Feature Photographer - Wallace Billingham

It's my pleasure to introduce you all to Wallace Billingham - I'm sure many of you have seen his work before but if not, you are in for a treat!!  I've been admiring his infrared Holga work for a long time and am grateful that he agreed to do this interview!  Trust me, you will enjoy it (especially the question about weird/difficult situations he's been in!  Talk about dedication!).

 How did you get introduced to your first Holga and how long have you been shooting?

I have been doing photography for about 25 years now. During that time I have shot with just about every film format from 110 to 8x10 large format. I even worked as a pro for a long time doing both weddings and events and freelance/per diem work for several newspapers. I got my first Holga about 10-12 years ago I don't really remember exactly when. I did not really seriously start using one until about 5 years ago now.

What is it about the Holga that draws you to it? Why do you shoot with it?

I was first drawn to it when I saw some quirky photographs made with one online in the late 1990s. I got a Holga 120S probably from Freestyle as I order a lot of stuff from them and have for a long time, anyway I shot a few rolls with it and did not really think about it again for a long time. Around 5 years ago now I really wanted to start a project of shooting water features from the vantage point of being in the water. As you might imagine setting up in the water is a very bad idea for most cameras, however since they are so cheap I figured with a Holga it would not matter if it got wet. I first started shooting with Kodak Tri-X and Ilford HP5 using ND filters for extra long exposures with moving water and after a few rolls I knew I was on to something. I was however not very happy with the tonality I was getting. Shortly after that Freestyle introduced Efke IR820 Infrared film in medium format back to the North American market after being not available here for several years. I got 10 rolls to play with and hundreds of rolls later I am still playing with it as I really like the tonality.

Your Infrared photos are simply stunning - could you tell me a little bit about using infrared and how you go about your shooting process?  What are some challenges you face using infrared as opposed to regular black and white film?

When I first started shooting with IR film in a Holga the first major difficulty was that there was next to no information about doing so anywhere, and what info I could find was often times incorrect. I wasted my first 5 rolls or so just trying to make it work and figuring out exposure. I have since written several articles for magazines and websites about doing it and it is much easier to find out all the ins and outs from a technical standpoint these days.

As far as my shooting process goes, I have been a landscape photographer for a very long time. I used to do it with a lot of LF gear. Working with LF gear teaches you to work very slow and deliberate making the most of each shot. I still work that way with my Holgas today. I very carefully frame my shots and will not trip the shutter unless I think it is going to be a good photograph. The biggest difference with using IR film over regular B&W is that the current IR films are very, very slow when used with IR filters. Of course I want slow film for long exposures anyway so it is not really an issue for me. IR film also gives you a very different tonality than you get with other films which takes some getting used to, you also never really know how much IR light is in any given scene. I have done it enough now that I can make a pretty good guess as far as exposure goes. However if I think it is going to be a good photograph and I am unsure of the exposure I will often times bracket and make 3-5 or more exposures of a scene. One big plus with using a Holga for my work is that since they are so cheap I often times carry 5 or more with me in the field. That way I do not have to worry about changing film in the field. I have changed film in the field many times however and despite what you read as long as you are not in full sun it is not a problem changing IR film outdoors.

Is it difficult shooting around lakes and rivers? What are some weird and/or difficult situations you've gotten yourself into in order to get a shot?

I am sure many people would find it very difficult to shoot like I do being in the water. I guess I am crazy and think the harder it is the more fun I have. I will often be right in the middle of a stream and set my heavy tripod up right in the middle of the water. I am in the water year round and with the help of insulted chest waders have no problems entering streams in the middle of winter when it is well below zero. I will often spend 15-30 minutes setting up for a shot and waiting for the right light. I almost always go out alone and as such I am very quiet and often see lots of wildlife.

I have had several scary run ins with wildlife that have all ended well. Once I was in the middle of a local stream when I looked over to the bank and there was a large female black bear on one side of the stream and her cub was on the other with me in between. It is never a good idea to be between a mother bear and her cub so I just stayed still and they moved on.

The scariest moment was the time that I was doing my thing in the middle of a small river and a thunderstorm was brewing right above me that I did not really notice. I felt a tingle on the back of my neck and just then lighting struck a tree on the bank about 25 meters away from me. I was in waist deep water with no way to get immediately out of the stream as the banks on either side were way to steep and full of thorny undergrowth. I had to run as fast as I could through waist deep water for around 200-300 meters until I could get out of the stream the whole time lightning was cracking all around me and I felt the tingle again several times. My car was parked short distance away once I got out and it started to pour rain just as I got there.

The creepiest thing that has ever happened was the time I was in a swamp and when I came out of the water I had about a dozen leeches all over my legs.

Once last January I was out shooting in weather that was around -20 C (-5 F) and the water froze to my tripod and then my tripod froze to my waders.

The hardest shot I ever got was when I had to swim holding my tripod above my head for a bit to get to the spot where I knew I could make a good photograph. I had attempted it several times before and turned back. That shot "French Creek Fallen Tree" has been published now several times and has become one of my favorites.

The craziest thing that has ever happened when I was out shooting in the water has actually happened twice now. When I set up in a river I use a very heavy metal tripod with spiked feet that is designed for large format gear or broadcast video gear. While that is way overkill for general Holga shooting the weight and bulk of the tripod gives me a stable platform to shoot on even if the current is pretty fast. Anyway my tripod has black metal levers that you flip to raise and lower the legs and twice now I have had large smallmouth bass come up and attack the levers and knock over the tripod. Once it fell right over into the water and the second time I was able to catch it. before it fell over.

Favourite photo film(s)?

Without a doubt it would have to be Efke IR820


Your favourite Holga photo that you've taken?

That is very hard as they are all special to me. Besides the above mentioned "French Creek Fallen Tree", I would have to pick two. "Moonrise Lake Erie" because from a darkroom/film/technical standpoint it was the hardest shot I have ever been able to pull off, and my shot "Adirondacks Beaver Pond" not only because it is a good photograph but because I had both my son (who was 10 at the time) and my 70+ year old father with me at the time I took it. We were on a family vacation to visit my dads family in New England with a quick stopover for a few days in Adirondack Park in new York State. After dinner we left my wife and daughter back at the motel and I went out with my son and dad to hopefully find a halfway decent shot. As I drove out of the town of Saranac Lake I found this little pond set up and made this shot.

What inspires you?

I just enjoy being out in Nature and on and in the water. Photography gives me a good excuse to get out in nature and shoot. My hope is that I can share the magic of nature with those who view my photographs.

Wallace's Links:


Website: http://wallacebillingham.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eye_of_wally/

Second Annual Curious Camera Competition

ArtsEye Gallery in Tuscon Arizona is holding its second annual Curious Camera Competition.  The rules are pretty simple - all you need is a pinhole or plastic lens camera.  Below is the flyer for the competition, and you can find more information on their website here - Curious Camera.

Ice Age or Spring?

Just a quick post to let you all know I am still alive :)  Here is another shot from last month when it was still cold.  Things are looking more and more like spring lately though!

I hope to have another great, inspiring interview posted next week!  I will be working on new stuff around the close up and macro lenses, as well as the WPC - which were the most voted for in my recent poll.  Thanks everyone for your votes and for stopping by!



Also, check out the Toy Camera Book website for recent happenings, and the announcement of my interview in the upcoming book!

Just Some Boats...

I think I might go back here this weekend to see how it has changed in a month... that all depends on the weather of course!  Hope you all have a great weekend!

Weekends, Dreams and other Plastic Memories - Toy Camera Show

Today I am featuring two photographers who are holding an exhibition and workshop at FotoFest 2010 on March 19 - April 11 in Houston, TX.

In conjunction with their upcoming FotoFest 2010 show, Warren and Laura are also holding a toy camera workshop and it is open to anyone, professional, amateur, even those who have never picked up a camera.


I thought I'd take the opportunity to ask them a few questions, and showcase some of their photos along with this post.

Laura Burlton

How did you get introduced to your first Holga and how long have you been shooting?

I was taking a photography class about ten years ago and one of the professors was showing us different types of medium and large format cameras. I was on a pretty tight budget at the time and I immediately bought two Holgas and a Lubitel. In fact I ordered one of the Holgas and the Lubitel online as soon as I got home, but was so excited to try the Holga that I called all over the city looking for one, luckily there were more camera shops then and I found one locally. So a few days later I had two!
(FWIW that professor was Amy Blakemore, who is quite well known for her Diana images. She has been a great friend and mentor to me ever since I started that class.)

What is it about the Holga that draws you to it? Why do you shoot with it?

At first I was drawn to it because it was cheap and I could shoot medium format, I also liked that the images I saw taken with it were somehow reminiscent of something taken a hundred years ago. They looked so dreamy and haunting, which was what I was going for, yet did not know how to achieve with a regular SLR. I also liked initially that it was SO simple to operate so I could concentrate on composition and subject matter alone.

Now I have the skills and equipment that I could do this all digitally, but something still brings me back to this camera. I like the fact that I only get 12 shots per roll. It seems more precious this way. I am much more careful shooting than I would be if I was shooting digitally. And it is a very light weight camera, which makes it awesome to travel with!

You shoot beautiful, intimate portraits. Is it difficult to get the children to cooperate? Do you have to be quick to get the shots you want?

Thank you.

It can be hard to get them to cooperate, but the trick is to be quick and to somehow try to engage them in the subject matter. For instance I have been reading fairy tales to my daughter every night so she can help me come up with ideas. This way she feels more like she is part of the process rather than just the model. But it must be known, she generally only lets me take 3 shots per set up. She counts the shutter clicks!

What is the shooting process like for this kind of work? Do you draw the chalk art yourself?

First I sketch ideas out on paper then decide which I think would work best in chalk, then I sketch those out. I then pick out wardrobe and do hair and makeup if needed and shoot. I usually only take 3-6 photos per vignette (with my older daughter I can take up to 6!)

I can only draw out up to 4 at a time as I only have so much space. I then wash and scrub them off and have to wait for the sidewalk to dry before I can start again.

What other cameras do you have in your arsenal?

I have quite an assortment of Holgas, Diana's and clones, various cameras made by the Lomographic Society, a Crown Graphic 4 x 5, a Mamiya c##), a Bronica ETRSi, a couple of old SLRs. a bunch of Polaroid pack film cameras and then I have a Canon 5D and a Canon 1D mk2 both of which I use for professional work.

Favourite photo film(s)?

Ilford HP5 and Delta 3200. When shooting film, I generally use BW films nowadays as color is just so expensive to process and I can do my own black and white.

I have been a loyal Ilford user since I was a kid.

Your favourite Holga photo that you've taken?

Probably it is one of the first ones I ever took. I think my oldest daughter was about 2 1/2 or 3 at the time. She looks a bit like a circus freak or something, but in any case, it was the first image I took that made me think I wanted to continue shooting. And I knew I had something the moment I took it, like it sparked a little bit of magic or something.

What inspires you?

My kids, fairy tales, books, travel, sometimes just driving to work…so many things!

Laura's Links:

Website: http://laurabrlton.com/

Blog: http://lauraburlton.com/blog

Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/lauraburlton
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=567581861&ref=profile
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lauraburlton

Warren Harold

How did you get introduced to your first Holga and how long have you been shooting?

Jack Barnosky at Sam Houston State University first introduced me to the Holga in 1992. A few of us in his Alt Process class ordered several from the Maine Photo Workshops that year. A few rolls into it and I was hooked, but I was steeped in the details of the Zone System and large format photography at the time. I continued to use it for fun but underestimated the potential for many years.

What is it about the Holga that draws you to it? Why do you shoot with it?

The appeal for me is all in the imperfections and lack of controls. I’m a control freak and a perfectionist by nature and I spent my school years chasing the f/64 aesthetic. Working for a commercial photographer for 7 years after that then moving into a quality control position in a NASA photo lab is more of the same. Using a Holga is the opposite of those pursuits and its all about emotion for me. You still have to know light and exposure, and you have to get to know your camera, but even with all of that knowledge there are surprises in store. Light leaks, aberrations, spotty focus, all contribute to the emotion. It’s a cheap camera so I can use it in situations where I’d be scared to death to screw up an expensive camera. With a Holga I don’t think twice about holding it out the car window, walking into a swimming pool or otherwise putting it in harm’s way. The Holga lets me loosen up, roll with it, expect some problems and enjoy the results.

Your photos are always from a unique perspective - how do you capture the spontaneity and magic of childhood so well?

I don’t think I’ve ever grown up. Connecting with my son helps me understand just how much of a kid I am. I’m aware of a two-level dynamic where I’m his father but I’m also a kid, enjoying the same things he does, and I think that guides what I see and how I react. I try to be quick with the camera but there are plenty of “wait, do that again” moments. Over the years he’s gotten used to a camera in my hand so the urge to ham it up has faded. That still happens, and I’ll respond with a frame or two, but I’m biding my time; waiting for those moments in between when his guard is down or his concentration shifts and his expression is more natural. My daughter on the other hand is an entirely different story. A complete 180 in every way and right now I just can’t keep up.

Please tell me a little bit about your "Alternating Weekends" series.

I’m a child of divorce, and my first and foremost concern when I went through mine was the effect on my 3-year-old son and our relationship. I'm now remarried with a 3-year-old daughter, struggling to find a balance in our time as a family for those bi-weekly 48 hours. Alternating Weekends is an ongoing project, my attempt to capture the beauty, humor, magic and pain I find in his youth and in our relationship as father and son. Although the circumstances are completely different, I still compare and contrast our situation and environment to mine at that age. Trying to maximize our time together comes natural, an effortless but critical part of every day. I don't do it to compensate for my father's mistakes, but I see more clearly what I missed and I strive to never let him feel the vacuum I did. On the surface, these images document our time together and apart but there’s a definite reflection of myself in these moments, a lament of the relationship I never had with my dad.

What other cameras do you have in your arsenal?

My first Holga 120S from ’92 is always nearby, but I mix it up a bit with a few Diana clones: Banier, Arrow and Shakey’s. I still use my Calumet 45 for large format and plan to use it for some upcoming projects. Among others that are used but with less frequency are a Pentax K1000, Canonet QL19, Nikon F2, various Polaroid Land Cameras and last but not least are a couple of pinhole cameras made from diaper boxes and other things that accept multiple sheets of 4x5 film.

Favourite photo film(s)?

For black and white I’m still a fan of T-Max 100 and 400. For color I’m all over the place. I was lucky enough to bumble my way into a small windfall of various expired color films from the 80s and 90s, mostly Kodak, but that supply is almost exhausted. When buying fresh color film I always go Fuji.

Your favourite Holga photo that you've taken?

Never Forgets hands down. This was a turning point for me personally and artistically and was the seed for Alternating Weekends when I first saw the negative. Not only did I see my son but I saw myself in his place and as his father. A silly, plastic, upside down elephant trunk and a distracted expression, caught between laughs, transform themselves into a visual promise. I’ll never repeat my past, forget or turn away.

What inspires you?

My family is a constant source of inspiration. My kids have certainly helped me see things in new ways. Their actions, reactions, the visible wake they leave behind, all a beautiful and honest palette of patterns and ideas I can’t ignore.

As for other artists, there’s the list of usual suspects; Edward Weston, Keith Carter, Sally Mann, Meatyard and so on. But even more relevant is the work I see in the online community of photographers that has developed over the years. I’m constantly looking at other current work, especially fathers focused on kids and family. Folks like Tread, Timothy Archibald, Gordon Stettinius, Shannon Richardson and Todd Deutsch each provide a unique perspective into fatherhood that inspire me not only as an artist but as a man and a father.


Warren's Links:
Website: http://www.thatwasmyfoot.com/
Blog: http://thatwasmyfoot.my-expressions.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Thatwasmyfoot


Thank you both for taking the time to answer the questions, and providing such interesting and insightful answers! If you are in the Houston area, go check out their show and see these beautiful photos in person - I wish I could!

New Holga Poll & Photo

Thank you all for voting in my very first poll here at the Holga Darkroom!  As a follow up to it, I'd like to know what "new" Holga products you are most interested in.  I'd like to write more articles on my experiences with the products listed above but I'm finding that trying to do all of them at once isn't working!  I get started one weekend, and then the next weekend life gets in the way, washing machines flood, and I'm left with only half finished rolls through everything!

I know the WPC isn't new but it's new to me, and I haven't yet had the time to test it out as fully as I'd like.  You can read more about my first try with it here.

The rest of the products (except for the TIM which is brand new) you can read about in my 2009 Holga Recap.

I look forward to your responses!!



Port Stanley, Ontario
Lake Erie, February 2010
Film: Fuji Neopan 400

Another Frosty Foto

Port Stanley, Ontario
Lake Erie, February 2010
Film: Fuji Neopan 400

8 Tips for Holga "Newbies"

Today I wanted to share with you some of the things I learned when I first started shooting with a Holga... sometimes it's better to learn the hard way. But why do that when you can just learn from my mistakes!


1.  What the N-B switch does
Yes, I admit it. I was clueless. So one day just for the heck of it, I switched it over to B to see what it was for. All of my photos came back blurry and strange looking... I think at that point I googled and tried to figure out what was going on.


(an example of a shot from the roll... kinda cool but they didn't all turn out this way!)

"B" stands for bulb mode, and if you are already knowledgeable in the field of photography then you probably already know what this does. But if you're new to both photography AND Holga (like I was) then it helps to know what this little switch does. This allows you to do long exposures. If you set your Holga to "B" your shutter will stay open for as long as you hold down the switch. If you find it is loose, put some tape on it so you don't accidentally get switched to B without your permission.

2. Shooting in low light conditions - don't do it. 
Unless you have:

• a flash
• a tripod and "B" exposure (see #1)
• superspeed film (1600 or higher)

Even on an overcast day your photos will probably turn out kind of 'blah' unless you have minimum 400 speed film. Make sure you plan your film ahead of time as much as possible to save yourself some moolah (and frustration).


(An example from my early days... a little too dark for my liking)

3. Tape it up. And then tape some more.
Light leaks are cool sometimes, but other times they kind of steal the show. I don't mind the little corner 'light peeks' because sometimes they can look pretty sweet. Tape up all your seams and if you arent sure if its sufficient, tape it up some more. Tape up the film counter window, and create a little flap you can lift up when you wind the film ahead.



I found that especially when using slide film and cross processing, light leaks are very prominent. This might not be such a problem in the newer model Holgas. The older ones though, definitely need some tape. The shot above was taken with a Holga 120S, taped up, with slide film (Velvia 100)

4. Filters are cool

'nuff said. I don't use them nearly enough. More about types of filters in another post.



5. You can change your film in day light.
Don't believe the change bag hype. Try to avoid the direct sunlight though, unless you have sunscreen on.
(do NOT put sunscreen on your film)

6. Long exposures are not as hard as they sound.
Even if you just randomly count in your head and only know the very basics about them. Give it a try. If you are scared, hide in your bathroom with a candle.



7. Winding....winding....winding.... where are the numbers?? *panic*
Don't worry, you loaded the film right (well, probably). On medium format film, you need to wind for quite a while to get to that first magic number 1. Don't give up you're almost there...and so is your carpal tunnel.

8. My flash isn't firing *panic*

• Check your batteries
• It might be broken. The flashes don't seem to last long around these here Holga parts. I have a theory that the "B" switch scares them off. Maybe "B" stands for Bully. My flash on my CFN died in under a year. RIP flash - you gave me a really cute (freaky) red chihuahua.

I'm sure there is more... but this is all that I could think of from my early shooting days.  Do you have any other newbie tips to share?  Please leave them in the comments, or do a post of your own and leave the link here.

There is one day left to vote in my poll! I really do want to hear from all of you so please vote if you haven't already. Thanks!!

Just a Photo Today

Port Stanley, Ontario
Lake Erie, February 2010
Film: Fuji Neopan 400

Winter Holga Shooting is not Glamorous

Port Stanley, Ontario
Lake Erie, February 2010
Film: Fuji Neopan 400

My mom (who is a great assistant by the way!) can attest to the fact that I was balancing precariously on some rocks attempting to get this shot... often the best shots are the ones you have to work for to get!  At least in my experience, to capture them the way I envision them in my head.  This was after I endured frozen/numb toes to get some other shots on the beach.  My toes and fingers do not react well to cold sometimes - I lose almost all circulation.  I made a goal to shoot more this winter though, which is a challenge for me.

Thanks to everyone who has voted in my poll so far - it will be up until Friday.  So far I can see that you want more featured photographers (I have a few lined up for this month already) and more about me and my shooting processes (I am flattered, thanks!). Keep the votes coming!