Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity [Paperback]

Michelle Bates (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0240808401 | ISBN-13: 978-0240808406 | Publication Date: October 25, 2006

Take a tour of the burgeoning world of toy cameras and low-tech photography with Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity. Whether you're an experienced enthusiast or toy camera neophyte, you'll find Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity chock full of tantalizing tips, fun facts and, of course, absolutely striking photographs taken with the lowest tech and simplest tools around.

I got me a Holga. Now What?
Holgas need a little TLC before they're ready to go out in the world and start snapping. Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity digs through all the different Holga models available, lays out thier advantages and quirks and helps you get up to speed on all the prep you'll need to do to jump in on the toy-camera revolution.

What should I Feed my Holga?
Holgas, Dianas, other toy cameras can use many types of film. Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity, lays all their pros and cons on the line letting you get some images you want, and some you could just never imagine.

Can Holga come out to play?
Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity will help you steer your way through all the details and quirks of taking wonderful and weird pictures with your toy camera. We'll explore possible subjects and the best way to shoot them and play with all sorts of techniques from vignetting, to multiple exposures, to panoramas, close-ups, movement, night photography, flare, flash, color and more.

For the Intrepid Holga-ographer
For the Holga master, we've diagramed and described advanced toy camera modifications and introduce you to a variety of problems, solutions and inventions born from toy cameras' "limitations."

What Next?
From negatives to prints or pixels, we help you navigate your post-shooting choices.

Don't Forget
The Diana, Banner, Action Sampler, Photo Blaster, and Lensbaby are all toy cameras with their own loveable qualities. We'll look beyond the Holga to show a whole wide world of toys.

Artists Artists in this book include:
Michael Ackerman
Jonathan Bailey
Eric Havelock-Baillie
James Balog
Betsy Bell
Susan Bowen
Laura Burlton
David Burnett
Nancy Burson
Perry Dilbeck
Jill Enfield
Annette Fournet
Megan Green
Wesley Kennedy
Teru Kuwayama
Mary Ann Lynch
Anne Arden McDonald
Daniel Miller
Ted Orland
Robert Owen
Becky Ramotowski
Nancy Rexroth
Francisco Mata Rosas
Richard Ross
Franco Salmoiraghi
Michael Sherwin
Harvey Stein
Gordon Stettinius
Mark Sink
Kurt Smith
Sandy Sorlien
Pauline St. Denis
;-p r a b u!

*The first toy camera guide written by the internationally known "Holga Queen"
*Full color, fabulous images illustrate what can be done with toys, for fun or professionally
*Step-by-step examples clearly explain how techniques are achieved

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Toying with Creativity takes photographers on a tour of the fun, creative world of toy cameras and low-tech photography. THE resource for toy camera enthusiasts worldwide!

About the Author

Michelle Bates has been playing with Holgas since 1991. Since then, she has used these plastic cameras for everything from fine-art to editorial to commercial photography. Her work has won several awards and been published on numerous web magazines, included in toy cameras exhibitions worldwide, and printed in many magazines. She has had solo shows in the Pacific Northwest, Los Angeles and Israel. Bates has been teaching toy camera workshops since 1998, and currently teaches at the Photographic Center Northwest, the Julia Dean Workshops in Los Angeles, and at the International Center of Photography in New York. She also guest lectures nationwide, and was a featured speaker at the Society for Photographic Education's NW regional conference in 2005. Currently, Michelle Bates is a member of the Advisory Board of Photographic Professionals of Freestyle Photographic Supply. With her history of creating toy camera imagery and activity in the national and international toy camera communities for well over a decade, Michelle Bates is a well-known and respected name in the field.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press (October 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240808401
• ISBN-13: 978-0240808406
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 7.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #732,827 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michelle Bates has been photographing with Holga cameras since 1991, and since then has become known as the "Holga Queen." She exhibits her images worldwide, and lectures and teaches about mastering toy cameras at photo centers, universities, conferences and photo festivals around the United States.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best on the subject, November 9, 2006

By 

Mark Kimber (adelaide, south australia Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity (Paperback)

I cannot speak highly enough of this book. The range of imagery, discussion of technique and conceptual development is first rate. The Plastic camera genre has been with us for many years but this is the finest book I have seen on the subject.
The photography is quite superb and well set out. I am a lecturer in Photography and I will certainly be recommending this book to my library and my students.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive book on toy cameras!, March 8, 2007

By 

Mike (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity (Paperback)

There is so much great content in Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity! Not only does it pose as a great jumping off point for those new to toy camera photography, but it provides many awesome tips and techniques for seasoned veterans alike.
Plastic Cameras starts off with a nice little history of The Diana camera and her many clones, and then moves on to the star of the show: Holga. The book then jumps immediately into a large selection of toy camera portfolios by the likes of Nancy Rexroth, James Balog, and the author herself Michelle Bates. The book is worth the price of admission just for the inspiration contained in these portfolios. There are so many different styles and techniques on display it makes you want to pick your camera up and go shoot.
The middle section of the book deals with selecting film types, loading up that first roll, and what to expect (hint: expect the unexpected) from your adventures. There are also some more detailed descriptions of various other toy cameras, their origins, and what to expect when using them. I think my favorite chapter though would have to be chapter 9: Holga Camera Modifications. Those 3 little words have helped create an entire community of devoted and creative fans that, I believe, make the Holga one of the most fun photographic tools around. The number of things you can do to a Holga to enhance your experience are endless, and Michelle touches on some of the best in this chapter. Whether it's adjusting your apertures, how to load 35mm film into this medium format camera (you can load 35mm film into a non 35mm camera?) or creating a PinHolga, they're all here. The book ends off with how to go about getting your film processed, making contact sheets, and even film scanning information.
This book is an invaluable resource for toy camera shooters, and a must read for anyone looking to open up and get creative with their image making. If you're looking for a release from the digital choke hold on photography, grab a Holga, pick up a copy of Plastic Cameras, and get out there and shoot!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Guide to the world of plastic photography., October 20, 2006

By 

J. Nunamaker "jnsnapdragon" (Miami, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity (Paperback)

Without a doubt, the best all-around guide to plastic camera photography available. Well written, beautifully illustrated, informative yet entertaining. Michelle Bates has done a great job. If you're just curious, she will inspire you. If you're into the plastic fantastic, she'll motivate you. And if you've been doing this stuff for years, she'll make you feel good about yourself. It's about time somebody did it, and I don't think anyone could have done it better.

Kent Nunamaker