my harinezumi 2+++ is a gateway drug
The Digital Harinezumi cameras were a series of toy cameras produced by the Japanese Powershovel Superheadz brand starting in 2009. The camera was discontinued in 2016, but various versions of the Harinezumi are still available for purchase on eBay, such as the OG model, model 2, 2++, 2+++, 3, and 4.
I initially heard about the Harinezumi through my dear friend Abby. I don't even really remember how we got to the topic of photography, but at the time I was on the brink of a real toy camera obsession since I was already using a Kodak Charmera. I would use my Charmera regularly, photographing whatever I happened upon, but was lacking any sense of creative direction, focus, or interest. And then Abby showed me her Harinezumi. On first impressions, it truly looks like a little toy camera. It's compact, minimal design is charming and non-intimidating. It's fully digital, storing photos and videos on a micro SD card and powered by a single CR2 battery. I wasn't expecting much regarding the quality of its photos, that is, until I found some sample photos on lomography.com.
Soon after diving into Harinezumi-related photo archives, I would stumble upon some interesting articles regarding the Harinezumi "hype", and if it ever lived up to it, especially considering its price. These days, a Harinezumi camera can cost upwards of $500. Michael Ernest Sweet addresses this issue in an article titled, "Is The Digital Harinezumi, A Cheap Plastic Toy Camera, Really Worth $500?" Sweet wrote,
"So, does all the fuss and hype around the Harinezumi justify the current price tag? My answer, maybe. There is no denying that this is a special camera that makes unique images. There is also something magical about holding one in your hand and "pointing" and "shooting" at everything around you. But also don't be fooled, you are still buying a tiny little piece of plastic (I think absolutely everything except the battery door hinge is plastic) for an enormous price. I guess, put another way, the Harinezumi is worth $1,000 in the same way a Contax T3 (not to be confused with the digital version mentioned earlier) is worth $2,000 — you are buying an opportunity to experience a little piece of history. You are paying to access something that in some way is over, gone. I say go for it if you have the money. Shooting with this little plastic wonder is divinely liberating and can breathe a lot of fresh air into an otherwise stale photography practice. However, in this regard, you could likely achieve the same thing with a $5 disposable camera also!"
The prospect of whimsy was enough. Indeed, my photography practice - if one would even call it that - was stale. I might even say I wasn't a photographer at all, I just happened to have a camera with me at all times. There was a sense of passivity that I couldn't shake, and I thought the Harinezumi just might do the trick of pulling me out of myself. What better way to reintroduce whimsy into one's life than with a toy camera?
After spending $434 on a pink Harinezumi 2+++ I found on eBay, I was ready to prove to myself that it wasn't a waste of money. Its arrival prompted me to actively seek out opportunities to photograph, which catalyzed when I joined Glossed Over, a local, public photography club in [none of your business]. A day after setting up my Harinezumi, I attended Glossed Over's monthly meetup at the art museum. For me, it felt like a friendly, community-centered reintroduction to photography. We wandered the surrounding neighborhoods for a while, everyone stopping to take photos along the way. This initial photo walk would soon become the first of many since I joined the photography club.
Over the past 26 days, I have taken 836 photos with my Harinezumi. At this point, the camera feels like an extension of my perception. All I have to do is point, shoot, and trust my gut. Yes, the Harinezumi has pleasantly surprised me enough times for me to be convinced that it was worth the price. But at the same time, it was a gateway to joining Glossed Over, and subsequently having more opportunities to take photos in the first place.
Basically, if you're thinking about injecting your life with more whimsy and subsequently finding an amazing community with which to share said whimsy, consider the Harinezumi. It's a gateway drug to friendship.