Half-frame Holga by Buzzy Sullivan
The right tools for the job: Holga, film, film box or thin cardboard, scissors, and electric or gaffers tape.
- Remove the plastic film mask from your Holga camera. Cut up a film box or other piece of cardboard to the same length as the film mask, and half the height (or less than half if you want unbalanced frames).
- Feel free to leave a jagged edge in your cardboard – it will have a cool effect on the photos. Keep in mind that your edge will be magnified in the picture – so the more perfect that you try to make it, the less perfect it will probably look.
- Use some gaffers or electric tape to fasten the cardboard to either the top or bottom half of your Holga frame.
- Load your film as usual and go shoot. For composition, keep in mind that you are shooting half-frame.
- After your last shot, go into a dark room, a car trunk, or use a film-changing bag (about 10 bucks at most pro photo stores). By hand, roll the film from the take-up spool onto the original spool. This is easiest if you hold the spools together. Don’t forget which way is up and which is down on your film roll.
- Once your film is rolled back, then go into a lighted area and flip the Holga mask upside down – so that the cardboard if covering the opposite side.
- Load the film like normal and shoot the roll again (keeping in mind your half-frame composition).
- Develop as usual, smile, and repeat!!!