Alex’s Latest Hobby

     Well, actually, it’s one of many but I wanted to focus on his photography and camera collection.  With the popularity of Instagram, a photo sharing site, and its filter effects that transform new photos into what look like old photos, Alex’s interest was piqued. But he wanted something more natural and random so he started investigating film cameras and looking at sites where people post photos with the camera and lenses they use.  He found www.lomography.com, a site dedicated to analogue photography, and started saving up for his first film camera, the DianaF+(supposedly the worst camera ever made).  In the meantime, he found a Praktica MTL 50 in a charity shop in England. It came with a few accessories and a pretty gross looking case.

     Alex bought himself some film for his Praktica but was disappointed at the “excellent” quality of the pictures he had taken; he was looking for something a bit rougher and more artistic.  His next film was an expired film we had lying around the house and it gave him the results he was looking for. 

     Then, with the Diana in tow, he took the train into Strasbourg to meet with a friend, where they went around the city and took some photos. Since it uses 120 film, it’s a bit more specialized and can’t be developed at our local photo lab, so he’s only just figuring out where to send them for developing.  He’s really anxious to find out what they’ll look like.

     Since then, he’s received a Brownie Reflex, as a birthday gift from friends. It uses 127 film which is a bit rare but still findable. Available in black and white, he’ll be able to develop them himself using a basic home developing kit. He’s also received, from his grandparents, but not yet seen a  Keystone XR 308 and a Praktica LTL3 with accessories and a clean case.  It doesn’t really matter if they all work or not, he really likes that retro look of some of these cameras and is quite happy just having them on display.

Here are some of the photos he’s taken. Some of the digital ones have gone through Photoshop to be enhanced. If you happen to have the Instagram app on your device, you should check out Alex`s photos and follow him at MAPLEBOYALEX.

Montreux, Switzerland - Nikon D5100 Digital SLR

Montreux, Switzerland - Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Photoshoped to enhance 

Lac Léman, Switzerland - Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Photshoped to enhance

 Here are pics of his cameras.

Praktica MTL 50 with fresh film - Self portrait 

Praktica MTL 50 with expired film -Brownie Reflex

Praktica MTL 50 with expired film - Diana F+

Praktica MTL 50 with fresh film - grape hyacinths, Netherlands

Praktica MTL 50 with fresh film - daffodil fields, Netherlands

Praktica MTL 50 with fresh film - tulip fields, Netherlands

Praktica MTL 50 with expired film - The lovely Hannah and Vincent

Praktica MTL 50 with expired film - Lausanne, Switzerland

Praktica MTL 50 with expired film - playing the clarinette on the boardwalk, Lausanne

Praktica MTL 50 with expired film - clouds during a glorious sunset