Lo-fi photography
Encyclopedia
Lo-fi photography is a style of photography generally using poor equipment, such as toy camera
s or pinhole camera
s, for stylistic effect. It is often considered a reaction to the perceived ease of creating technically perfect photos in the digital age. Generally the emphasis is on using film, rather than digital technology.
Toy camera
Toy cameras are simple, inexpensive film box cameras made almost entirely out of plastic, often including the lens. The term is misleading, since they are not merely 'toys' but are in fact capable of taking photographs. Many were made to be given away as novelties or prizes...
s or pinhole camera
Pinhole camera
A pinhole camera is a simple camera without a lens and with a single small aperture – effectively a light-proof box with a small hole in one side. Light from a scene passes through this single point and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of the box...
s, for stylistic effect. It is often considered a reaction to the perceived ease of creating technically perfect photos in the digital age. Generally the emphasis is on using film, rather than digital technology.
Lo-fi techniques
- Toy cameraToy cameraToy cameras are simple, inexpensive film box cameras made almost entirely out of plastic, often including the lens. The term is misleading, since they are not merely 'toys' but are in fact capable of taking photographs. Many were made to be given away as novelties or prizes...
- Pinhole cameraPinhole cameraA pinhole camera is a simple camera without a lens and with a single small aperture – effectively a light-proof box with a small hole in one side. Light from a scene passes through this single point and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of the box...
- Instant cameraInstant cameraThe instant camera is a type of camera that generates a developed film image. The most popular types to use self-developing film were formerly made by Polaroid Corporation....
- RedscaleRedscaleRedscale is the name given to a technique of shooting photographic film where the film is exposed from the wrong side, i.e the emulsion is exposed through the base of the film. Normally, this is done by winding the film upside-down into an empty film canister...
- cross processingCross processingCross processing is the procedure of deliberately processing photographic film in a chemical solution intended for a different type of film. The effect was discovered independently by many different photographers often by mistake in the days of C-22 and E-4...
- Sprocket hole photographySprocket hole photographySprocket hole photography is a style of photography that exposes the full width of 35 mm film, creating a photograph punctuated by the "sprocket holes" along the edges of the film. It is part of the lo-fi photography movement...