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Technique Lo-fi phoTography<br />
Blurred sections of the<br />
frame and vignetting<br />
are part of the charm<br />
of shooting with lo-fi kit<br />
Using a Holga lens on<br />
your DSLR or mirrorless<br />
camera can produce<br />
distinctive-looking images<br />
Why shoot lo-fi?<br />
The chief attraction of this low-tech approach<br />
is that many of these options are relatively cheap,<br />
so experimentation doesn’t cost a fortune. They<br />
also make a welcome change from what some<br />
photographers regard as the predictable, clean<br />
and sterile images produced by digital cameras.<br />
For example, toy cameras such as the Holga and<br />
Diana are popular with fine-art photographers who<br />
appreciate the soft, dreamlike images they can<br />
produce. Vignetting, blurred images and light leaks<br />
are all part of these cameras’ appeal. Predictable<br />
they are not.<br />
Other alternatives<br />
For those who want more predictability and better<br />
build quality, but still seek the low-tech experience,<br />
there are alternatives that can be picked up fairly<br />
cheaply. Cameras in my collection include a 1940s<br />
Czech-made TLR, a couple of Olympus Trip 35s (a<br />
‘classic’ that is still available on eBay for the cost of<br />
a couple of pints of beer), a more recent Olympus<br />
XA3 (bought in mint condition from a charity shop<br />
for £12) and a refurbished Polaroid SX70 camera.<br />
They are all very basic and simple by today’s<br />
standards, but are capable of producing great<br />
images that have their own unique character.<br />
A further step away from the technological<br />
sophistication of a digital camera is lensless<br />
photography using cameras that produce images<br />
without the need for any optic. I am a great fan of<br />
12 14 May 2016 I www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113
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