I bought myself a new toy

This special edition includes:

1. The White Stripes “Jack” edition Holga camera
2. The White Stripes edition titanium Fisheye Adaptor lens
3. Three plastic lens filters (one solid red, two colored soft-surround)
4. Exclusive Peppermint lens filter
5. Plastic filter mount
6. The World Through a Plastic Lens softcover book
7. “AA” batteries, opaque tape, and one roll of 120 film

The White Stripes, a.k.a Meg and Jack White, have branched out from the music business to try their hand at the world of Lomography cameras. The result is a pair of branded, limited edition retro Holga and Diana semi-replica cameras that come complete with a cool look and a bunch of extras for photography lovers. The “Jack” Holga comes complete with a fish-eye lens, a photo book entitled “The World Through a Plastic Lens,” three glass lens filters, a custom Peppermint Lens filter, a roll of medium format 120 film, and opaque tape. The “Meg” Diana includes: a ‘Nobody Knows How to Talk to Children” ringflash, a Diana Vignettes photo book, a removable lens for pinhole images, and a custom Peppermint Lens filter. If you are a vintage camera lover with a taste for unique imagery, these cameras may be of some interest–but you had better hurry. Only 3000 copies of each camera were produced. Available for $180 each.

-Dylan

I’m going to China.

It’s finally all settled.  Got my passport, got my visa, got my camera, and I’m going to China.  It was really a spur of the moment thing, my Mom and her friend were going shopping, and they’re both going to take their sons, isn’t that CUTE?!??

Anyway, I leave on Nov 8, and get back on Nov 15, so its’ a VERY short trip, but really, can I complain?  It’s frigging China.

Looking forward to posting about 987,759 photos when I get back,

Dylan

Confessions of a first year design student.

So, the shock of being back in school is over, and now we’re actually *gasp* LEARNING STUFF. Can I really complain when my homework is taking pictures, drawing, and playing with construction paper and glue sticks? (Yes, I am a university student. Yes, my homework involves gluing construction paper to posterboard using glue sticks and scissors. Is there anything wrong with that?) Anyway, yes, I am learning. I’ve kind of gotten used to using film, and I’m even kind of warming up to it! I didn’t see that coming.
Film is definitely a different kind of photography when compared to digital. It makes you way more thoughtful of the entire photography process. You have to consider composition, exposure, subject, angle, light and contrast before even thinking about taking the photo. Comparing this to digital is a joke. With digital you can just use trial and error all day, sure you’ll get it right eventually, but it really restricts your thought process. This is one of the things I’ve really liked with film, it really does make you think. This will, hopefully, translate over to my digital work, it can only help. So not only am I warming up to film, I’ve already bought 2, and I’m looking to purchase more, they are really neat.

Here is a quick selection of the first roll of film I ever put thought in to, it was for an Image Structure and Meaning class. We had to fill 2 rolls of film with only one subject. The goal of the assignment was to explore different angles, points of view, and lighting. Here are 5 from this Visual Dynamics assignment:

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I love this shot, unfortunately it was impossible to avoid the top of my car being in the frame. I still like it alot

This shows the main thing I really dislike about this camera, manual focus. Manual focus is very tricky to get right, and I definitely don’t envy older photographers who HAD to use this. It’s really a pain.

Straight on shot of my subject, a VERY cool old antique clock

It’s oh so abstract

Until next time,

Dylan

Holy Crap he’s Back!!

What’s it been, a few days? I’ll assume so, and not feel guilty for completely ignoring this this for over a month, I mean a few days.

Anyway, I’ve been really busy. Maybe not busy enough to not spend the 15 minutes making some posts here, but anyway, I’m back, and plan to be active again.

Here are a few from a trip to Calgary last weekend for the New Pornographers concert. The concert sucked (Luckily, it’s the third time I’ve seen them, the other two times were great), but the visit was good, and I love Calgary.

These were all taken in and around Eau Claire market, let me know what you think:

Feeling completely fine and not guilty at all,

Dylan