In year 2012, I walked into Lomography store in San Francisco and got myself a film camera. It’s a La Sardina in which the designer drew inspiration from a sardine can. My classmate at that time also bought the same model and both of us ended feeling disappointed.
Why I disliked Lomography
Lomochrome Purple, Jiu Fen (2017)
Because we screwed up the shots.
Both of us didn’t know how to use film camera, though we grew up with film photography still vastly available. For our La Sardina, it has a wide fixed focal length, shutter speed and aperture. It’s almost the same as other point & shoot camera but it doesn’t have built-in flash.
The thing about fixed shutter speed and aperture is that it’s better to use flash for all your shots, especially when you are indoor.
We didn’t because we didn’t have the knowledge of photography. My friend shot a whole of her roll indoor without flash!!
Furthermore, the films I received were *ucked up. Although I chose the Lomography CN100, one of the rolls came back being black & white, the other came back looking red & orangy (it’s called redscale film).
Otherwise, everything was underexposed.
San Francisco, 2012
I left everything in Singapore when I went over to UK for 2 years. Film was dead to me.
Second chance
Lomography CN 100, Taipei 101 (May 2017)
Fast forward to year 2016. One fine day, I decided to give Lomography another try. But the Lomography Singapore store in Chinatown has shut down permanently!
Why?! And shipping fee is crazy if I buy the films from their online store.
Anyway, I happened to be in Bangkok. Surprisingly the Lomo community there is so vibrant. Don’t ask me why. So I managed to buy a Lomography CN 100 and a LomoChrome Purple to try.
A Lomo CN 100 is about SGD 5 which is a midrange price. However, LomoChrome Purple is insane, pricing at SGD 20! I wonder why…
After shooting with these 2 films, my faith with Lomo film is restored. I am surprised to see that the colour from the CN100 being very eye pleasing. The same is for the LomoChrome Purple. Although some people might hate the messed up picture full of purple, I find it acceptable.
Well, film hobbyist is about having fun! Nothing wrong with using a purple filter. It actually creates an unique style.
Conclusion
Lomography CN 100, Rochor (May 2017)
I am glad I didn’t close my mind to Lomography. I suspect in the far future, (if) when all point-and-shoot film camera is no longer available, Lomography might be the saver. Provided they don’t close down or go bankrupt by that time.
So, get yourself a basic Lomography CN 100 or 400. You will be amazed. Also, check out one of my featured film photographers, Iyan, who shoots exclusively with lomo films. I also shot Lomo 110 films with a Kodak Instamatic 18.
If you are new to this film photography blog, Start Here. Or head over to CN 100 and LomoChrome Purple for more samples.
