My Cameras X Photo Gallery: Golden Half and Lomochrome Metropolis

The Golden Half - the most famous cheap plastic half-frame camera produced in Japan.

My brand-new Golden Half came in the mail from Japan a while back, and I couldn't be more excited! This is a tiny plastic camera produced in Japan which takes half-frame photographs on standard 35mm film. Half-frame is a style of photography which was popular in the 1960s as a way of shooting more economical photography by squeezing two photographs on a standard frame of film. The Golden Half is a cheap plastic camera produced in Japan which promises unpredictable and fun results.

This Photo Gallery post is a two-for-one! I'm also testing out the brand-new Lomochrome Metropolis film. Lomochrome Metropolis is the very first new formula of 35mm film to be created in over half a decade!

I actually shot these photos last summer, but didn't get around to taking the film in to get developed until today! My local one-hour development shop (just 90 THB or $3 per color roll) got them back to me just now, and I am happy to present my photos here.

The Golden Half is a fun little camera (it's a lot like my Diana Mini), and I am planning on shooting some more light-sensitive film in the future. It doesn't seem to like cloudy days that much, but unfortunately I shot this roll of film during the rainy season.

Lomochrome Metropolis is a stylized film meant to desaturate the color and emphasize yellow, black, and blue. I think it's really meant for portraits. My favorite photos here are the street scenes; I think that this film looks best with gritty urban scenes.

Lomochrome Metropolis shot on the Golden Half

Some of the photos didn't turn out too great, but it's fun to experiment. Anyway, it gets me out of the house and walking around, and I've always enjoyed photography!

Photos in low light turned out poorly, but those shot in bright sun turned out ok! This film also looks best when it features golds and blue, so some of my temple photos were the most successful from this roll.

street scenes

local canal

electrical post / zebra shrine

Read More >> What's up with Zebra Shrines?

local noodle shop on the side of the street / city scene

mis-click! / a tuk-tuk

Rahu Shrine

Read More >> Rahu Shrine

lazy temple cat / motorized cart

Big Buddha of Wat Pak Nam

Read More >> Bangkok's Big Buddha

Chinese-style statues

Read more >> The Pagoda of Guanyin

Thai guardian ogres at the shrine at MIXT Mall

Read More >> MIXT

towering statues at Wat Lat Phrao

Big Buddha Statues at the temple

scenes at Wat Lat Phrao

Wat Lat Phrao / local fruit cart (empty)

a sleepy canal with a temple in the distance

a local tuk-tuk

offerings / temple roof

spirit house / wall

wall and flowers / tangled telephone wires

I don't post these Photo Gallery posts because I think I'm especially good, but because I truly enjoy film photography, and it's a cheap hobby to get into here in Thailand. In a way, it keeps me accountable to keep up with my interests (though I haven't posted one of these in a while!). Anyway, it's fun to do, it gets me outside and walking around, and it gives me a new perspective on the city that I'm so familiar with. Bangkok looks totally different when viewed through the lens of a camera, and I hope that you enjoy the different perspective as well!

I took three rolls of film in today, and have a bunch more at home waiting to be developed. You can expect more Photo Gallery posts coming soon!