back to life for black and white

I loved my old camera.  I took some of my favorite photos with it.  It did well with closeups, and its black and white setting was just so nice (neither are qualities shared with my current camera, even though it does other things very nicely.) 

It began having troubles a couple of years ago and only worked sporadically.  The viewfinder kept going out and that just wouldn't do.  So I replaced it with the new guy and have rarely had occasion to pick it up since then. 

Yesterday I was looking at the light as it came in the window and the way it was gently highlighting the plants above my bed and I wanted to capture it so I tried to fire up the old camera because it seemed like a shot that was perfect for it -- something that needed a little close-up detail, and that I was envisioning in black and white. 

At first the camera didn't work but I tried different batteries and jostling this and tugging on that and it finally kicked into gear and took the photo above.  I am happy to have it revived; it's like an old friend I've been missing.

Holga Polka invitational

betty's laundry
Originally uploaded by Hilary (curioush)

This image isn't in the upcoming Holga Polka Invitational, but it was the inspiration for a piece that I will have in the show.

This is the first time I will be publicly showing any mixed media work and I'm still not sure how successful my experiments were.

Details on the show:

Opening reception Friday, January 9, 2009, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Regional Arts Commission. The exhibition continues through February 22, 2009. A gallery talk will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2009. Reception 6:30 p.m., Talk 7 p.m.

In the age of digital photography, forty-two local artists will take the Holga challenge. Forget about using expensive, technology-laden cameras. The Holga, categorized as a toy camera because it is made of plastic, doesn’t have any bells and whistles. Yet, the Holga has a loyal following dedicated to its signature style of shocking simplicity and unpredictable results.

“The Holga only has one f-stop,” explained Mark A. Fisher, photographer and curator of the Holga Polka Invitational. “The back of the camera might fall off if you don’t tape it on. You’ll get double exposures, if you don’t advance the film. Little about the Holga says it’s a camera, but people are still using it as another tool to create stunning work.”

Holga Polka Participants:
David Angell, Tom Bremer, Jim Brooks, Paul Callaway, John Cross, John Dean, Valerie Dratwick, Doug Gaubatz, M.J. Goerke, Benjamin Guffee, David Hanlon, Robin Hirsch, Hilary Hitchcock, Noah Kirby, Bob Kitt, Robert Langnas, Jane Linders, Donna Lochmann, Don McKenna, Bill Meeks, Janice Nesser, Marion Noll, Alison Ouellette-Kirby, Marianne Pepper, Joan Proffer, Ruth Reese, Garrett Roberts, Russ Rosener, Jan Sago, Kathleen Sanker, Tony Schanuel, Jami Schoenewies, Michael Schoenewies, Eric Shultis, Jennifer Silverberg, Megan Singleton, Brian D. Smith, Susan Hacker Stang, Maria Sweney, Robert M. Witte, Kay Wood, and Barbara Zucker.

Live music by polka duo Larry Hallar’s Two Star Final.

Call 863.5811 for more info.