As of today I can’t imagine a life without analogue photography. It’s not only one of my favorite ways to relax and escape from daily life, it’s also a way to show that same life and share it with others. Also professionally, I prefer working analogue and it helped me create my ‘handwriting’ during my design study. When did this start? Not even that long ago, in a place not so far away…
Photo by merelgroebbe
Of course, I did have an analogue camera before. I think I was eight years old – the camera was red and had a ‘Tweety’ sticker on it. But when the whole world got run over by digital cameras that were small, fast, and very fancy I got one and got rid of my (probably already broken) analogue camera. I did use disposable cameras from time to time, because it was fun and it always managed to surprise me, but overall I was a member of the digital world. Later on I also got my first DSLR because I went to study fashion, and fashion is nothing without being able to make good images.
And then something started to change, right after my first year. I never saw so many different images as in my first year as a fashion student. Everybody was developing his own handwriting, with a different visual language and I was very busy creating one of my own. I came in contact with other creatives and everybody worked differently. This is how I came into contact with analogue photography again, but on a totally different level. I went to the attic and found my dad’s old Fujica ST605N and started shooting. After the first rolls I was sold.
The downside of this camera was the fact that it was so much heavier compared to what I was used to, and I had to drag so many things along with me all day. So most of the time I only took it when I knew beforehand I needed that camera. So it stayed at home too much. This changed when my digital compact camera broke down. After two, three years of use (or abuse) it died. I may not be the most careful with my things so it didn’t really surprise me. But buying a new one? No that wasn’t going to happen…
Suddenly, Lomography came into my life. I don’t even remember when I came in touch with the Diana F+ for the first time, but I remember finding it intriguing and really interesting. My boyfriend totally saw the stars in my eyes and for my next birthday I got a Diana F+ deluxe package! I was in 7th heaven. I totally messed up my first roll of 120film (which I haven’t worked with ever before – so I happened to put it inside out in the camera) and the second one was blurred for 80%. But no matter what, I was sold. The next half year I tried every lens and accessory that came with the camera until I figured out exactly which lens resulted in which kind of photo. And the camera was so light, so I could easily take it with me everyday!
That introduction to lomography also influenced the work with my Fujica. I started using new angles during shooting and I totally embraced the ‘mistakes’ that came out.
In the last two years of my education, analogue photography has played a big role. First as a support camera during a (digital) photo shoot – I didn’t have the confidence yet that I could be the main photographer totally relying on film) until my graduation project that I shot totally in analogue and by myself. Also my other lomography cameras were involved – the instant back, to make instant photos from the fittings and the Lomokino to make a conceptual movie to support my collection.
And now, loads of cameras later (but I still use and love them all) I dare say that I (almost always) know what I am doing and it fits in with my work flawlessly. And that I am very curious where it’s going to take me in the future. My analogue history just started…
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dannox