Lomography

Why I'm obsessed with lomography, and why i am a freak about it.

I saw it, and marveled. It was the look, the feel, the way it interacted with my hands, all of it inspired me. I saw a Holga. It all happened by accident. Fate had brought Lomography and I together. It is the little things about these cameras that make me obsessed. The sprocket holes, the vignettes, and the eye popping color.

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I was in my high school ceramics class, when I noticed a student walk in with a question for the teacher, who also taught photography. She handed this student, a peculiar looking camera. I didn’t know it at the time but what she had just handed him was a holga with a duel lens. I thought it was neat, but initally not too intriguing. It looked cheap, and fake. I was used to a fancy Nikon DSLR, with a big body, and a nice lens with crisp clear, razor sharp images. I almost turned away, but then the student produced from a portfolio of images a picture that he had taken with this camera. It was from that moment on that I became obsessed, for showing on this picture was something unique, and magnificent that I couldn’t fathom reproducing with a DSLR… Sprocket holes. It was like magic to me.

Later I inquired with my teacher “how does the image go over those little hole thingys” I didn’t know the word until she said it “You mean the sprocket holes?” She then gave me the name of the camera, and where I could find one. Hours I would spend looking at galleries, and image upon image of this wonderful new thing I had discovered. I had to get one.

After taking many photos, I fell in love with the holgas other features including the high contrast, colorful retro pictures. One of my favorite features is the vignetting around the corners. I tried doing this with the 35mm film since the 120 was so expensive. That is when I looked for the holga 135BC which included my beautiful vignettes. Now my obsession continues. I now own a holga, a holga 135BC, a Split-Cam, and a diana mini.

I am obsessed because these cameras are unique. These camera’s and the photos they produce are retro. They are cool, they say look at me, I’m different. People stop, and ask questions. You take their picture, and they ask “Was that fake? Did you really take my picture?” Its interesting to see their reaction when you say “yes, I did indeed” They set you apart. Mini lab techs at the local Wallgreens look at you funny. Best of all… I am obsessed because I get to spread analogue love <3, and will do so for quite some time. I don’t think I will ever get tired of this.