All images by Troyce Hoffman. Used with Creative Commons permission.
If you still have a Holga camera lying around, we spotted a set of stunning black and white photos that will make you want to pick that Holga up and take it on a road trip. Through his snaps of the American West, California-based documentary photographer Troyce Hoffman shows us exactly how the iconic toy camera works wonders in capable hands.
The plastic fantastic Holga may not be the top choice for photographers who want to do serious work, but these landscape shots will surely have you thinking twice about passing up on this camera. When Troyce started taking a Holga, gifted to him six years ago, along on trips to the West, he most likely didn’t expect much from the photos. However, he eventually found it to be a great shooting companion for documenting the wilderness of the beautiful landscapes.
“Slowly over time I found myself shooting more and more with only the Holga. The lack of control was incredibly liberating; no longer was I focused on gear in these wild places. With its limitations I slowly found out what type of light, compositions, and landscapes worked best. All the photos are taken with Kodak Tri-X film with a red filter that is then push processed to ISO 1600, this combination I feel creates a very dramatic effect that conveys the raw and unforgiving nature of the land.”
Seeing the results, I’m sure we all share his surprise upon seeing these images from his trip with the Holga. The textures are beautiful, the contrast is just right, and the compositions show a rugged beauty the American West is known for. It’s actually difficult to choose a favorite (or a handful of favorites), but I especially love the desert photos for the incredible details Troyce was able to capture.
Don’t forget to check out Troyce Hoffman’s website and Behance portfolio to see more of The American West (Volume I & Volume II) and the rest of his photography.