When Bad Light is Good for Holgas – The Whole Roll

By Neal Wellons

6 February, 2026

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The Whole Roll

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Foma Film Fomapan 400 Holga 120N
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I collect and shoot Holgas, especially the 120 versions.  The plastic lens and exposure limitations work to inspire me in a way that doesn’t happen with 35mm or medium format cameras.

In my collection obsession, I recently discovered a mustard yellow beauty from the Holgawood collection that was released in 2008.  I immediately bought it to add to my own Holgawood collection.

On the day I received the camera that I now call Mr. Mustard, I had planned to visit a nearby town for some shooting.  Fortunately the camera arrived before I had to leave so I checked the operation and all was well.  I knew it was going to be a cloudy day which is normally unsuitable for the 1/125 shutter speed and roughly f/11 lens of the Holga.  My plan was to load with Foma 400 film and push it so I could hopefully have a successful photo shoot.

It was a good bit darker than I expected, even with the cloudy forecast.  To squeeze as much a possible out of the film, I developed it in FPPs version of HC-110 with dilution B for 15 minutes.  That about a 2.5 stop push.

It is rare that I get a whole roll of images that I like but I’m pleased with all so let’s take a look.

Holgas generally produce an image with a relatively sharp center but with fuzzy edges because of the plastic meniscus lens.  That is one of the qualities I love about Holgas.

I consider my Holga images to be more of an art form than a literal documentation of a scene.  I don’t hesitate to crop or use editing sliders to adjust the highlights, shadows, whites and blacks.  I generally spend about 15 seconds editing each image.  Additionally, I remove most of the dust and fiber artifacts that unfortunately how up more often in underexposed images.  Still, it takes only a minute or two to remove the offenders.

When you push an already somewhat grainy film, one of the trade-offs is even more grain.  Fortunately I am one of those photographers who really likes visible grain.  It varies in these images and one reason is the varying light.  Lower light shots usually have the most grain and some of my shots have huge amounts.  That’s fine with me.  The next one is either the winner or loser in the grain category, depending on your viewpoint.

All of the images above were taken in Jackson, Georgia and the one below was taken a half-hour later just east of Griffin, Georgia.

These results make me want to go out more often in poor lighting with my Holgas as I really like the look.  So I will.

If you made it this far, you may want to check out my other Holga articles here on 35mmc.

 

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About The Author

By Neal Wellons
I am a photography addict who also collects cameras. I started shooting adjustable cameras in 1960 and now have about 250 cameras in my collection and have shot most of them. I shot and developed over 200 rolls of film in 2024. My internet presence is on Flickr. You can find me at Neal Wellons or neal3k.
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Comments

Karen Jesina on When Bad Light is Good for Holgas – The Whole Roll

Comment posted: 06/02/2026

LOVE the grain! These are gorgeous. I have a plastic Holga in a box somewhere (we have moved a lot since 2020). You've inspired me to get it out!
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Neal Wellons replied:

Comment posted: 06/02/2026

Thanks and that makes me feel good. Holgas rejuvenated me and allowed me to revisit tired old sites with a new viewpoint. After a while, I developed composition, exposure, and film techniques that allow me even more flexibility and fun. Good luck with yours. If you like, I've got other Holga articles here on 35mmc that may help.

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Sroyon on When Bad Light is Good for Holgas – The Whole Roll

Comment posted: 06/02/2026

I have a Lomography Sprocket Rocket which has similar limitations: small aperture and only one shutter speed (plus Bulb). I ought to review it soon... You made some really nice images in the New Topographics style! I like such work by others, though for my own photography I'm usually drawn to people. A few years ago I did shoot a series which is a bit more like yours, here's the link if you're interested: https://35mmc.platform81preview.com/23/08/2021/facades-of-kolkata-and-the-value-of-boring-projects-by-sroyon/
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Neal Wellons replied:

Comment posted: 06/02/2026

I read your article when it was published and just read it again. I really enjoyed it. Great shots and I would be proud to have made them myself. I understand what you mean about the Sprocket Rocket as I have one that I have shot quite a bit. I guess I have an affinity for plastic meniscus lenses and "pretty sharp" photos.

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Ferris on When Bad Light is Good for Holgas – The Whole Roll

Comment posted: 07/02/2026

I recognized the shot with the interesting air ducts from your Flickr, Neal. While I doubt you would remember, but we met either last year or the one prior at a Southeast Photo meeting. Holgas present their challenges, but when they work, the results can be incredibly rewarding. Pushing the film was a smart choice.

Keep up the good work.
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Neal Wellons replied:

Comment posted: 07/02/2026

Hello Ferris, It must have been at Slow Exposures as that's the only photo show I get to. Maybe we will see each other this year too. I post my photos on Flickr too and I'm glad you saw it there. I'm currently testing Holgas in low light with semi-stand HC-110 and Rodinal 1+100 and it's looking like HC-110B for 15 minutes will the the way I go. I may try double 1+50 with the next test though. Neal

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Kodachromeguy on When Bad Light is Good for Holgas – The Whole Roll

Comment posted: 07/02/2026

These are such interesting rural scenes. Well done! On the scale of a tablet display, you can barely detect that these were not taken with a more sophisticated lens. I think this underscores that much (most?) of the emphasis on "sharpness" among internet warriors is a lot of garbage.
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Neal Wellons replied:

Comment posted: 07/02/2026

Thank you. I agree about sharpness too. About half of the over 200 rolls of film I shot last year were with what many would consider crummy plastic lenses. I love the look, especially of Holgas with the relatively sharp center and the beautiful fall-off on the edges.

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Kodachromeguy replied:

Comment posted: 07/02/2026

Much of the "Us my lens sharp enough?" Is cover for GAS.

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Stefan Wilde on When Bad Light is Good for Holgas – The Whole Roll

Comment posted: 07/02/2026

Can't but think of the Beatles: Mean Mr. Mustard... Anyway, theses pictures go to show once again that a technically good picture isn't necessarily interesting and engaging to look at while taking interesting and engaging pictures can be done with imperfect gear. I love these moody shots, they take one back in time. Thanks for posting!
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Neal Wellons replied:

Comment posted: 07/02/2026

I don't name many of my cameras but Mean Mr. Mustard was an automatic one for that beauty. Thanks so much and I'm so glad you like them.

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Andre on When Bad Light is Good for Holgas – The Whole Roll

Comment posted: 07/02/2026

I believe that grain should be added to UNESCO's Cultural Heritage list :)
I am also a passionate supporter of look like that. Looking at your photos on Flickr, I realized that Fomapan 400 and the push process are a wonderful combination.
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Neal Wellons replied:

Comment posted: 07/02/2026

Thank you Andre. Seeing mine on Flickr show you that I really love grain too. Fomapan 400 is one of the best and just as nice is the dark frame numbers that are easy to see even in sunlight on the Holga.

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Russell John Rosener on When Bad Light is Good for Holgas – The Whole Roll

Comment posted: 07/02/2026

The Holga camera is a genius tool for making lemonade out of lemons. How appropriate that yours is yellow. Excellent documents of some vernacular architecture that likely won't be standing for much longer. That look and the medium wide Holga lens really add to the story.
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Neal Wellons replied:

Comment posted: 07/02/2026

Thanks and I like your thought on the yellow Holga being great for photo lemonade. And I agree that the Holga adds to the story.

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Marcus Gunaratnam on When Bad Light is Good for Holgas – The Whole Roll

Comment posted: 08/02/2026

you must have had a ball in the darkroom, thanks for sharing grain ridden images that are pleasing to look at,did you print the photogrphs yourself?Push processing vs Pushed exposure(by this I mean setting the film speed to be greater by 2.5x) ,did you attempt to control the temperature?
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Neal Wellons replied:

Comment posted: 08/02/2026

It may be disappointing but none of these came from prints. I printed everything I took in the 1960s - 1970s but then started using labs. With computers, I went to scanning. I use my darkroom from time to time but usually for things like my rare 4X5 and 5X7 shots and tried printing Holga work a little last year. But I found I like shooting more than printing. I've got my gear and may get back in, but not yet. As far as push processing, I always work at 68 degrees for anything but stand and semi-stand. Even then, I try to stay within 2 or 3 degrees of 68. With Holgas, I routinely push when I shoot on cloudy days, even with 400 speed film. I like grain.

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Jeffery Luhn on When Bad Light is Good for Holgas – The Whole Roll

Comment posted: 08/02/2026

Neal,
Very good shots. I love the GRAIN! I have an Agfa 'Clack' camera from around 1950. It's got a glass miniscus lens, so it's a bit sharper than most Holga cameras, but the effect is very similar. Your corners look great and the grain.... Well, that's wonderful. It is truly fun to see the results from these silly cameras. Many of us get so obsessed with sharpness, and these super simple cameras are like pain killer. KEEP SHOOTING AND POSTING!
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Neal Wellons replied:

Comment posted: 08/02/2026

Thank you. Grain is good! I've heard of the Clack but have never seen a real one. Don't worry, I will keep shooting and posting here. I also post about three shots a day on Flickr. Many are from my Holgas.

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Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 08/02/2026

Neal, Clack cameras are available for less than $50USD on eBay. My nephew's wife bought my mint condition model in Paris for 20E about 3 years ago. It's so nice, I thought it was brand new! Then I looked it up and realized mine was an early 1954 version. There are some cool features: 6x9cm format, the film travels on a curved plane to compensate for the simple lens issues, glass lens, choice of several 'waterhouse' stops, optional interior yellow filter that aid is dark skies, 1/50th and B shutter speeds, very nice to hold. I'm sure you'd enjoy shooting with one. I've shot with Diana and a few Holga cameras and this does the best job without being too sharp. I mean, why use these plastic cameras if it isn't for the fuzzy vibe? I'll post some images in an upcoming article.

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Neal Wellons replied:

Comment posted: 08/02/2026

Thanks Jeffery. I'll take a look into Clacks and am looking forward to seeing your article.

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