“Don't think, just shoot”
Evoking the enchantment of
vintage film cameras, the varied colours, sometimes missed focusing, vignette
edges, in essence all that would be traditionally thought upon as a “bad
Photograph”. In the world of Lomography this is not to be the case. All these
elements that could be termed as “wrong” are the exacted things that make
Lomography so creative producing one of a kind photographs.
If you still are confused
by the whole “Lomo” thing, then read on.
Lomography started back in
the early 1990’s when a couple of students discovered a small enigmatic Russian
camera. The Lomo
LCA, or to give it it’s full name Lomo Camera Kompakt Automat, manufactured in
St Petersburg by The Leningradskoje Optico Mechanitschekoje, promoted a new artist, experimental style of
photography. This spontaneous approach that started in a small underground
collective in Vienna soon developed into a international socio-cultural
movement.
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| LCA Microsite |
There
are cameras in the lomography family, these include the LCA,Diana mini, Holga,
Colorsplash and the Supersampler. Most Lomo cameras take 35mm film and can be
processed easily at any photo lab. There are some exceptions that take 120mm
film, these being the Diana F+ and the Holga 120 series of cameras.
Lomo
images are often full of soft focus (due to the focus method being that of Zone
focus) and vibrant colours (from the lens that is commonly made from plastic).
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| ©bigworldpicture.com |
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| ©bigworldpicture.com |
Examples taken on the
The 10 Golden Rules
They're the very essence
of the “Don't Think, Just Shoot”
motto!
Lomography is all about
having fun while taking good pictures
.
1. Take your Lomo everywhere you go
I will always try to also have an extra
roll of film.
2. Use it anytime - day and night
Beware that in low light
longer exposures will be required or the use of a flash.
3. Lomography is not an interference
with your life but a part of it
Soon you will find yourself taking
Lomographs of everything.
4. Get as close as possible to the
objects of you lomographic desire
It’s all about being in the moment and
your surroundings.
5. Don't think
Once you start thinking about
composition, lighting and exposure the unexpected qualities cease to be.
6. Be fast
Don’t think too much. See and shoot.
7. You don't have to know beforehand
what is on your film
That’s the beauty of
film.
8. Nor afterwards
This will be the lomographic path that
you will discover.
9. Try the shot from the hip
Or from the ground, above your head or
anywhere at any angle.
10. Don't worry about (golden) rules
Just load a film shoot away, be unique
and find your own way.
More information can be found here:
Lomography cameras can be bought from here:
Finally below are some examples of my Lomography
Books about Lomography can be found HERE
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