How can I be a creative photographer?

I'm sure that at some point most photographers have wondered how to be more creative in their photography. I suppose that it depends on your definition of creative and to a larger extent your photographic vision. If you are looking to take a photograph that is different from the blob of work that is out there, something that isn't the same record shot made by countless people on their 'phones, then creativity can help. But creativity comes from within the individual and is quite personal I think. It does come back to your personal vision of the finished photograph.  What is your intent?

A good way to be inspired in your creativity is to look at what others have done. Here are a few things that I have done lately, although I am by no means the most creative person around.

• Redscale film
• Magnifying Glass macro lens
• Pushing film

The photographs shown here were taken using black and white film, using the second technique, shown above.  I used a magnifying glass as a pseudo macro lens for a Holga. Now it's not Macro on the scale of taking a photo of a flys eye but it does allow you to get closer than any normal Holga lens will allow (normally 1 meter). Then you can find light, texture and delight in the most unexpected places. 

Here I have taken a photo of the carving on the top of a gravestone. The photo really brings out the texture of the carved stone without needing to be pin sharp.

Carving on gravestone

This photo I have taken a close up shot of a carved fairy that someone had left on a grave. This one uses the light on an interesting ( to me) way.

Fairy sat on a grave

If you are devoid of inspiration the everyday can sometimes be worth exploring. Here we have the bark of a tree in natural directional light. 

Tree bark

Finally a picture of a leaf. This was not intended to be an accurate record of the leaf but have enough detail to feel leafy. The back lighting allows the internal structure of the leaf to be visible.

A leaf

I may enlarge on this topic of "creativity" in future blogs.

Holga 645 Mode

Back in the day the Holga was supplied as the Holga 120S. The glass lens version was called a Woca 120. This was all before the factory stopped production.  Interestingly when I ordered my Holga, a boxed Holga 120S arrived from Hong Kong. The Holga 120S only came with a 645 mask and the selector on the camera back was glued in place for 16 photos on 120 film. 

Later I bought a Holga 120 GN, the successor to the Woca 120. The 120 GN has a glass lens but came with a 6x6 mask and a 645 mask. Also the selector on the back was free to move. It's rare that anyone uses 645 as most people use the 6x6 mask and shoot 12 pictures on the film.

All that history is a long winded way of getting to the point of this post, which is to shoot my Holga in 645 mode.

I shot a roll of Kentmere Pan 100 film.

I enjoyed the format and its definitely an option in future. 

All the fun of the fair

In Mumbles, near Swansea there is a Big Wheel. I visited with my Holga and decided to take a few snaps.

Mumbles Big Wheel

It seems quite a popular addition to the area behind the pier.

I do like the Mumbles area of Swansea, it has some nice bars, chip shops, various artisan shops a lovely walk along the coast.

Visit Mumbles

Enjoy the Holga Pics!

 

Single Holga Photo - 5

This Holga Photo was taken in Brittany France on one of my forays over there.  I like the photograph because it exudes calm. It was a bit of a misty day and the day was starting slowly. I remember that we, the lady wife and I, went for a drive.  We ended up stopping at this destination, I've not recorded where though, for a cup of coffee and I loaded the Holga and took some snaps.  This one was the best of the roll, in my opinion.

Two yachts at rest

Single Holga Photo - 4

Holga Photo number four is a colour photograph taken near my home in Somerset. 

A Holga will struggle to focus down as closely as was required for this image. I carry a magnifying glass in my bag. You can focus the magnifying glass by looking through it and when you are happy, keep the magnifying glass still, and move the Holga so that the lens touches the magnifying glass.  An that way you have a close up adapter for the Holga. Framing can b a bit hit and miss, but in this case a hit.

This was taken in Autumn and the leaf had fallen and lodged in the cleft between two branches.

Single Holga Photo - 3

This Holga photo was taken in Swansea Marina on a cold, early spring day. I was experimenting with using the bulb setting on the Holga.  This frame was the one from the roll that stood out, most of the rest were a blurry mess. This one is still blurry but is at least recognisable for what it is. I like this shot because the rope holes and opening on the bow form a kind of surprised face.

Single Holga Photo - 2

Taken on the Holga in Bathurst Basin, a triangular dock area to the east of Spike Island. You can see the general Hospital building to the right.

I love the dappled light under the trees. I think the Holga has handled the scene well.

This is an area of Bristol that I know well and I still enjoy visiting, especially with a Holga.

Walking along the dock at Bathurst Basin

Single Holga Photo - 1

One of the things that I love about the Holga camera is it's ability to surprise you. This photo has such a painterly feel to it. I remember when I took it not feeling very hopeful about the frame. However with the Holga camera you need to keep shooting, even if you are not feeling great about the roll.

When I processed the film and looked at the negatives this one jumped out.

The photograph was taken in Pill, near Bristol.  The name "Pill" comes from the Welsh word Pîl which denotes a tidal inlet or harbour. My maternal Grandparents lived in Pill until the 1980s, when they moved to South Gloucestershire.

My Mums cousin operated the Pill Ferry from Pill to Shirehampton when I was a kid. His name was Robert. These boats reminded me of those days.

Pill Ferry

Two boats resting until they are needed again.

London - A work trip

 My working life has always included national travel. There was a piece of work that came up recently that meant I needed to go to London for 3 days. While there I took the opportunity to play hooky for an afternoon. My work colleague is a metal detectorist and someone who takes deep dives into history.  The afternoon in question, meant that we had completed the work but our train tickets were booked for the following day (a money saving technique by our employer). So rather than sit around in our hotel or spend the day in a pub (not at £8.75 a pint thank you very much!) we decided to have a walk around London to see the stuff that normally gets left out on guided tours.

Here are a selection of my photographs from that walk.

St Alphege Church near the City of London Wall

St_Alphege_London_Wall

St Bartholomew the Great Church

greatstbart

Smithfield Market

smithfieldmarket

St Bartholomew the Great Church

greatstbart

St Bartholomew the Great Church

greatstbart

Old Naval College

police-call-posts

St Alphege Church near the City of London Wall

St_Alphege_London_Wall

Inverness - A work Trip

Inverness?  But thats in Sconny Botland? Oh well there was work to be completed and EasyJet ran a flight from Bristol Airport to Inverness Airport. I packed my Holga into my bag and a couple of rolls of Black and White film. There may be an opportunity to take some photos. I've been to Inverness a couple of times now and I have enjoyed the trips.  I had a walk around Inverness on the first trip as well as a chance to visit Loch Ness.  These are the resulting Holga Pictures.

Loch Ness

Loch Ness

Inverness

Inverness

Inverness

Inverness

Gateshead - A work Trip

 In November 2025, I was dispatched, by EasyJet from Bristol, to complete some work in Newcastle. The flights were not conducive to the normal model of travel to site, do the work and go home again.  This meant that I had an afternoon spare and having taken my trusty Holga GN 120 with me and a few rolls of film, I was able to capture some Holga Pictures. These are the Black and White shots. I did shoot some colour and so I may create a blog with those in.

Kentmere Pan 400

Kentmere Pan 400

Kentmere Pan 400

Kentmere Pan 400

Kentmere Pan 400

Kodak Tri-X (Expired)

Kodak Tri-X (Expired)

Kodak Tri-X (Expired)

A forward schedule of activity

 As previously mentioned my work life requires national travel. I have just been given a schedule for the second half of 2026. Hopefully there will be opportunity for photography on some or all of the trips

1)    South Yorkshire - August 2026

2)    Lancashire - September 2026

3)    Nottingham and Lincoln - October 2026

4)    London - November 2026

5)    Sussex and Kent - December 2026

6)    Hampshire - January 2027

7)    Devon and Avon - January 2027

8)    Scotland - February 2027

We shall see what I am able to do. 

I'll keep the Nikon F75 loaded with Kentmere Pan 400 film and travel light. I've been enjoying the Nikon F75 this year. The camera feels great in the hand and all the controls are easy to access. I've paired it with a Nikon fit Voigtlander Ultron SL-II 40mm, which is a lovely sharp lens that allows zone focusing.

London - A work Trip

In January of 2026, I took a train from my home in Somerset to London. There was work to be completed but not by me. My role was to assure the work and ensure the operational priorities of the customer were accounted for.  I stayed in Stratford in the East of London, by the Westfield Centre.  Being January, cold and lacking light, I decided to do my best with my Holga and push the film.  Not every frame was a winner but there were some nice pictures