an american expat somewhat obsessed with toy and lo-fi cameras. i used to live in taipei, but now live in tainan.

i mainly shoot with a holga 120N or a diana. but i also use a plethora of other toy and lo-fi cameras. it's rare that i don't have at least one camera with me(usually a holga or diana - oftentimes both).

i am not a lomographer(i find it sad when someone has bought so much into marketing hype that they'd call themselves this). i'm not in need of a marketing company to tell me who i am because i can't create something original myself. but sadly there are those out there that do feel that need. i do use some lomo camearas(lomo=russian camera company, not lomography(please don't confuse the two)), and have one or two cameras made my lomography. there are some very good reasons to dislike this company.

i extremely dislike the addition of video on flickr. i'm in the camp that feels this should have been a seperate site and not mixed in with the photography site at all. if i'm looking at someone's stream and come across video, i'll just close that person's stream at that point and won't look further. this doesn't mean i won't look at their stream again, but for me video is like an automatic close button. there are plenty of other places for video - i didn't join flickr to see crappy videos afterall.


i also have a photoblog called formica. the images there are ideally a little more selective than what reaches my flickr stream.

Photos of formica (160)

  • Gung Hay Fat Choy! by ERIK98122
  • hanging with mr. eric by formica
  • The world is spinning by QsySue
  • 可愛的威廉 by lovelyhan
  • geeks in windows by formica
  • Not Dan! William! by QsySue
  • Alien face by QsySue
  • DSC00795 by It's Peter
  • DSC00811 by It's Peter
  • uh.. by formica
  • Starting fires recklessly by QsySue
  • 44 by formica
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formica's favorite photos from other Flickr members (5,469)

  • by ludwigwest
  • by ludwigwest
  • My green ballad by ludwigwest
  • mysterious camera by efo
  • SEATTLE SNOWPOCALYPSE by ERIK98122
  • Brrrrrrrrrr! by ERIK98122
  • Climb on board by QsySue
  • reverse by superdensity
  • Runt Heap by portal23
  • two postcards by lawatt
  • What big teeth you have. by QsySue
  • Idiot? Yeah. by QsySue
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Contacts (612)

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Testimonials (12)

  • view profile

    Kent Mercurio says:

    "Don't believe what he says in his profile, he is *really* obsessed with toy cameras, but in a good way! William's stream is always a blast to view. He's the rare Flickr-er who 1) loves to shoot film 2) takes tons of great photos & 3) always posts them with great titles! It's always fun to see your photostream, William."

    12th May, 2008

  • view profile

    Mark-B says:

    "the possibilities in photography are largely untapped. it doesn't seem that way, because we get in a rut filled with misconceptions and gilded rules. Formica sees photographs in a seemingly free and uninhibited way. it is a joy."

    2nd April, 2008

  • view profile

    becommonppl 一生玩不夠 says:

    "Fomica is a natural observer of weird pile of stuff; he finds objects that you could never even notice, and capture them with a very unique point of view. Needless to say, he is also strongly obsessed with toy camera. This man can get the most use out of it."

    11th December, 2007

  • view profile

    trxonspeed says:

    "formica is one of my favourite photographers on flickr. whenever i'm in need for some inspiration, I check his stream. always a good variation of photos. keep up the good work man!"

    7th December, 2007

  • view profile

    7meteor says:

    " When I wanted to write a testimonial for formica at first time, I didn't know how to say he gave me a lots surprised frames. After a long time ago, I've still liked his photo that always has special idea to appear Taiwanese face ,or other world he touch by camera. Formica is a nice guy who enthuse by flickr and photograph that may not strict. I like to communicate with him about joyful photography, even though I'm poor in english, and he's poor in chinese caption ?! anyway... I'm glad to make a testimonial for formica, and to be his flickr's friend. ps. I'll try to write more and more in the future."

    25th October, 2007

  • view profile

    LanceG says:

    "This man has developed a reputation with every photograph that we've taken of him :O. But that certainly has nothing to do with the amazing images that he produces with his "toys"....nothing short of brilliant! Now that he's doing home processing...William, is definitely the man to watch. I'm sure that he'll come up with some home brew chemicals to process his film with. goodluck, william. camera geek talk wont be the same without you :)...see you around."

    9th September, 2007

  • view profile

    R-X says:

    "120拍得很好，畫面給人一種真實卻又虛幻的感覺非常棒！！"

    14th August, 2007

  • view profile

    timojazz says:

    "We are lucky to have this guy and his lenses (ok, ok, toys) here in Taiwan.

    I will say so to my Taiwanese friends."

    19th June, 2007

  • view profile

    alidarbac says:

    "My mind reels at the number of creative shots formica has cranked out with his arsenal of toy cameras. There's more ingenuity here on any one given day than most people put up in a month. Damn."

    24th May, 2007

  • view profile

    I'll fight you for that sandwich says:

    "formica's photos blow my mind almost daily , keep them coming"

    12th May, 2007

  • view profile

    fuyanyu says:

    "看了formica的照片,你會很訝異他用什麼相機照出這樣像異次元空間的照片,當你瞭解到他所使用的相機,你會很瞠目結舌,天呀!厲害的人的相機,竟然是丟在路上可能沒人會檢的相機,擔心可能是爆烈物.

    強力推薦!!!"

    7th April, 2006

  • view profile

    marciana says:

    "i adore his view of the world through a toy camera lens - it inspires me to grab my holga more often in hopes I'll take toy camera photos as great as his! I always enjoy my visit when i check his photostream."

    11th November, 2005

Name:
William
Joined:
November 2004
Hometown:
Seattle
Currently:
Tainan, Taiwan
I am:
Male