For almost three years, on a semi-regular basis, I've been using a Holga 120N, Holga WPC (Wide Pinhole Camera) and the rather substantial RealitySoSubtle 6x17.
You can view the galleries here.
Aside from those on my B&W Instagram account, I decided to hold these back until I felt I had a sufficient number to create a gallery. Holgas are low-tech, to say the least: they're plastic (lens included) and, in the case of the 120N, which uses medium format 120 film, they have just a few rudimentary settings - sunny (f/11), cloudy (f/8), 1/100 sec, and Bulb. Focusing is determined by symbols on the lens: head-and-shoulders, two people, a group, and mountains. As simple as it seems, it’s actually not! These are film cameras, and unlike digital, where you can adjust the ISO, with these you have to choose your film according to the conditions. I used to load up with Ilford HP5 (ISO 400) and add ND filters when it became too bright. Now, I carry two cameras, each with a different film speed.
Herne Bay, Kent
Doddington Place Gardens, Kent
In the case of the Holga WPC, it’s simpler still: no lens, just a hole equivalent to an aperture of f/128, with guidelines approximating its 120° angle of view. I tend to use this more than the 120, as I love the aspect ratio, and it gives me something that neither my digital nor my Hasselblad cameras can capture in a single frame. Since the Pinhole Wide uses a flat film plane to cover such a wide angle, it produces a brighter centre and, depending on the model, may even show vignetting and light leaks. As a result, I cover openings such as the film back with black tape.
Neptune's Arm, Herne Bay, Kent
St Thomas à Becket Church, Fairfield, Romney Marsh
The 6x17 is even more intriguing. Since my initial visit to Prague some 25 years ago, I have been captivated and inspired by the Poet of Prague - Josef Sudek. Having already been shooting with the Holga WPC for some time and considering the possibility of a wider format, it was upon seeing Sudek's panoramic images of Prague that finally gave me the push to seek harder. There were a number of suitable cameras on offer, but this was soon narrowed down through my desire for a pinhole. Eventually, I settled upon the dual pinhole shutter RealitySoSubtle 6x17. There's no denying that, despite being simple in construction, it can be a particularly difficult and cumbersome beast! Loading film can take several minutes (with each frame carrying the weight of nearly £5), and then there's approximating the composition through using etched guides. For the initial set-up, I approximate anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes and then, really, it's just a matter of waiting for any distractions to clear within its vast 141 degrees!
Decaying barges, Hoo Marina, Kent
Past and Present
North Kent Marshes
So, why bother with such a camera? In these days of instant gratification, immediate image review, and a scatter-gun approach, it feels like a refreshing break. I love the slower process it requires, along with its quirks and the unpredictability of the results. Ultimately, these cameras offer a very different perspective - one I’ve grown unashamedly fond of. It suits my way of working perfectly, and even when I’m shooting digital, they’re small and light enough to slip into the bag, just in case a scene calls for that aesthetic. I hope you enjoy them.
