Locomotive Dreams
All aboard..
Back when I primarily shot film, medium format (120) was my favorite go-to use, especially in the square 1:1 aspect ratio. It is an easy film to use, high resolution, and forgiving. Even now, when using digital, I still like to frame the scene for a square crop and print.
I accomplished this image through the use of an incredibly inexpensive, but widely adored camera, the Holga, and I will discuss the quirks of this camera in a bit. The important part to note is the camera has manual film advance and shutter actuation, meaning you can trigger multiple exposures or even partial where you advance the film 1/2 a frame and take another image.
This particular shot was taken in different locations within the city of Grapevine Texas. Another thing about the Holga is the lack of shutter speed control so when doing multiple exposures you really have to be mindful of available light. Walking on train tracks is quite banal imagery, but I wanted to mimic the tension wires a bit, and to compliment the railroad tracks I needed something a bit more aesthetic.
I leapt in the car as the sun set for a mad dash to the Grapevine train station. My thought was the large wheel of the outdated steam engine could add balance. The bright middle spots of the photo are pass through the undercarriage of the train. All in all, symmetrically, exposure wise, I was pleased with the results.
This photo went on to win numerous awards in North America, and I was humbly surprised by its success given the relatively common subject.
None so blind..
The Holga camera originated in China circa mid-80s and remained relatively unchanged until its popularity took a meteoric rise in the 2010s. It is a plastic body with plastic parts barely held together by sliding seals over the film chamber.
On almost any platform, with a quick bit of use I can generate acceptable images that meet my expectation of composition, DoF, exposure, and the other elements of a photograph. The lack of quality control contributed to its popularity in the Lomo world where imperfection and flaws were celebrated against the cool, sanitized world of digital photography. A Holga allows for “happy accidents” such as motion blurs, light leaks, partial images and more!
As Holga’s popularity rose, so did available accessories. Photographers can find anything from filters to fish-eye lens adapters. One of the coolest additions is a half-frame mask that exposes portions of the film. Then, using a dark bag for large format you flip the mask the opposite direction, re-roll the film, and reshoot the roll for mind-bending images (if you are luck). Other masks allow you to turn subjects into puzzle pieces — the options are limitless.
The jury is out..
A final point about this image that I mentioned earlier. It was quite successful in competitions and has been in galleries across the country. It even won an OvationTV award for “Life Is A Highway” and featured in a show with other winners. Even though film development is becoming more difficult and expensive, if you have the means, I suggest playing with this little piece of plastic.
