It’s my second interview post with a fellow film shooter. This time round, we have Iyan from Bandung, Indonesia, who is a dedicated Lomography lover. Check him out!
Me: Hey Iyan! I am so glad to have you here! Can you introduce yourself?
Iyan: My Name is Iyan Rachmansyah, I am 29, male, from Bandung City, West Java Indonesia.
Me: When and how did you come across film photography?
Iyan: When I was 8 years old, my uncle introduced me to film photography. He used to take photos of me and my father using Canonet QL III and Polaroid camera. I grew up with these two cameras. So I know a little bit about film camera. Ever since then I started to develop love for film photography.
Credits @lomo_cult
Me: You seem to be loving Lomography a lot! Do you only use Lomography camera?
Iyan: Yes of course! I love Lomography so much. I remember some day I went to YouTube and accidentally chanced upon Lomography documentary channel, the history behind them and the ancient Soviet factory that produced the camera itself. As such, I became very inspired with camera, its meniscus plastic lenses just make the image more vivid, vignetting around the edges, LoFi, I just love it!
Mostly I used a plastic camera and plastic lenses, I used Diana F+, Holga, La Sardina, Lomo Fisheye 2, Lomo Konstruktor, Lomo LC-A +, and many more plastic cameras. Why am I using plastic camera? Because it is very simple to use, you just point and shoot, don’t mind about the proportion, no shutter speed, no aperture setting. Just go out and shoot whatever you want to shoot. Besides plastic camera, I also used Canon FT QL and Canonet QL III and also pocket camera.
Me: Which Lomography film do you like the most? How about non-lomography film?
Iyan: I like all films from every brands not just Lomography, because I believe any film is a piece of art. It’s a blank canvas waiting for us to draw. My most favorite films are Lomochrome Purple and Lomochrome Turquoise, but sadly they are very hard to find now. But they do have some expired film with higher price selling on eBay.
credits @lomo_cult
Me: Nowadays, it’s not easy to find a local store that sells films or camera like it used to be in the olden days. Where do you get your film from?
Iyan: Yes of course. It is so hard to find film in photography store now. Since they only print images from digital camera. I can hardly find film from local film dealer. They only sell through Instagram and also on eBay. They don’t have any store. The dealer buy film from Japan or Singapore, then they sell it again in Indonesia with a little bit higher price. I don’t have any option, I want to preserve the film photography even though it costs me more money to spend on developing and scanning. I always have faith, I believe and I hope someday film photography will rise again. Because every frame counts and is worth waiting for.
Me: Do you self-develop your film?
Iyan: I don’t develop film myself, I send it to the local drug store in Bandung. The man who develops and scans my films was a former Fujifilm worker in Bandung. He is 59 years old. He doesn’t have another job, because digital has already replaced his job, hahaha…
Me: If you could only stick to one camera, one lens and one film for a year, what will they be?
Iyan: Certainly it will be Diana F+ camera and lots and lots of Lomography Lomochrome Purple.
Me: Do you see yourself shooting Lomography for the rest of your life?
Iyan: Yes, because I love Lomography and plastic camera since the day I watched the Lomography Documentary and probably till grow old. Some day I will pass it on to my son and grandchildren.
Me: What type of photography do you normally do? What’s your vision & goal in photography in general?
Iyan: I don’t have any specific style, I love all of them. Remember, Lomography is just a simple way of photography, just point and shoot. My goal is for satisfaction, I really hope that people who visit my page will believe that Lomography doesn’t have any rule. You don’t need to be a perfect photographer to shoot with Lomo camera, everyone can shoot, everyone can make their artsy dreamy image with the Lomo Camera.
Me: Not sure if you are aware, but there are some criticism about Lomography saying that their camera is just a plastic toy, their lens is plastic and their film is just messed up. What do you think?
Iyan: I don’t mind, I believe Lomography makes plastic camera and lenses to allow everyone to shoot pictures easily. Poor or rich, if you want to get yourself into LoFi film photography, just get a Toycam. We all can make an artsy images without interference from any digital work. I believe all Lomography camera is a magic tools, a simple way of life.
credits @lomo_cult
Me: Is there a big community for film photography in Bandung?
Iyan: We don’t have huge member of analogue photographer here in Bandung. Only 100 active people since the price of film is higher, but I believe they are scattered all around the place, waiting to gather. When everyone is gathered, I believe there will be much more.
Me: What will be the camera you will recommend to someone who want to start trying Lomography?
Iyan: For anyone who wants to start Lomography, I think Lomography Konstruktor will suit them great, because it’s an SLR plastic Camera from Lomography.
