Lomography

My aim for 2011 was to make the most of free time and snap snap snap away. I think I achieved that as I became a much more active lomographer throughout the year. Here I will show you one photo I love from each month of 2011, and tell you a little about it.

Taken in Leeds with a Fuji Instax Mini 7s and Fuji 800 film

January: The year began with a new camera – a blue Fuji Instax Mini – and although not artistic or particularly flattering, the photo above was then and is still one of my favourite shots taken on it. This is a super fun camera to use and I had a lot of fun with it at the start of 2011.

Taken in Leeds on a borrowed LC-A+ with Lomo X-Pro 200 film

February: I was asked by LSI to accept a box of 5 different analogue cameras and spend one week shooting my local area with ten rolls of film. This was special for me as it was my first experience of using the lovely LC-A+ and I was hooked. I was amazed at how, when coupled with the slide film, it made even the most depressing of subjects come alive somehow (like the shot above) and you gotta love that bokeh!

Taken in London with a Lomo LC-A and Lomography Redscale XR film

March: I spent quite a bit of time in March in London, first as a present for my Mum, taking her on the London Eye and to a show and later in the month on a march organised by the Trade Unions Convention against all the public sector cuts and privatisation. I also got my LC-A this month, though it still had a bit of a light seal issue.

Taken in Alton Towers, on a 99p underwater camera with Kodak Elite Chrome 100 film

April: Also a family orientated month for me as not only did I spend a lot of time taking weekend trips with Dave to photograph new areas, I took my younger cousins to a theme park for their birthdays. I love this photo of the 2 youngest ones playing together as it makes a change for them not to be arguing.

Taken in the Isle of Wight with a Lomo LC-A and Ilford XP2 400 iso film

May: By the time I spent a weekend in Portsmouth with my parents I had a fully functioning LC-A and was loving it. I took a day trip to a park on the Isle of Wight that I used to go to as a kid and had a great time snapping all the attractions.

Taken in Brighton on a borrowed LC-A+ with Lomo X-Pro 200 film

June: I went on a LomoTrip with the Lomography Gallery Store, Soho in June and I got to borrow and LC-A+ again which led to one of my personal favourite and most popular photos of all time.

Taken in York on a LC-Wide with Lomography Redscale 100 film

July: After the success of the 2 Lomo events I had attended, I decided in July to organise a trip to York with 14 other lomographers from the online community. This was a huge success and a great day was had by all. Here I met some great friends, which is what I think the main benefit of this website is. It was also the first time using my new LC-Wide and above is one of my first great photos from it.

Taken in Leeds on a Lomography Colorsplash with Jessops Diamond Everyday 100 film

August: Although this was a quietish month, as I was saving to go away, I resurrected a few “older” cameras that I hadn’t used in a while. I love this Colorsplash photo of Dave driving.

Taken in New York City with a Diana F+ Black Jack (and wide angle lens) with Ilford XP2 400 film

September: I could have uploaded hundreds of photos from September as I went on the holiday of a lifetime with my family in The Big Apple. This photo of the Rockefellar Centre is one of my favourite photos I have ever taken though.

Taken in Leeds on a Sprocket Rocket Superpop with Fuji Superia 200 film

October: The highlight of this month had to be Halloween as it often is for me. I took the opportunity to carry out my favourite tradition and carve watermelons instead of pumpkins!

Taken in Leeds on a Lomo LC-A with Kodak Colorplus 200 film

November: For the first time ever I was on strike in November, which was scary and exciting all at the same time. Of course my Lomo cameras were there with me to capture all the action.

Taken in Barcelona on a Lomo LC-A+ White Ed. with Lomography 800 film

December: The highlight of December had to be mine and Dave’s trip to Barcelona. We had a lovely time enjoying some sunshine right before Christmas. This is my favourite photo from my favourite night of the trip and was taken following a Magic Fountain show, which we really enjoyed. I love my new LC-A+ which I got in NYC as it makes me a much more thoughtful photographer.

All in all I had a super analogue 2011 and I feel like I have become an active member of the Lomo community and improved my photography at least a little bit. Although my photos are far from perfect I have learnt a lot throughout the last year and I hope that this continues in 2012.

As film photographers, our photos become part of our journey through everyday life. For this year’s year ender series, our Lomographers encapsulate their trials, joys and the various highlights of their lives in 2011. Read more articles on the Year Ender series.