Unpopular opinion: light leaks can actually improve a photo sometimes

I was at a wedding last June up in Portland and my old Pentax K1000 had a shutter curtain leak that ruined about 12 shots. But one frame of the bride walking through a doorway had this beautiful orange streak across the bottom that looked intentional. Everyone told me to get it fixed immediately, but I actually kept the camera that way for another 200 rolls. Has anyone else kept a broken camera because you liked the weird results it gave you?

2 comments

2 Comments

shah.shane1d ago

I was shooting a punk show a few years back with this beat-up Mamiya C330 that had a light leak along the hinge, and it turned every photo into this hazy purple mess on the right side. Half the band told me it looked like a bad Instagram filter from 2014, but the drummer actually asked me to print him a whole set for their next album cover. I still use that camera for shows because nobody else is getting that same weird glow on the pit photos.

hayes.elliot1d agoMost Upvoted

Tape the hinge with gaffer tape, it'll fix the purple mess and keep that weird glow where you want it.