather irrelevant. IMHO, it's only a matter of time before the silver bullet point and shoot comes along that incorporates all of the advantages of rf's and satisfies a professional photographer's needs.

sirius · 02-05-2008

Thank for the link! There are some lovely images in there and there is a refreshing lack of preciousness about the equipment.

kuzano · 02-05-2008

Anybody else have a GS645 for sale with the original bellows (read leaking light)

lZr · 02-05-2008

I like the Holga and Diana look, but prefer the Lensbaby output

vdonovan · 02-05-2008

I didn't pay much attention to the Holga/Diana phenomenon until my local lab had a juried gallery show of toy camera work. I was stunned by what I saw, intense levels of creativity.

I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon, but I'm always inspired when people push boundries and achieve beauty.

Todd Frederick · 02-05-2008

In the 1970 and 1980's I threw these cameras in the trash bin when they came my way. Now I throw myself into the trash bin looking for them.