Did the Lomo camera save film photography? (Hmmm, interesting theory. . . . )

ozphoto · Nov 21, 2012

Just having a quick look at the BBC site, and saw this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20434270

Their closing comment:

"There is also one kind of excitement that most digital photographers have forgotten, or will never experience - the wait for the film to come back from the lab."

Pity it didn't include "or doing it yourself and experiencing the magic of seeing your picture as it slowly appears under the subtle hue of a red safelight."

ic-racer · Nov 22, 2012

ozphoto said:
Just having a quick look at the BBC site, and saw this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20434270

Their closing comment:

"There is also one kind of excitement that most digital photographers have forgotten, or will never experience - the wait for the film to come back from the lab."

Pity it didn't include "or doing it yourself and experiencing the magic of seeing your picture slowly appears under the subtle hue of a red safelight."

Exactly! And also the excitement of un-reeling freshly processed negatives.

photo_griz · Nov 22, 2012

And don't forget the satisfaction of watching your result improve because you learn to make each shot count!

rawhead · Nov 22, 2012

I don't know… maybe it did; maybe it didn't. I know for a fact that LOMO had nothing to do with me coming (back) to film from digital, and many people I know, as I shoot primarily MF and LF, the reason simply being that those larger formats grant me images simply impossible (or extremely expensive) on digital. Although I'll admit my sample of "people I know" is extremely biased, since I hang out (both IRL and online) with like-minded photogs.

snaggs · Nov 22, 2012

Lots more youngsters at lomo forums than here. APUG should have a lomo forum, so they can move to something else if they want to do something different than lomo.

Daniel.

AgX · Nov 22, 2012

We must not forget that Lomography and Impossible employ a very active media approach.

Andy K · Nov 22, 2012

snaggs said:
Lots more youngsters at lomo forums than here. APUG should have a lomo forum, so they can move to something else if they want to do something different than lomo.

Daniel.

We have a toy camera forum. Which is where I also posted this story thinking that is where it would be.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

alarickc · Nov 22, 2012

I'd say it certainly hasn't hurt films survival. As a seventeen year old I just got into film photography this past July; and it was Impossible Project that got me interested. Someone asked me to borrow my old Polaroid 600 camera that I used when I was younger for their wedding. I told them Polariod no longer made film but that I'd heard that another company had started making it. To check out this new film I looked IP up and bought a pack of B&W. The price hurt, plus the photos weren't the greatest ever, but overal it piqued my interest in analogue photography.

I've tried to take up digital photography a few times since photography is really the only outlet I have in the visual arts since pen, pencil, and brush seem to hate me. But I was never able to get myself engaged with it. I'd always shoot for a bit, edit some, but then get bored and quit. Luckily for me however I'm impatient and hate waiting for shipping, and to cheap to order anything express, and I looked up were I could get IP film locally in Portland. That led me to Blue Moon Camera & Machine, where I quickly discovered that you could take amazing photos with film that didn't look so sloppy. (Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the Lomo look, I own a Holga, I just don't get using it for everything.) This led me to that week purchase a Nikon F2 Photomic and a 55mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor(I'm aware that it's an odd choice for your only lense) and run a roll of Velvia 50 thru it. I got those slides back and was in love, I didn't have to screw with anything in Photoshop, they looked great as is. I was ecstatic, I HATE digital photo editing, is there anything more dull out there?

Longer story slightly shorter I'm now shooting almost nothing but B&W(I'm discovering I dislike color), developing it myself, and starting to teach myself to wet-print. I'm going down to take my second stab at printing and my first at toning this Monday and I'm looking forward to it. I know I suck at printing now, but I already was able to make one or two prints that wouldn't make me wretch to show to someone, which is encouraging. I'm just getting started, and I don't intend to ever stop using nothing but film, I'll make my own glass plates if it comes to it. And I owe it all to the movement that Lomo has spawned. I may not do much in the way of "lomography", but it's what got me here today.

-Alaric Chesley

snaggs · Nov 22, 2012

Im not sure the badge of "toy camera" is how 19 year old super cool lomographers would identify themselves B)

snaggs · Nov 22, 2012

alarickc said:
Longer story slightly shorter I'm now shooting almost nothing but B&W(I'm discovering I dislike color), developing it myself, and starting to teach myself to wet-print. I'm going down to take my second stab at printing and my first at toning this Monday and I'm looking forward to it. I know I suck at printing now, but I already was able to make one or two prints that wouldn't make me wretch to show to someone, which is encouraging. I'm just getting started, and I don't intend to ever stop using nothing but film, I'll make my own glass plates if it comes to it. And I owe it all to the movement that Lomo has spawned. I may not do much in the way of "lomography", but it's what got me here today.

-Alaric Chesley

Well done. I remember in Year 11 at school doing photography in the darkroom. Ive done film, but have not yet done a hand print since all those years. Thats what I want to get to, something authentic, hand made, which means flaws! This is what is good about lomography, its not about how good your gear is, its about experminenting. It will be interesting to see what the lomo generation do once they get older, cashed up and start setting up dark rooms.

Helinophoto · Nov 22, 2012

snaggs said:
Lots more youngsters at lomo forums than here. APUG should have a lomo forum, so they can move to something else if they want to do something different than lomo.

Daniel.

I actually think this is a really really great idea.
If the film is going to survive, we need to get these youngsters interested in _all the other things_ the traditional photography way has to offer.

The best way to do this, is to open up a lomo-forum and have them take part in this incredibly knowledgeable community.

Chan Tran · Nov 22, 2012

While doing my own processing is a joy, waiting for my film to get back from the lab is an agony for me. I found the joy of darkroom work because I couldn't stand the agony of waiting for my film to get back from the lab.

PKM-25 · Nov 22, 2012

Toy Camera Forum....seriously?

Who's brilliant idea was it to name it that, not a very sensible way to bring badly needed young people to site filled with cranky old farts...?

rawhead · Nov 22, 2012

Hmmm, Toy Camera in Japanese certainly doesn't have a negative connotation... it is in fact that kind of aesthetic that is luring a lot of people (not just young) to LOMO and other quirky cameras (Holgas, Smenas, etc.). Instead of using a name that seems to limited it to a particular brand (LOMO), I wouldn't know of a better heading to put those under... Cheapo? Hipster?

ME Super · Nov 22, 2012

I like this particular quote: "There has been much speculation that Lomography may buy the rights to some of Kodak's extinct emulsions if the photography giant - now in bankruptcy protection and likely to focus in future on its printer business - sells off its film division."

I don't know that it will happen, but it would be nice if there were a few more slide film options. Currently there's exactly one 50-speed, one 200-speed, and one 400-speed emulsion that uses the E-6 process. All the others are 100-speed.

foc · Nov 22, 2012

Thanks to Lomography I have kept my film processor running every day over the last two years when other labs were either stopping C41 or just running it a few day a week.

Lomography has also helped to boost my film sales as customers try their film and then want to try other brands and so come into my shop to buy film.

To me it doesn't matter who sells the film so long as it is being sold and that customers want to buy it and shoot and process it.

BTW I regestered my minilab on their site over a year ago and I got lots of feed back and customers from it, both through the door and via mail order. So I'm a happy camper with Lomography.

Etr420 · Nov 22, 2012

"Nikon F2 Photomic and a 55mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor(I'm aware that it's an odd choice for your only lens"

A combination I use a lot. You could do a lot worse - one of the best 35mm cameras and lenses ever IMHO.

If your Micro-Nikkor came with an extension tube, see if you can get your hands on an old 200mm F4 Nikkor-Q - they're usually pretty cheap -- and try that with and without the tube. Lots of fun.

Ed

alarickc · Nov 22, 2012

I don't have the extension tube, but I have been thinking of picking it up. I'll have to look into the 200mm, but I'm thinking that I'll pick up either a 24 or 28mm lense first. I like the 55mm field of view for most things, but I've found myself wishing I had a wide angle on a few occasions.

On another note I'm rather indifferent wether Lomo picks up Kodak emulsions or not, but I would love them forever if they picked up the Efke equipment and emulsions. Just my luck buying five rolls of Adox chs 25 a week before they announce discontinuation......

batwister · Nov 23, 2012

Personally, I've never met anyone my own age (24) who does the lomo thing and very few who shoot film at all. So if it's only young people playing with lomography, it's a very small percentage. Going mainly by this forum, my guess is it's the stubborn old diehards keeping film alive, not young people. The best chance for film is that they pass on the passion to their kids and grandchildren. By the time I (might) have kids, it will be too late!

AgX said:
We must not forget that Lomography and Impossible employ a very active media approach.

That's definitely a critical point. Lomography is very much a hybrid approach, which is why we see a larger proportion than what we call 'the real thing' - which is mostly off screen. From my persepective, Lomo is a creative networking tool for young people living the 'art lifestyle'. Fuji and Kodak's public statements are the best indication of how well film is really doing.

Helinophoto · Nov 23, 2012

Anyone shooting film, be it large format, medium format, 35mm or more obscure formats, pinhole, lomo or whatever, are all equally important to the community, I believe some of the older shooters out there may have their own opinion on lomo-shooters, but they DO indeed contribute.

Just recently, I visited a lab in the middle of Oslo (they hang around in the main building to our largest national newspaper), and they have devoted a very large section of their store to lomo-stuff.
The guy behind the counter (where they also had a stacked freezer full of film) told me they process and sell loads of film these days, both to more traditional folks and also a large part to the lomo-crowd.

Lomo is just another way of expressing yourself creatively and I am glad they do it using analog media.

Now, if APUG had a proper Lomo-forum, not only would they have another group of potential subscribers, the Lomo-shooters are the most probable people to sniff around and start checking out the traditional photography craft.

By not including them properly, or really trying to reach out to them, we're hurting the community more than we help it IMO. (someone needs to take over when we all die )

RattyMouse · Nov 23, 2012

Helinophoto said:
Anyone shooting film, be it large format, medium format, 35mm or more obscure formats, pinhole, lomo or whatever, are all equally important to the community, I believe some of the older shooters out there may have their own opinion on lomo-shooters, but they DO indeed contribute.

Just recently, I visited a lab in the middle of Oslo (they hang around in the main building to our largest national newspaper), and they have devoted a very large section of their store to lomo-stuff.
The guy behind the counter (where they also had a stacked freezer full of film) told me they process and sell loads of film these days, both to more traditional folks and also a large part to the lomo-crowd.

Lomo is just another way of expressing yourself creatively and I am glad they do it using analog media.

Now, if APUG had a proper Lomo-forum, not only would they have another group of potential subscribers, the Lomo-shooters are the most probable people to sniff around and start checking out the traditional photography craft.

By not including them properly, or really trying to reach out to them, we're hurting the community more than we help it IMO. (someone needs to take over when we all die )

Absolutely spot on. Well written and stated.

MattKing · Nov 24, 2012

Helinophoto said:
Anyone shooting film, be it large format, medium format, 35mm or more obscure formats, pinhole, lomo or whatever, are all equally important to the community, I believe some of the older shooters out there may have their own opinion on lomo-shooters, but they DO indeed contribute.

Just recently, I visited a lab in the middle of Oslo (they hang around in the main building to our largest national newspaper), and they have devoted a very large section of their store to lomo-stuff.
The guy behind the counter (where they also had a stacked freezer full of film) told me they process and sell loads of film these days, both to more traditional folks and also a large part to the lomo-crowd.

Lomo is just another way of expressing yourself creatively and I am glad they do it using analog media.

Now, if APUG had a proper Lomo-forum, not only would they have another group of potential subscribers, the Lomo-shooters are the most probable people to sniff around and start checking out the traditional photography craft.

By not including them properly, or really trying to reach out to them, we're hurting the community more than we help it IMO. (someone needs to take over when we all die )

You should consider starting a thread about this in the Feedback forum. Sean and the Moderators may or may not see it here.

As an aside - doesn't "Sean and the Moderators" sound like a good name for a band?

cepwin · Nov 24, 2012

I too think Helinophoto is absolutely right..welcome the lomo crowd and let them see what else is available to explore. Matt's idea of a feedback thread is also a good idea to push this along.

Rudeofus · Nov 24, 2012

Lomographers are good for the analog community in general, since their use of film makes our favorite photographic medium more commercially viable in the long run. Besides that I see little mutual benefit between these two groups, and anyone interested in both is able to join as many forums as one wants to cover the whole range of interests.

Look at (there was a url link here which no longer exists) if you want to see what happens when APUGs known experts in photo chemistry run into lomographers. Astronomic units can't describe the distances these two worlds are apart.

Helinophoto · Nov 24, 2012

Rudeofus said:
Lomographers are good for the analog community in general, since their use of film makes our favorite photographic medium more commercially viable in the long run. Besides that I see little mutual benefit between these two groups, and anyone interested in both is able to join as many forums as one wants to cover the whole range of interests.

Getting them into the "fold" is the best way to teach and expand their minds a little.

Rudeofus said:
Look at (there was a url link here which no longer exists) if you want to see what happens when APUGs known experts in photo chemistry run into lomographers. Astronomic units can't describe the distances these two worlds are apart.

Frankly, I don't see the relation of this crazy lady picking on our PE and Lomography.

Lomography is about shooting expired/iffy film, on the fly (more or less to capture a moment) with dodgy cameras, creating unexpected effects from the dodgy optics, light leaks and/or from processing the dodgy film.
- It's just an art-form (hipster art some may say).

The crazy and angry lady in the thread in question was just your average internet passive-agressive weirdo, kind of unfair making her a representative of a whole new generation of photographers.

Besides, that thread should have been moved to alternative processing, where APUG'ers often try out processing film in everything from potatoes to Ketchup

Did the Lomo camera save film photography? (Hmmm, interesting theory. . . . )

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