Jelly Lens.

My jelly lens came today :)

I bought the starburst one (although I bought it from this seller on ebay, so it's actually green)

I haven't really used it much yet but I'll tell you what I think so far. I'm not overly impressed. Yes it fits well on the back of my blackberry (although I not with a case on because it sticks a little too well), but the back cover doesn't stay attached very well so it's going to quickly lose it's stickiness. You can't use the zoom while it's attached.

I haven't really taken many photos yet so I don't know how well it performs, but the photo below is a quick example. It does blur the edge slightly in a quite nice effect, but it's not really very noticeable. I think I need to try it in better lighting, with something actually in the background so you can see the effect it has.

However, it was ridiculously cheap. So even though I can't actually attach it to my phone because I don't have the two little holes (I'm sure they have an actual name) that the lanyard loops through, it's kinda fun and because it's cheap you can play around with a few different ones. I like the way they all look together, so I might be persuaded to buy some more in the future!

[I'll update this when I've taken some proper photos!)

Plastic Cameras - Michelle Bates.

Another book for the wishlist :)

Reviews

"Following the success of the first edition, the second edition makes Plastic Cameras even more comprehensive and up to date. This book provides extensive how-to information to get you started and a new section on alternative processes for the advanced photographers. This ultimate guide is also packed with many inspiring photos by world renowned Holga artists such as Sylvia Plachy, Michael Kenna, Thomas Michael Alleman, Brigitte Grignet, Christopher James and many other additions." - Holga Inspire Newsletter

"This volume brings together the world of toy camera photography, including the history of their use, exhaustive instructions, tips and tricks for getting the most out of Holgas and other choice cameras, advanced camera modifications, darkroom and presentation information, and resources for continued research and sharing." - Photography Blog

From the Back Cover

Take a tour of the burgeoning world of plastic cameras and low-tech photography. Whether you're an experienced enthusiast or toy camera neophyte, you'll find Plastic Cameras chock full of tantalizing tips, fun facts and, of course, absolutely striking photographs taken with the lowest-tech and simplest tools around.

I got me a Holga.  Now what?

Holgas need a little TLC before they're ready to go out into the world and start snapping. Plastic Cameras digs through all the different Holga models available, lays out their advantages and quirks and helps you get up to speed on all the prep you'll neeed to do to jump in on the toy-camera revolution.

What should I Feed my Plastic Camera?

Holgas, Dianas, and other toy cameras can use many types of film. Plastic Cameras lays all their pros and cons out on the line letting you get some images you want, and some you could just never imagine.

Can Toy Cameras Come Out to Play?

Plastic Cameras will help you steer your way through all the details and quirks of taking wonderful and weird pictures with your toy camera. We'll explore possible subjects and the best way to shoot them and play with all sorts of techniques from vignetting, to multiple exposures, to panoramas, close-ups, movement, night photography, flare, flash, color and more.

   

Fysal Amirzada

These stunning photos are by Fysal Amirzada (fysalamirzada on flickr).

Fysal describes his process: 

“The film was soaked [in lemon juice] after exposure, given a few days to dry, then I hung it up in a blacked out room in my basement for about 12 hours, then just developed at wal-mart”

Fysal used a disposable camera to take the photos, and soaked the whole camera in the juice from real lemons.

We love the colours and tones of these photos, especially the hint of yellow light in the last one. Check out the full set here.

Hannah has a film ready to go so she will be trying this herself later on today, so after drying and developing time she should have something to show next week :) keep an eye out!

LOMO Action Sampler Review.

Ok so this is the Action Sampler camera I have:

(bought here)

I've had one film developed so far. I'm not sure about the results, I mean I like how they look but I don't think they really capture the "action".

It's very easy to use, it has a [pretty pathetic] "viewfinder" on top that you lift up (it's really just a square but of plastic, hollow in the middle!) It makes a very strange noise when you take the photo, sort of like a grinding, it's just very loud!

I love this one:

No action at all, but it's from the end of the film, hence the lovely light leak. 

You can just about see the fish move in this, they were moving pretty slowly at the time.

You can see some movement in the seals.

A slight issue I've found with this camera; several of the photos from this film have finger marks in the way. The odd thing is that it's not in all 4 pictures, and it's not in the last one, where you would expect it, it's usually in the first and third sections. This strikes me as a bit odd, I mean how did I manage to get my finger in the way for those sections but not the others!? The photo takes really fast so it's not like it's because of the time it's taking the photo. Very weird.

I guess you have to be shooting something that's moving really fast for this camera to shoot properly. It may just be because I don't think this is a real Lomography camera, I got it off ebay. So maybe stick to an proper version from Lomography or Amazon.

LOMO Action Sampler.

Information from Amazon:

35MM CAMERA WITH FOUR BUILT-IN LENSES THAT CAPTURE FOUR SEQUENTIAL PHOTOS WITHIN EACH FRAME OF THE FILM.

Action Sampling: one shot - a series of four images.The ActionSampler is an incredible 4-lensed photo-photo-photo-photo camera that neatly dissects a second into four parts and then re-assembles them to create something entirely new. The right camera for the right situation. A camera for capturing action moments.One click: a four-picture series on one print. No focusing, fixed aperture, no shutter-speed, simple technology and a great idea: The ultimate photographic challenge. Uses any 35 mm film which can be developed by any photo laboratory.

Details

- Lens: four sets of 26 mm single element sequentially operated lenses focus range: fix-focus from 1.2 metres to infinity

- Shutter: Shutter speed 1/100 second, Exposure intervals 0.22 seconds per frame and 0.88 seconds in total for four frames in a sequence on each negative.

- Film to be used: Takes any 35 mm

Examples of how photographs look from this camera:

The Action Sampler comes in a whole variety of colours and variations:

Buy it now from Amazon:

     

     

Hannah has one of these cameras (the pink one at the top!) so she will review it properly for us later.