Using the HOLGA GCFN for my Frugal Film Project 2024

Let's chat about the Frugal Film Project, the Holga GCFN, and the first month of the project shot at a super cool arcade!!
Frugal Film Project FB Group: / 1163101494091862
FFP Instagram page: / frugalfilmproject
Sherry Christensen IG: / sherrychristensenphoto...
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[@focustiltphoto]

Great images. I love the colors with the Holga look! Really looking forward to more for the remaining months of the project!

[@Eclectachrome]

thanks!! it's a fun look, and looking forward to yours as well and future youtube videos :)

[@jenspi4725]

Really fun video, thanks! It's very cool to see young people shooting film. No hate on digital...it is its own thing and nothing bad about that. But I grew up with film and I'm happy to see it is still a thing.

[@Eclectachrome]

thanks! it is SO a thing haha and hopefully (although I haven't studied the market trends or anything) it is still growing, for me its a lot of the process in addition the to result that I love, and I grew up with it too :)

[@lihtan]

I grew up with film too. After a decade of using digital cameras, it's nice to come back to film. I found that it really helped me slow down and work on composition and framing, since there's a finite number of shots, and I'm paying for each one!

[@theoldcameraguy]

Off to a great start with this year’s FFP - Love those arcade shots!

[@Eclectachrome]

thanks!! was a lot of fun :)

[@jimpchip]

These are great pics. Good luck.

[@Eclectachrome]

Thanks!!

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

Molly Kate -- Every 1st of the month in 2024 I'm sending up a prayer, "Please Lord, help Molly Kate finish out the month for her FFP roll!!!" 😁😁😁

[@Eclectachrome]

thank youuuuuuuu!!!!! this year im feeling it - I need to finish!!

[@AnalogueDiaries]

Hoping you get this finished this year. Nice photos you got and I have no idea how you managed to shoot Gold in such tough light scenario. 👌

[@Eclectachrome]

Thanks!! Well I did have a couple photos totally dark haha

[@Minolta_Gal]

Awesome images! And yes the Holga rocks. I have a few, fun cameras.

[@Eclectachrome]

thanks!! what's your fav?

[@Minolta_Gal]

@@Eclectachrome the GCFN, I got if off shopgoodwill & absolutely adore it. I also like the 120N as well. It works really well with lomo purple & turquoise, as well as Portra 160.

[@Eclectachrome]

@@Minolta_Gal yeah that one stands out! Sounds awesome 👌

[@mikejames7477]

Fab video as always : ) and impressive that you managed to get some sunny Cardiff photo's last year!!! ha.You'll smash the project in 2024!!! That arcade looked epic, and some wicked pics in there too.....plenty more to come I hope? : )

[@Eclectachrome]

Well, there was at least one sunny day a month and that’s when I decided to go out and shoot lol 😂 thank you yeah, the arcade was super fun and I am definitely committed to finishing 2024 so hoping I do!

[@mikejames7477]

You’ll do it!!! 🤞

[@WittyDroog]

Having just finished the 2023 year with two different cameras the burnout can feel real but that's also part of the fun of it. I found it was less about getting the best shots (though it's lovely when you get great shots) and more about just getting into the rhythm and rote. Some of my rolls weren't great but like running a marathon the accomplishment of shooting every roll is rewarding by itself. Wishing you the best of luck!

[@Eclectachrome]

thank you!! gosh yeah more than one is a task for sure :) but like you said, it's getting out and doing it and I'm usually okay as long as I get one I like in the roll!

[@FocalMatter]

Mooooooooooolllyyy… this combination works so well… the dreamy lense on this with warm colours and add the setting is absolute fiiiiyyuuurrrrr - super retro vibes… I love it 12:39 the best photo I have seen from anyone in a loooong time… also the diner shots too 🙌 You slayed Jans frugal

[@Eclectachrome]

DUDE!! thank you :) haha yeah it's SO MUCH FUN, i need to go back already!! as always youre way to nice, thank youuuuuuu!!

[@FocalMatter]

@@Eclectachrome shhh it’s a secret 🤣

[@Eclectachrome]

@@FocalMatter oops!! Haha

[@DannerPlace]

Cool camera, fun video. Would also be great for B&W.

[@Eclectachrome]

Totally!

[@brotherandroid]

I'm not crazy about the Holga look in general but I think you used it quite effectively. The images at 3:08 are really beautiful, and the arcade images are a lot of fun, especially the skeeball and hockey table shots

[@Eclectachrome]

thank you!! Yeah i really want to try to work more with getting images like the one you pointed out with the Holga, it's surprising what it can do sometimes!

[@brotherandroid]

@@Eclectachrome Yeah it can sometimes achieve a beautiful impressionistic effect. Seems really unpredictable though!

[@garybrowser6885]

really enjoyed this video - that certainly looks a fun camera -good luck with the project, and can't wait to see where the journey takes you next

[@Eclectachrome]

thank you!!! glad you enjoyed the video :) next will be somewhere pretty and snowy in NH very likely - I'll probably do better with outdoor natural light :)

[@randyreitenauer]

I really dig the skeeball shit, and the vibe of the diner at 12:50 I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of your stuff in 2024.

[@randyreitenauer]

Oh yeah, and I liked the next shot too. 12:55

[@Eclectachrome]

hehe thanks Randy!!! I'm hoping to finish this year :) think next month I'll take more outdoors photos with the holga especially now that we have a good amount of snow!

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Great first month for the FFP! Looking forward to what you can do this year and hopefully make it beyond August. As for taping up the Holga, I have never taped either of my Holgas, but I also didn't get any light leaks.

[@Eclectachrome]

thank you! i'm really hoping to finish so will take it steady :) that's encouraging to know you haven't had issues with light leaks!

[@scottplumer3668]

I bought a brand new 120N from B&H Photo, and haven't had any light leaks with it yet, but I still put tape over the red window at the back, just for safety's sake. But I gotta say it has taken some of my favorite pictures. I ended up buying a Holga lens for my DSLR, too.

[@Eclectachrome]

awesome! i've always wanted to try that holga lens on the DSLR, how is it?

[@scottplumer3668]

@@Eclectachrome the camera freaks out a bit because it thinks that it doesn't have a lens attached, but the images still come out pretty cool. Also, there was a movie (probably more than one) that shot some scenes with Holga lenses. The movie was called A Field in England.

[@Eclectachrome]

oh neat! i'll check it out, cheers :)@@scottplumer3668

[@carltanner9065]

Yep, that Fugal Frilm Project!!!🤣🤣😝😝 Nothing wrong will the good old Holga!! Have several of them, myself.

[@Eclectachrome]

hahah yep!! awesome, what's your fav one?

[@Nieuwhollands]

The arcade photos look really cool. And love the song you put on for that section

[@Eclectachrome]

thanks!! and yayyyy :) :) i've been listening to epidemic sound like spotify haha finding good tracks there is amazing

[@BobWilliamsphotographer]

very cool, makes me want to pull my old Holga out of the drawer.

[@Eclectachrome]

go for it!

[@stulindenjr]

I just purchased a #Holga120N and im kind of interested in seeing my photos developed 😉.

[@Eclectachrome]

oh yay!! have fun :)

[@Casualfulltime]

I love Kodak gold. It pushes really well to 400 ISO too.

[@Eclectachrome]

Nice!! I haven’t pushed it yet but that’s an idea!!

[@bagnome]

Neat camera. I have one. I had to put a piece of painter's tape on the back with a note to myself that read, "Take lens cap off, dummy!" I will also recommend that people using this camera at least put tape of the frame counter window. I've gone out on bright sunny days and when the camera sits on the same frame long enough, some light does penetrate the window and the backing paper, leaving a small dot of light leakage in the middle of the fame. So, I think it's best to cover the frame window with a piece of black electrical tape and only lift it when advancing the film.

[@Eclectachrome]

hahaha great tip!! very easy to do that and skip a frame or two lol

[@lupindeweir]

Back with more? Cool! Enjoy your work. -a random mike

[@Eclectachrome]

always! and thank you :)

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

The basic plastic-lens Holgas can definitely take photos, but yeah -- they can be a little on the, "Wait, is that a Giraffe in your picture?" side! 🤣🤣🤣 The glass-lens model -- especially with the flash, can capture much sharper images and give you lots of options! And for right now the white version allows you stealth-snow photos!!!

[@Eclectachrome]

hahah so true :D ohhh i didn't think about the stealth aspect but that is a VERY good point!!! Perhaps I should try some woodland photography next - but I need to find a white snow jacket and pants because everything I have is black which makes the camera stand out LOL

[@lihtan]

I participated in the FFP last year, but I also had things in my life fall apart, so I ended up having to stop. I still have a roll from last year that I haven't been able to get processed yet.

[@Eclectachrome]

i feel ya! it happens...are you going for it again in 2024 or taking a break?

[@lihtan]

@@Eclectachrome I'm probably going to be taking a break. My camera last year was one of those cheap plastic Ultronic Panorama cameras. It has plastic optics, and takes photos similar to the Holga, that are sharp in the center, and blurry on the edges. I had fun with that camera, and it was very reliable. I did find another camera at a thrift store last year. It's a Pentax PC-303 point-and-shoot. I wanted to have some fun with high quality glass optics, and auto focus, but it's having a film advance issue I need to look at. I'm finding these days that doing the work to build my KZbin channel is eating up most of my time.

[@DaisyEye]

I enjoyed your video and info about the frugal film group. Im going to join! Did you shoot ok bulb in the arcade or use the flash?

[@Eclectachrome]

Awesome!! I used flash for some of the pics but a couple, like the pacman one I used bulb but also did a multiple exposure too with flash, so kinda crazy haha

[@marciano-jones]

I have a black one.. But i chucked it into the does not work bin. Its just always off. I have tried several times but the distance scale and actual distances are completely off. Do have a Diana that does work. Maybe i'll make a pinhole out of the holga.

[@Eclectachrome]

aw no poor Holga! hmm that's odd, mine is okay, but maybe something got thrown of with yours. I like the Diana, but the form factor of the Holga better still. That's a great idea for the holga though with the pinhole!!

[@bigbossman3806]

Great video but I thought the camera and photos were a little disappointing do to light leakes. Your project gives me inspiration to dig out a couple of my 60 or 70 years old Kodak plastic fantastic cameras and take some snapshots.

[@Eclectachrome]

oh yay!! that would be super fun, let me know what you get with those :)

[@suzannepedersen1856]

I don’t think I knew there was a glass lens version with a flash! I only have 3 plastic lens ones, no flash!!

[@Eclectachrome]

yea it's super nice!!! the plastic ones are very similar though but it is also nice to have the flash function!

[@letmebereal]

Run some cotton around the film cover there's a little slot it should fit into. Adam Welch has good video for "Super Holga" Do you feel the glass lens retains the beautiful Holga aesthetics , or is it too good?

[@Eclectachrome]

oh thanks!! the glass lens absolutely retains the Holga nature, It's still blurry around the edges giving it that Holga look!

[@scottalanphotography]

Awesome video. This randomly came up as a suggested watch. I love the Holga. Do you participate in Holga week? Also, did I see a Minolta HI Matic at the beginning of the video? I'm subbing now! Have a nice day! 😊

[@Eclectachrome]

Thanks so much! awesome, i have done Holga Week!! past two years now and definitely doing it this year again. Have you done it? and yes haha it must have been the minolta gf :) i've also had a hi matic G2 which was FAB - you too :)

[@scottalanphotography]

@Eclectachrome I've done it the last two years as well. I hang out with Mr. Holga and Todd quite a bit at Don's Used Photo. I've got my own channel as well that I plan on ramping back up. :)

[@Eclectachrome]

that's awesome!! @@scottalanphotography

[@sliepa]

I have to tape up my 120N or the back falls off. My other Holga's have stronger clips. Like the image at 11:52, very painterly.

[@Eclectachrome]

Ah yeah, do you find they wear out over time or it depends on the one you get? And thanks!!

[@sliepa]

It depends on the clips but if you use the camera enough I think any of those clips might loosen up over time. They're not super strong to begin with. With my 120N the back fell off the 1st time I used it, they were quite loose.

[@Eclectachrome]

@sliepa gotcha thanks!! Aw the 120N yeah maybe those are made less well as the gcfn?

[@sliepa]

@@Eclectachrome That could well be.

[@AnalogFramecraft]

Do you know if Holga has some official website? I would like to buy 135 version but can't find any official site or store.

[@Eclectachrome]

I haven't seen one! Only at retailers, but I do know Amazon or B&H or Freestyle in the US usually carry the 135 - are you in the US?

[@AnalogFramecraft]

@@Eclectachrome Poland

[@dflf]

Holga and an extra large roll of electrical tape

[@Eclectachrome]

LOL yeah maybe the future :)

[@ste76539]

Nice images. But 'Frugal' is stretching it a bit these days.

[@Eclectachrome]

thanks! Why's that? or I guess, what do you consider Frugal?

[@ste76539]

You're welcome, deservedly so. A pack (5 rolls) of Kodak Portra 120 film costs around £70 at the moment here, I wasn't able to find a pack of Gold to compare perfectly but it's probably not that far off, which is a LOT of money to spend these days - for some that's more than they have to spend on food and grocery's per week, so not what any reasonable person could call frugal. It wasn't a criticism of your video by the way, just a sad reflection on today and what I like to call 'cost of greed' crisis.

[@Eclectachrome]

oh yeah Portra is too expensive for me and if Gold was around that price I wouldn't grab it, only if it was around 30-35ish! sorry to hear its expensive where you are - have you checked out Lomography's price reductions? they had some 120 3-packs going for around 20-30 depending on the ISO. but yeah totally get what you're saying and I didn't take it as a criticism at all :) @@ste76539

[@ste76539]

I haven't but honestly I am a digital only photographer these days, I did the film thing the first time around in the eighties and nineties! This is Rip Off Britain though - there are no cheap film stocks, everything is over priced. So I'll shoot digital only until I hit the jackpot, and enjoy watching channels such as yours.

[@Eclectachrome]

that's cool, whatever works for you!!@@ste76539

[@bobmorr2892]

Frugal and film has not gone together for years now. A dollar or two for every photo is just too much. By the time you pay for film and developing it really takes the fun out of all of it.

[@Eclectachrome]

It depends on how you look at it and what your priorities are, but yeah film today isn’t for a lot of folks and that’s alright. What do you prefer to use, do you shoot digital?

[@bobmorr2892]

@@Eclectachrome I take lenses from vintage cameras some are 60 or 70 years old and I make custom adapters to use with my mirrorless cameras. However I have numerous film cameras and have taken tens of thousands or more film photos and enjoyed it back when it was cost half as much just a few years ago.