I haven’t done my “split film” photo trick in a while – cramming two rolls of 35mm film into one camera and then shooting away. But last week, I prepared the Holga for another run of split film photos.
Since I had to take a drive into Canada, I taped up the Holga with two rolls of ISO 400 film. Again, I’m not expecting much – one roll was a 24-exposure roll of fresh-off-the-store-shelf Rite Aid 35mm film (which, for all intents and purposes, is rebranded C-41 Fuji film), while the other roll was a rebranded Agfa C-41 roll of Polaroid that was probably bought at a Wal-Mart about 8 years ago and is about 5 years past its expiration date.
Pfft. What do I care about expiration dates?
In order to really do this correctly, you need to make sure your Holga is taped up almost to the point of mummification. I’ve actually saved time in taping the Holga up by applying strips of Velcro to the sides of the camera; that way, I can seal it up and open it easily, and I can keep my “Where’s the damn tape seam so that I can take the tape off the camera” comments to a minimum.
I can usually get about ten exposures when using two 24-exposure rolls of film; I really don’t want to cram anything longer into the Holga, in that I don’t have any thin 620 empty spools handy right now.
Still, I did get this image – which I stitched together from the two rolls of film, and is now going to be one of the pictures I enter into competition.
The top film layer – the one on the left – was the Fuji 400 film that was rebranded as cheapo Rite Aid film. The bottom film layer – the one on the right – was Agfa film that was rebranded as Polaroid film for sale at Wal-Mart. I have to remember next time, when I put the film in the camera, to overlay the film differently; you can’t see the words “POLAROID” on the film because I placed the Polaroid film as the bottom layer, so the “POLAROID” branding on the sprocket holes is covered. Must remember to do that next time.
Still, I really like this effect, and I’m definitely entering this picture in competitions this year. What do you think?
Chuck The Writer 
you can’t see the words “POLAROID” on the film because I placed the Polaroid film as the bottom layer, so the “POLAROID” branding on the sprocket holes is covered. Must remember to do that next time.
Oh man, that gives me a great idea… I need to start putting “CANON 5D” on all my photos.
LikeLike
Hey Chuck …. Any chance this summer I can spend a day with you for some one on one training? They don’t teach any of this crazy fun stuff at school and I would like to learn
more about some of your tips and tricks …. Hell I don’t even know how you scanned the film to do *the above* are you using a film scanner … flatbed scanner ??? Anyhow … Your stuff is great and I hope to meet up with you in the near future …. Diane 🙂
LikeLike
Diane – let’s set something up this summer. Will that work?
LikeLike