Lomography LomoChrome Purple Sample Photos with a Holga 120 GCFN | Review

 

(By using the links and/or codes below it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

I’ve heard so many things about Lomography LomoChrome Purple. Some people love it, some people absolutely despise it and some people have never heard of it! Personally, I’m obsessed with it. I love the whimsical world that you can create with it. I get bored with photographing the real world sometimes and I find that LomoChrome Purple brings a little bit of spice and excitement to my film. My favorite day is when I get my film back in the mail and I get to spend it scanning and finding out how my images turned out. The film is super saturated and makes for particularly beautiful landscapes. I find that it can be a bit grainy, especially when you start layering images like I do with multiple exposures. But it’s much less noticeable if you choose to shoot with a better camera. I’ve also used LomoChrome Purple with my Contax 645 and those images are much, much sharper. Overall, though, I’ll take a little bit of grain for some strange, magical purple photos!

You guys know I love the Holga 120 GCFN, so of course, I had to try out the LomoChrome Purple with it. I find the combination to be truly magical. The Holga already has such a dreamy, surreal quality to it, so adding in the LomoChrome Purple really makes the images seem otherworldly.

If you’re not quite ready to venture out into 120 film, LomoChrome Purple also comes in 35 mm, so you can try it out with any ole 35 mm film camera! Plus, it’s just a regular C-41 development process so you can send it to your regular film lab and they’ll know what to do!

I tend to find good deals for LomoChrome purple 120 on eBay, with people getting rid of their film in bulk. Even if its a couple of years expired, it should be perfectly fine as long as it was kept in a relatively temperate environment. If it’s been refrigerated, even better! And as soon as you get it, pop it in the refrigerator to keep it in good, usable condition for as long as possible!

All of the images below are taken with a Holga GCFN and LomoChrome Purple 120 film. I hope these images inspire you to get out there and try it out! Don’t be afraid to get weird and get experimental. We need more uniqueness and creativity out there in the world. :) If you’re feeling REALLY adventurous, you should try out LomoChrome Turquoise, the latest LomoChrome film from Lomography. I don’t love it quite as much but it’s super interesting and I know that there are some people out there that will be able to make some incredible photos with it!

WHERE TO BUY:

Lomography LomoChrome Purple 120 film on eBay

Lomography LomoChrome Purple 35 mm on Amazon

Holga 120 GCFN on Amazon

Holga 120 GCFN on eBay (for more fun colors!)

LomoChome Turquoise on eBay!

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

<3 Myles Katherine

 

Top 5 Affordable Cameras for Beginner Film Photographers | Best 35mm, 120 and Polaroid Cameras for Beginners, Amateur and Professional Photographers

 

(By using the links and/or codes below it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

5 Cameras for Beginner Film Photographers

I’ve tried out a LOT of cameras over the years. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve met a camera that I didn’t like. However, there are a few that tend to make it into my camera bag more often than others. I’m always looking for cameras that are capable of meeting all of my personal needs as a photographer. Every photographer is different, but for me those personal needs are: simplicity, multiple exposures and lightweight body. I travel quite a bit and I hate carrying around a super heavy camera bag. I’ve learned to fill my bag with cameras that are light and small, instead of gigantic and heavy. I’m always jealous of those photographers that just have one camera in their bag with an assortment of lenses. MUST BE NICE. I just like to have options and I like to allow myself creativity in as many ways as possible. I’m just not a minimalist, as much as I wish I was! I wanted to share the top 5 cameras that tend to make it into my camera bag more often than not. All of these cameras are GREAT for beginners because they offer a TON of different features but are also all very simple to use. Not to mention, they’re affordable, collectible and fun!

HOLGA GCFN 120 CAMERA

You guys KNOW I’m obsessed with the Holga. I believe that every photographer should have one of these on their shelf and try it out at some point. To me, it’s a great way to begin understanding photography from a very basic level. It’s reminiscent of an older time, but has that cute, quirky style and is still being produced today. Sadly, it’s only being produced in the solid black color today, but you can find the fun, colorful ones on eBay. It’s essentially a pinhole camera, but with a few more features and easier controls. I love this camera so much that I’ve dedicated an entire blog post and YouTube video to it. This is the camera that always makes it into my camera bag no matter what. If I’m walking around town with only one camera, it’s this one. There is a 35mm version of this camera too (I just recently made a YouTube video about it!) but I prefer the 120 version. 120 film is slowly dying (for some reason!) so as a photographer, I beg of you to continue supporting 120 film. The negatives are much larger than 35mm which allows you much more detail and capability for printing. KEEP 120 FILM ALIVE!

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

#CommissionsEarned

MINOLTA MAXXUM STSI

The Minolta Maxxum STsi is actually a newer camera to my collection but it has moved up to the top VERY quickly. It just has every single feature I like in a 35 mm film camera. A zoom lens, autofocus, panorama mode, multiple exposure mode, lightweight body, flash and auto setting. This is a PERFECT choice for any beginner 35mm film photographer. I have the AF 28-85mm 3.5-4.5 Zoom lens, which I purchased separately from the kit lens. This lens is a little bit sharper and better quality than the kit lens. Also, this camera is SUPER affordable and makes a great gift. I’m truly in love with mine and it’s my number one choice now for traveling when I’m grabbing my 35mm cameras. You can read more about this camera in my blog post here!

I purchased the body ($18) and the AF 28-85mm 3.5-4.5 Zoom lens ($25) separately, both on eBay. Browse through the available options here for the body or here for the lens!

But you can also find it on Amazon or KEH Camera. There are a ton of different versions of this camera, so if you ever have questions, I recommend calling KEH Camera and asking them what they’d recommend if they don’t have the STsi version. They’re always great with giving advice on film cameras.

FILM RECOMMENDATIONS:

Kodak Gold 200 35mm film

Kodak Portra 160 35mm film

Lomography 100 35mm film

#CommissionsEarned

NIKON FE2 OR FE3

This is probably the most expensive camera on this list but if you’re looking for a tad bit nicer camera with an amazing lens, I recommend the Nikon FE2 or FE3. These are on-par with the Canon AE-1 (which is also an incredible camera but doesn’t have a multiple exposure feature). I went into Blue Moon Camera in Portland, Oregon one day, asking if they had the Pentax K1000 or Canon AE-1. However, after chatting with the sales associate for a while, we decided the Nikon FE2 would be more my speed. I absolutely need a multiple exposure feature and I prefer to have an aperture-priority setting as well, especially when shooting weddings. The Nikon FE2 met all of my requirements. However, it is manual focus which takes some getting used to. Once you get the hang of it though, the photographs are incredibly sharp and beautiful, with a lovely bokeh blur and crispness that you won’t get with cheaper cameras like the Minolta Maxxum I mentioned above. The Nikon FE2 is more on the professional side and is really a collector’s item. It’s a beautiful camera with that classic old-school look to it. You can’t go wrong with this camera. I’ll never ever get rid of mine. I have a YouTube video and full blog post about this camera too!

CAMERA:

Purchase a Nikon FE2 on Amazon!

Purchase a Nikon FE2 on eBay!

Purchase a Nikon FE2 on KEH Camera!

LENS:

50mm f/1.4 AF Nikkor

35-70mm f/3.3 AF Nikkor (more affordable zoom lens)

FILM RECOMMENDATIONS:

Kodak Gold 200 35mm film

Kodak Portra 160 35mm

Lomography 100 35mm film

#CommissionsEarned

POLAROID 600 CAMERA

While I believe that every photographer should have a Holga, I also equally believe that every photographer should have a Polaroid camera. After a long and arduous process, the Polaroid brand is finally back up and running, producing new cameras and film. Thank the heavens above! Personally, I have the Polaroid One-Step 600 and Polaroid Impulse. Both of these are incredibly easy to use, sturdy and super cute on the shelf. I was lucky enough to receive them as heirlooms from my family members but you can still find vintage versions of the One-Step and Impulse on Amazon, eBay and KEH Camera. Or, if you prefer new cameras, Polaroid has recently released the Polaroid Now and Polaroid Go cameras. Everyone loves a Polaroid. They’re instantly gratifying, have beautiful color tones and are just plain fun to have at a party or event. I always bring a Polaroid camera with me to every shoot. It’s nice to have a physical print from each shoot as a keepsake. Check out my YouTube video from our trip to Japan where I took photos with the Polaroid One-Step 600! Or you can check out my blog post to see tons of sample photos I’ve taken with this camera over the years.

CAMERA:

Purchase a Polaroid One-Step 600 on Amazon!

Purchase a Polaroid One-Step 600 on eBay!

Purchase a Polaroid One-Step 600 on KEH Camera!

Purchase a Polaroid Now or Polaroid Go on Polaroid.com!

FILM:

Purchase 600 film on Amazon!

CANON REBEL K2

The Canon Rebel K2 is another affordable 35mm film camera that I always recommend when friends and family ask me what camera they should get before they go on a big trip. This was my very first 35mm film camera and definitely holds a special place in my heart. There’s not really anything super duper special about this camera, but it just happens to meet all of my personal requirements for a travel camera. It weighs next to nothing, has a flash, zoom lens, multiple exposure setting, autofocus, aperture priority, shutter priority, and full auto setting. It’s not the sharpest camera in the world, but there’s a certain nostalgia that the photos seem to have, especially when shooting in black and white. I took this camera with me on my first trip to Paris, and I’m still obsessed with the photos I took on that trip. I even recreated those photos on a recent trip to Paris and made a YouTube video about it! I also have a how-to YouTube video and blog post about this camera too, with tons of sample photos. The Canon Rebel G is incredibly similar to this camera too, if you’re not able to find a Canon Rebel K2.

CAMERA:

Purchase a Canon Rebel K2 on KEH Camera

Purchase a Canon Rebel K2 on eBay!

Purchase a Canon Rebel K2 on Amazon!

FILM RECOMMENDATIONS:

Neopan Acros 100 35mm B&W film

Kodak Gold 200 35mm film

Lomography 100 35mm film

#CommissionsEarned

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! Feel free to leave questions and comments below. And don’t forget to stop by my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :)

Have a great day!
<3 Myles Katherine

 

10 Perfect Gift Ideas for Film Photographers from a Photographer's POV

(By using the links and/or codes below it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

Film photography can be a bit of a niche thing and not everyone knows what kind of film or gifts to buy for the photographer in their life. Every year, I end up sending a list of links to my friends and family members with very specific kinds of film and camera gear that I want. Otherwise, no one has any idea what to get me! I’m here to help you find that perfect gift for the film photographer in your life. These are all things that I want too, so *hint hint*, if you’re a friend looking for a gift for me, any of these will do. :) :) Here are 10 Perfect Gift Ideas for Film Photographers from a Photographer's POV!

Holga 135BC

1. HOLGA GCFN OR HOLGA 135BC

If you follow my work, you know the Holga GCFN is my all-time favorite film camera. It’s a 120 film camera and is super affordable, quirky and fun to try out. Every photographer should have one of these, in my opinion. Even if they don’t end up using it, it looks cute on a shelf! It’s a great way to start learning film photography too because it’s easy to use, hard to break and exciting to experiment with. It’s known as a “toy” camera because it’s made of plastic and the photos have a very specific vignette to them, giving the images a surreal and moody atmosphere. I’m obsessed with the Holga camera, which is why I made this blog post and this YouTube video about it. :) The Holga comes in a ton of different colors, which is also why it makes a great camera to collect. I’m currently working on owning one of every color and so far I have about 10 different ones! The colorful ones are more likely to be found on eBay, bought from a secondhand seller. Currently, only the classic black style is being produced, which you can find brand new on Amazon. Hopefully, one day they’ll start producing the colorful ones again and they’ll be a bit easier to find. If you’re photographer friend prefers to shoot 35 mm film, there is a super cute red version that you can buy brand new on Amazon here. I have a blog post and YouTube video about the 35 mm version too! It’s just the 120 version that is currently only available in black if you prefer a brand new camera. And there are other versions of the camera, I just prefer the GCFN version because it has a glass lens, as opposed to a plastic lens, which I find to be a bit sharper.

WHERE TO BUY:

Holga GCFN 120 Camera on Amazon
Holga GCFN 120 Camera on eBay


Holga 135BC Camera on Amazon
Holga 135BC Camera on eBay


2. PROFESSIONAL AND UNIQUE FILMS TO TRY

This might seen obvious, but sometimes as a gift-giver, you might have no idea what film to buy for the photographer in your life. If you’re looking to impress, you can never go wrong with Kodak Portra 160 (available in 120 or 35mm) or Kodak Portra 400 (available in 120 or 35mm). It’s quite pricey but is known as one of the best and most accurate color films out there. I hardly ever buy it for myself because of the price, which is why it would make a great gift. Trust me, they won’t be disappointed! If you’re looking for a more affordable, normal film, Kodak Gold 200 is always great too (also available in 120 and 35 mm)! If you’d prefer to buy a more unique and fun film, I’d recommend Lomography LomoChrome Purple (120 or 35mm) or Turquoise (120 or 35mm). These are exactly what they sound like - a purple film and a turquoise film. Not all photographers are down to experiment with these kind of colors but personally, I love them! I’m always looking for ways to make my photos more unique. You can also check out my blog post about some of my favorite color 35 mm films here if you’re interested in reading more!

WHERE TO BUY:

Kodak Portra 160 120 film on Amazon
Kodak Portra 160 35mm film on Amazon

Kodak Portra 400 120 film on Amazon
Kodak Portra 400 35mm film on Amazon

Kodak Gold 200 120 film on Amazon
Kodak Gold 200 35 mm film on Amazon

Lomography LomoChrome Purple 120 on Amazon
Lomography LomoChrome Purple 35mm on Amazon

Lomography LomoChrome Turquoise 120 on Lomography.com
Lomography LomoChrome Turquoise 35mm on Lomography.com

NEOPAN ACROS 100 35mm II (new version)

Amazon

eBay

NEOPAN ACROS 100 120 II (new version)

Amazon

eBay



Polaroid 600 One-Step Camera

3. POLAROID CAMERA

Another camera that every photographers should try out at some point! I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t love a polaroid. And while those Instax mini’s are cute and great, there’s something classically special about the standard, old school polaroid. For a while, the Polaroid brand was dead and gone. But a company called The Impossible Project began producing film to work with vintage polaroid cameras. It wasn’t the most reliable film at first, but they eventually procured the rights to the Polaroid brand and now produce consistent, beautiful film that works perfectly with vintage polaroid cameras. They also make brand new polaroid cameras, like the, which are also fun and would make an incredible gift! There’s nothing like an instant photograph. it’s a great way to capture moment with friends and families, especially during the holidays! You can scoop up vintage ones on Amazon ( I prefer the classic Polaroid One-Step 600 camera) or Polaroid’s new cameras like the I-2 or Polaroid Now, on Polaroid.com. Plus, they have TONS of other gift ideas on their site, including Bluetooth speakers, camera straps, frames and film styles. They always have great Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals too! 

WHERE TO BUY:

Vintage Polaroid One-Step 600 on Amazon
Vintage Polaroid One-Step 600 on eBay

Polaroid I-2 on Amazon
Polaroid Now on Amazon

Polaroid.com for the I-2 and Polaroid Now



4. RING LIGHT

If your photographer friend has a small studio or likes to take portraits, a ring light is a great gift. I always have a ring light set up in my studio because it’s the perfect amount of light for a perfectly exposed polaroid portrait. They’re a great fill light but can also be used for a million other purposes. If your photographer friend shoots models, it’s great for a makeup artist to use while getting ready for the shoot. The Neewer 19-inch ring light that I have has temperature adjustment, an iPhone selfie holder and brightness control. It’s extremely easy to use and automatically makes every photo look amazing. It’s great for TikTokers too!

WHERE TO BUY:

Neewer 19-inch Ring Light on Amazon




5. SSD DRIVE

My husband recently bought a Crucial X6 1 TB portable SSD to use for his work but I ended up stealing it from him because it’s so amazing! For years, I’ve used normal external hard drives and have had issues with them disconnecting from my computer, breaking or just not showing up when I plug them in. An SSD, or solid state drive, doesn’t have any of those mechanical disks inside that are so easy to break with the traditional hard drives. Plus, the one I have is super small, easy to travel with and has tons of storage space. These are incredibly handy for dropping files onto them after a shoot, especially if you’re traveling and worried about losing your files. They’re super fast, shock-resistant and reliable. Photographers can never have too much storage space, especially if they shoot video or scan their own film in high resolution. Those files can take up tons of space and this is the perfect solution for that and is much easier than those desktop hard drives that are huge and unsafe to move around. 

WHERE TO BUY:

Crucial X6 1 TB Portable SSD on Amazon

6. ONA BACKPACK OR BAG

ONA is a stylish and long lasting brand of camera bags and backpacks. I’ve had two different ones over the years and I’ve loved them both dearly. They are extremely well-made and the quality is top notch. Any photographer would/should be stoked to receive one of these! I started off with the Monterey style but ultimately switched to the Clifton style because it had space for more cameras. I shoot with a LOT of different film cameras and I typically travel with at least 5 cameras in my backpack at any given time. The inside dividers are adjustable so you can change them to fit all of your weird quirky camera shapes. I also love that they have a refurbish program that I plan on taking advantage of soon. I’ve had my current Ona backpack for at least 10 years and it’s probably about time for a little TLC. For $50 you can send it in and they’ll repair and treat the leather or canvas to make it look brand new! It’s definitely on my Christmas list to myself this year to send mine in and get that done. :) I’m hoping to scoop up one of the shoulder bags one of these days too! 

WHERE TO BUY:

ONA The Monterey Leather/Waxed Canvas Backpack
ONA The Clifton Camera Backpack

7. FILM SCANNER

I’ve had my Epson V750 for over 10 years and have definitely run it into the ground. A nice film scanner will save you thousands of dollars in the long run. I scan all of my own film so I never have to pay a film processing company to do it for me. Plus, I get full control over how my images turn out. I can color adjust before or after scanning, depending on my preference, and I can scan in incredible high resolution to make gigantic prints. These scanners last forever. The newest version is the Epson Perfection V850 Pro Photo Scanner. They aren’t cheap but you have to think about it as a long term investment. Scanning film after I get it back from processing is one of the most satisfying and fun parts of my job as a photographer. It’s also just fun to learn the process and to have that control that allows you to fully make your photos your own. 

If you’d prefer a film scanner that’s less expensive and much smaller, you can try the Kodak Slide N Scan Digital Film Scanner or Kodak SCANZA Digital Film & Slide Scanner.

WHERE TO BUY:

Epson Perfection V750-M Pro on Amazon

USED Epson Perfection V750 Pro on eBay
Epson Perfection V850 Pro on Amazon



8. FUN FILTERS & PRISMS

If you’re looking for something that is quirky, lighthearted and not too expensive, you can always get them an interesting filter or prism to use to create unique photos. I love getting weird with my photos and trying out new techniques. I’ll shoot through empty plastic bottles and clear plastic sandwich bags to create a different atmosphere with my images, but a prism or rainbow filter would probably be a bit more of an exciting gift to open! You could go for the NEEWER 58mm Kaleidoscope Prism Lens Filter or the KOGJAERS Prism Glasses 79mm Handheld Kaleidoscope Prism. These would make great stocking stuffers too! 

WHERE TO BUY:

NEEWER 58mm Kaleidoscope Prism Lens Filter on Amazon
KOGJAERS Prism Glasses 79mm Handheld Kaleidoscope Prism on Amazon





9. STORAGE BINDERS FOR NEGATIVES

Storage binders for loose negatives are a great gift too. These are a necessity in my life. I’ve filled quite a few of these over the years. If the photographer in your life tends to leave their film negatives strewn across their house, this is a great way to help them organize them and keep them safe. Make sure to get the sleeves too (available for 120 film or 35 mm). I label all of my binders and negatives and finally have a good system down. Plus, the negative sleeves that go inside are archival quality and will keep the negatives safe for many years to come! 

WHERE TO BUY:

Vue-All Archival Safe-T-Binder with Rings on Amazon
Archival 120 Size Negative Pages, Pack of 25 on Amazon
Archival 35mm Size Negative Pages Holds Seven Strips of Five Frames - 100 Pack




10. GIFT CARDS!

When all else fails, an Amazon gift card is always great because you can find the majority of film styles and cameras on Amazon. KEH camera is another great idea because they sell used camera gear. The majority of film cameras are vintage and used, and keh camera has a great system of checking and rating the quality of used cameras and lenses. I’ve ordered quite a few cameras over the years from KEH and have always had a great experience. If you know that your photographer friend prefers eBay, you can always pick up a gift card there too! 

Amazon Gifts Cards

KEH Camera Gift Cards

BONUS IDEA:

I’ve been using Smugmug as my online gallery/storage system for over 12 years. I upload my photos directly from Lightroom and keep all of my photos organized in galleries by year, photo shoot, location or film type. I honestly don’t know what I would do without smugmug. I send gallery links to all of my clients through smugmug and from there, they can download the photos in high-res, order prints and gifts and share the links with others! Not to mention, the smugmug app keeps my photos accessible at all times, and even backs up the photos and videos on my phone! It’s an amazing online storage service and is super affordable for what you get, in my opinion. You can get 15% off of a subscription for your photo friend here!

I hope these ideas help you in your search for the perfect gift! As a full-time photographer, I would be thrilled with any of these gifts and I really think the photographer in your life will love them too!

Have a happy holiday season! And don’t forget to stop by my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :)

#commissionsearned

<3 Myles