Lomo! Lomo Kayo Diyan!

Lomo! Lomo Kayo Diyan!
Lomography in the Philippines

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 So alien, that when a colleague brought a Colosplash to work one day, I said to myself, “How old-fashioned and outdated.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.