The solution for me, it seems, is the Lomo camera. I fervently believe it was invented especially for me. The first time I got hold of one, I thought, “God heard ME.” But when it came time to return the Lomo to its owner, I thought, “God didn’t hear me ENOUGH.” So listen closely, God: I need a Lomo camera, with which I can explore my camera prowess with as few mistakes as possible. I want to produce photographs with awe-inspiring effects with as little effort because, frankly, I can be very sourly impatient. I really just want to enjoy taking pictures and making so-called happy accidents. You see, God, you weren’t generous enough to shower me with some camera discipline, so let me please have my own Lomo so I can finally have some pictures of saturated colors, off-kilter exposure, and fisheye profiles, and finally be content.

He hasn’t answered yet. But I remain hopeful, disregarding the news that a Canon digicam is on sale at Trinoma. Really, those things could drop by 50 percent and I wouldn’t even blink. But if they brought back the Panchromatic film-I’m there in a flash. I like the thrill of anticipating, I guess, of not knowing what happens next. There is a certain type of risk when taking pictures with a film camera. You can never tell how the framed image in your viewfinder will turn out. In a roll of 36 shots, I’m lucky when I get a couple of good pictures, which make them instant classics in my book. Sometimes I don’t even remember that I did take those pictures, but I thank God sincerely for those surprise snapshots. I fall in love with film all over again. And hate it again when not a single shot is good, which normally is the case. You can say, “That bad, huh?” Yes. Don’t rub it in.

The Lomo, for me, is the equivalent of a digital camera in the film world. It’s a mortal sin to have a bad photograph using a Lomo. It cannot happen. It’s an abomination if you ever produce a nasty shot-half closed eyes and other dyahe pics can be forgiven. With a few exceptions already mentioned, Lomo pictures always turn out to be beautiful, often leaving you breathless. That’s what I want to create.

God, ‘you reading this?

//KC

Until a few months ago Lomography to this writer had been an alien word. So alien, that when a colleague brought a Colosplash to work one day, I said to myself, “How old-fashioned and outdated. Film cameras are so last season…” So kill me, why don’t you.

That day was followed by an invitation to be part of a new Lomography forum, SouthernLomo, my “old-fashioned” co-worker is launching. I said to myself, “Ok let me give this a try.” Of course to be able to post and contribute with meaning to the forum I had to know stuff about Lomography or film photography at least. So I started my research, browsing countless of websites about this form of photography.

My internet meanderings lead me to a very popular forum whose members were all based in the Philippines and with almost two thousand active members. And yeah, I think I lost my skepticism between pictures taken by the LC-A and Holgas. Even those cheap plastic toy cameras I used to shove aside in exchange for the more hi-tech digital cameras, produces very nice shots. I just thought the pictures were so beautiful! The vivid and funky colors, the natural dark corners effects, and the little imperfections that most people would’ve turned away from. Oh hell yeah, I’m going to buy myself a Lomo camera, no doubt.

But what I was most surprised with is the number of people in the Philippines who are into this form of art photography. Countless forums and organizations geared towards the propagation of this seemingly lost but found art have grown to become geography-specific. From Manila, to Cebu, and Davao, most big cities in the country have formed a community from which anyone can learn Lomography. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there is certainly a place where you can share you’re experiences and expertise in the art.

Even the Lomo Pushers, those that sell Lomo cameras and accessories, have been thriving in the communities. They made every conceivable item available to make any enthusiast wish they we’re earning more than what they’re getting just to be able to afford to hoard stuff. Then there’s Hidalgo in Quiapo, a photographer’s haven and refuge. The stores and vendors in this strip of road is every frugal photographer’s best friend, where haggling is not going to make your companion cringe, and where they sell everything from digital to film cameras and accessories. Hidalgo sells at a cheaper price than any store in the mall could ever offer. They can even do magic and restore life to your broken cameras.

The way I see it, Lomography will be here for a long, long time. As long as is there is something beautiful to shoot and immortalized on film. There’s plenty of Lomo love to go around, and as we lomographers would like to say, just point and shoot. Nothing could be easier than that.

Southernlomo’s 1st event. We will join LomoManila’s LomoMarket Launch. Click here for details.

We’ll be launching the community as well so please sign up. A booth for Southernlomo.org will be available. Hope to see you there!

Watch our southernlomo bands perform - The Midnight Show and The Betterfiller

1. Take your camera everywhere you go.
2. Use it anytime, day and night.
3. Lomography is not an interference in your life, but part of it.
4. Try the shot from the hip.
5. Approach the objects of your lomographic desire as closely as possible.
6. Don’t think (William Firebrace).
7. Be fast.
8. You don’t have to know beforehand what you captured on film.
9. Afterwards, either.
10. Don’t worry about any rules.

In 1991, the Austrian founders of Lomography discovered the Lomo LC-A[citation needed]. As the company states, they were “charmed by the unique, colorful, and sometimes blurry” images that the camera produced. After a series of international art exhibitions and aggressive marketing work, Lomography signed an exclusive distribution agreement with LOMO PLC - thereby becoming the sole distributor of all Lomo LC-A cameras outside of the Soviet Union. This monopolistic agreement, their viral/tribal marketing strategies and pricing philosophy have generated controversy.

Lomography emphasizes casual, snapshot photography. Characteristics such as over-saturated colors, off-kilter exposure, blurring, “happy accidents,” and alternative film processing are often considered part of the “Lomographic Technique.”[citation needed] Users are encouraged to take a lighthearted approach to their photography, and use these techniques to document everyday life, as the Lomo LC-A’s small size, simple controls, and ability to shoot in low light encourages candid photography, photo reportage, and photo vérité.

Since the introduction of the original Lomo LC-A, Lomography has produced and marketed an entire line of their own branded analog cameras. Most Lomographic cameras are designed to produce a single photographic effect. For example, the Lomography Fisheye camera features a built-in wideangle lens, and shoots fisheye-distorted photos. In 2005, production of the original Lomo LC-A was discontinued. Its replacement, the LC-A+, was introduced in Fall 2006. The new camera, made in China rather than Russia, featured the original Russian lens manufactured by LOMO PLC. This changed as of mid-2007 with the lens now made in China also.

Similar to Eastman Kodak’s concept of the “Kodak moment,” the Lomography motto of “don’t think, just shoot” presumes spontaneity, close-ups, and ubiquity, while deemphasizing formal technique (however to take a good ‘from the hip’ shot does take skill).[citation needed] Typical lomography cameras are deliberately low-fidelity and inexpensively constructed. Some cameras make use of multiple lenses and rainbow-colored flashes, or exhibit extreme optical distortions and even light leaks.

Current models marketed by Lomographische AG include Lomo LC-A, Holga, Holga 35mm, Actionsampler, Frogeye, Pop-9, Oktomat, Fisheye, Fisheye2, Colorsplash, Colorsplash Flash, F-stop Bang, SuperSampler, Horizon 202, Seagull TLR, and Smena 8M. The company also resells dead stock Polaroid cameras and Russian dead stock - the sort normally acquired at “quirky, old-school camera shops,” as the company’s web site puts it.

Some photographers feel that the Lomo LC-A lens effect can be digitally emulated with photo-editing software such as GIMP or Photoshop.[citation needed] In addition, the company’s promotional web site for Lomography showcases many high-contrast photographs - with unusual saturation and color - that were created using the technique called cross processing in which film intended for developing in slide chemistry (E-6) is processed in photographic negative chemistry (C-41), and vice versa. This technique can be employed with any film camera and can be somewhat mimicked with digital software as well.

source: wikipedia on lomography