Holga & 35 mm Photographs Featured in the "Art From Within" Exhibition at Steven Francis Fine Art Gallery in Lynchburg, Virginia

September 26, 2023

When I was a sophomore at University of Lynchburg, my teacher, Steven Coates taught me how to shoot film, print in the darkroom and put together a strong portfolio. He has always been incredibly supportive of my work. After graduating from college with a degree in Studio Art, I worked for Steve as a photographer’s assistant for about year before moving to Portland, Oregon in 2012. Then, after moving back to Virginia in 2019, I began working for him again as an assistant and web designer. I’ve been managing his website for the last few years and helping with social media. His gallery, Steven Francis Fine Art Gallery, has been putting out incredible exhibitions over the past few years, filled with local, national and international artists. The latest exhibition, Art From Within, is a staff show, showcasing work from all of the people that help the gallery run smoothly. I’m honored to be a part of the show and to have my work hanging alongside such talented artists, including Steve himself. Below are a few of my photographs featured in the show. There are black and white 35 mm film photographs from Paris and Scotland, along with colorful Holga photographs taken in St. Augustine, Florida, Chinoteague, Virginia and Corolla, NC. If you’re interested in purchasing a print, contact me here!

And if you’re in Lynchburg or close by, make sure to stop by and see the show!

<3 Myles Katherine

How to Create Double Exposures and Multiple Exposures with a Holga Toy Camera | 5 Simple Tips and Tricks with Sample Photos!

August 12, 2023

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

How Do You Create Double Exposures and Multiple Exposures with a Holga Toy Camera?

This HAS to be my most frequently asked question. If you follow my work you know I’m obsessed with the Holga and multiple exposures (specifically, the Holga GCFN). I still remember the very first double exposure I ever took and the excitement I felt when I realized what had happened. I suddenly felt like the opportunities were endless when it came to photography. I realized that photography didn’t necessarily need to mimic real life. I could create a world that didn’t exist, by merging photos taken directly from reality. That juxtaposition blew my mind and really catapulted my interest in photography.

It might seem intimidating at first when it comes to creating multiple exposures. I think there’s an innate and expected fear that they’re going to be TERRIBLE. That they won’t make sense. That no one will know what they’re looking at. But guess what, that’s FINE! In fact, it’s better than taking the same boring photo that everyone else takes. It takes some time to get used to layering images and understanding how the final product is going to turn out. But even now, with a decade of experience under my belt, I still don’t feel like I have complete control over my multiple exposures. I always have an expectation in my mind and it never quite fits with how I envision them. Either they’re not as good as I’d hoped, or they’re even better. And usually the ones that I’m just messing around with end up being the best. It’s really better NOT to plan. To just try out different textures and faces and landscapes and see how they turn out.

In case you’re having some trouble getting started though, here are a few tips for creating multiple exposures with a Holga camera. The Holga is one of the best cameras, in my opinion, to try out multiple exposures. But first, you have to understand HOW to take a multiple exposure. It’s actually SUPER simple. After taking a photograph, you just simply don’t wind the film advance dial at all. You just take another photo right over top of the first one. And you can do this as many times as you want, which is why I love the Holga so much. A lot of film cameras will automatically advance to the next frame, leaving you without the option to shoot over top of the first frame. The Holga is meant for multiple exposures. It’s very easy to accidentally take a multiple exposure with the Holga too, simply because it is a manual advance camera. So oftentimes, you might nor even mean to take a photo over top of another one, it just might happen. Actually, it WILL happen at some point if you use the Holga. It’s just part of the magic of the camera!

5 Simple Tips and Tricks for Creating Incredible Double & Multiple Exposures with the Holga Toy Camera

Tip #1 - Try out a portrait over top of a landscape!

This is probably one of my main choices for creating double exposures. It usually ends up quite interesting and beautiful. I’ll shoot the first image on the infinity/mountain setting of the Holga and then shoot the second image as a close-up portrait using the single-person setting on the Holga.

Tip #2 - Try asking your subject to move slightly / try a new pose in-between images

This is another go-to for me when it comes to double exposures. It ends up creating very ghostly, spooky images that are incredibly unique and unpredictable. These are often my favorite photos to get back after a photo shoot.

Tip #3 - Try out different close-up textures as your second image

This one is somewhat of a risk, but oftentimes pays off! If the texture is too much, it can sometimes end up being a big indecipherable mess. But other times, it can add a bit of mystery and atmosphere to your photo.

Tip #4 - Try flipping your camera upside down for a second shot of the same subject

This is really fun to try with cityscapes, buildings and landmarks, mostly because they don’t move and you have enough time to plan out your shot.

Tip #5 - Try having your model step out of the second shot, but keep the background the same

This creates a very ghostly vibe, because the model becomes somewhat hazy and somewhat see-through. This is definitely another one of my favorite multiple exposure methods when using the Holga.

I’ve included a few more samples below of my favorite double/multiple exposures I’ve taken over the years with the Holga. It’s gotten to a point where I won’t even buy a camera anymore if it doesn’t have the option for multiple exposures! It’s become a huge part of my process and I feel extremely limited now when I’m not able to create them. If you’re interested in multiple exposures, you should definitely pick up a Holga and try it out! You can also check out my full review and blog post about the Holga here. Or you can check out my YouTube video! I LOVE the Holga. My main advice though is to be patient when you’re first starting out. You can’t expect perfection when it comes to the Holga. It has a mind of its own. But if you’re willing to learn its eccentricities, it will surprise you.

CAMERA:

Purchase a Holga 120 GCFN on Amazon

Purchase a Holga 120 GCFN on eBay!

Purchase a Holga 120 GCFN on KEH Camera

FILM RECOMMENDATIONS:

Lomography 400 120 film

Kodak Portra 160 120 film

Kodak Portra 400 120 film

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If you’re interested in supporting my work and seeing lots more videos in the future, be sure to check out my Patreon! As a patron, you’ll receive early access to my YouTube videos, as well as access to never-before-seen images and seasonal prints, depending on the tier you sign up for.

Feel free to leave any thoughts/comments/questions/concerns below! Thanks so much for stopping by. And don’t forget to stop by my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :)

<3 Myles Katherine

3 Best 120 Films to use with a Holga Toy Camera - Film Photography Tips

July 18, 2022

(This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.)

BEST BLACK & WHITE AND COLOR FILMS TO USE WITH A HOLGA

If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know that the Holga (particularly the Holga 120 GCFN) is my favorite camera of all time. It’s a cheap, plastic camera but is capable of taking some truly unique photographs. It’s the one camera I never leave home without! I’ve been shooting with the Holga for almost 15 years now and I’ve tried quite a few different film brands with it at this point. I wanted to share my 3 favorite films I’ve used over the years and why I keep going back to them. Make sure to check out my blog post and YouTube video about the Holga here!

1. Lomography Color Negative 120 ISO 400 - My absolute favorite film to use with the Holga. Lomography‘s color 120 films are actually some of the more affordable ones out there, especially if you buy in bulk to save on shipping costs. The best part about this film is the bright, vibrant colors. I’ve noticed that films like Kodak Portra (which I love using for some of my other cameras) just tend to turn out flat and unexciting when using the Holga. Because the images taken with the Holga aren’t the sharpest or most detailed, having a vibrant and bold color film REALLY makes a difference. Plus, the 400 film speed works in both bright light and lower light situations. It’s the most versatile film speed for the Holga, in my opinion. The 100 speed color negative film by Lomography is also great!

2. FUJIFILM Neopan 100 Acros II Black & White Negative Film - While I’ll forever miss the original Neopan Acros 100 film, this one is still amazing. The first film I ever used with a Holga was Neopan Acros 100 and I’m still obsessed with the fine grain and moodiness of the film. It’s super sharp, has beautiful tones and creates interesting images when used in low light BECAUSE of the slow film speed. I used to use black and white film a lot more than I do now, but I’ll always cherish the magic and nostalgia of black and white film. I prefer to shoot in color now to allow myself the option of converting to black and white.

3. Lomography LomoChrome Purple XR 100-400 Color Negative Film - I know this isn’t a popular opinion, but I LOVE this film. It’s unique, dreamy and interesting. I think the combination of the Holga and Purple Lomochrome film works really well together. I know I’m a weird person anyway, so if people want to think I’m weird for liking this film, that’s just another day for me. Photographers have a LOT of opinions on this film, but personally, I think if someone hates this film, it's because they’ve never taken a good photo with it. ;)

WHERE TO PURCHASE:

Lomography Color Negative 120 ISO 400

Amazon

eBay

FUJIFILM Neopan 100 Acros II Black & White Negative Film

Amazon

Lomography LomoChrome Purple XR 100-400 Color Negative Film

eBay

Amazon

If you found this post helpful or if you’d like to see more of my work, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing. Find out more here!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a lovely day!

<3 Myles Katherine

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