LomoAmigo: Larissa Lily at Kew Gardens

Larissa Lily is a UK based photographer and writer who agreed to share some of her Petzval shots with us and explain a bit about her love for film photography. She took it on a recent trip to Kew Gardens, and here are the results.

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into photography?
I am a freelance writer and a passionate photographer. I got into photography already as a kid. My chemistry teacher started a photography club and dusted out the old darkroom for us to develop films and make B&W prints. Working in the dark room was absolutely magical and I could spend hours there. I went on to have a performing arts company and ended up using a digital SLR for documentation purposes only. It wasn’t until a few years ago when I bought a Diana F camera that I reunited with analogue photography and discovered some of that old magic again. My addiction with analogue has rapidly increased ever since and I have incorporated staged photography to some of the projects I’ve worked with.

How was it shooting with the New Petzval lens?
At first it was difficult. I struggled to get the focus right and the whole process required a whole new level of concentration. However, I soon got hooked. I’ve always liked the special look of photos taken with Petzval, and I was very motivated to get some results. I was also motivated by the challenge and the opportunity to keep on improving my skills. I am still working on getting the focusing more accurate, which is why I have been using a digital camera for now. I can’t wait to start shooting film soon enough though!

What do you love about film photography?
I love the process of working with film. There is this completely different engagement with what you are taking photos of when shooting analogue. A more intensified sense of being present. You can’t be careless and just keep shooting, hoping to get something. You need to pay attention. It requires more concentration, which I find rewarding in itself. And it requires this active effort in engaging with the situation. The process teaches me a lot about patience and about accepting the unexpected. It teaches me to look closer and find beauty and inspiration all around.

In your opinion, what makes the perfect portrait?
I am drawn to imperfect portraits that have a spontaneous feel and aren’t too constructed. A perfect portrait for me is one that makes me curious about the person. I respond to strong portraits that give me an idea of the person but that has something mysterious about it too. Something that makes me look at the photo a little longer. At the same time I like playful portraits as well. Something that is surprising or out of ordinary. So often our day to day life has these out of ordinary moments – it’s just a matter of capturing them!

See more of Larissa's work on her website.

written by hannah_brown on 2014-10-09 #people #lens #accessories #photographer #lomography-gallery-store #gallery-store #news #analogue-cameras #lomoamigo #eastlondon #35mm-films #editorial-series #camera-modifications #londonsoho #soholondon #petzval