I’ve love the dimension, depth and unexpected surprises that cheap film cameras like the Holga or Lomo bring to photography. I’ve shot some work recently with both of these cameras, but unfortunately, the quirky nature of their focus and image quality is too unpredictable for client work. I really need the control and flexibility that digital provides. 

Recently, I’ve flipped the process and started looking at ways to bring some of the unexpected delight of analog into my digital work. There are a lot of presets and “filters” out there that will give a Holga or Lomo look with the push of a button, but I’m not interested in relying on these things. I want to do it in the camera.

The Lensbaby series of lenses piqued my interest as a possible way to do this, but at first glance I got the impression that they were cheap novelty lenses that produced subpar images. Then a few months ago, I fell onto Jake Hicks’ work and noticed the wonderful images he captures with their lenses. B&H was running a sale a couple of weeks ago so I took the plunge and bought the Composer Pro and Edge 80 combo.

Below are a few shots from a test I set up with Allison and Casey. There’s definitely a steep learning curve with this lens – it is not easy to use – but after some playing around I got the hang of it and ended up fairly happy with the initial results. Looking forward to shooting more with it soon.

I love my Holga. Here are some shots I took over the summer up in Cape Cod. Enjoy!

I’ve been up in Cape Cod, MA for most of the summer. Eager to be out of the confines of the studio, I tried to find models to shoot with while I was there. Sadly, I was really only able to find one model that I really wanted to work with and she, ironically, was visiting from Brooklyn.

Fortunately, a couple of weeks ago, I connected with Elizabeth who just moved there. We met up for a shoot on the beach in Chatham, MA and the results were great. While we were shooting, I was reminded of Wordsworth’s poem, Splendor in the Grass. 

What though the radiance
which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass,
of glory in the flower,
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind;
In the primal sympathy
Which having been must ever be;
In the soothing thoughts that spring
Out of human suffering;
In the faith that looks through death,
In years that bring the philosophic mind.