Holiday LomoAmigo: Saidseni

We have yet to experience a holiday in Portugal. A life of party, food, wine, and music, maybe?

Well, we really won’t know unless we’ve had it. But for now we are only certain about a holiday spent the analogue way! Let’s see how this one will go with Holiday LomoAmigo saidseni!

Name: Inês Dias
LomoHome: saidseni
Location: Lisboa, Portugal

Tell us about yourself. What do you do for a living? What are your interests?

I majored in Social and Cultural Anthropology and I’ve had many jobs since I finished it: guide in exhibitions, content manager, museum assistant [to name a few.]

My main interest in the last years, I can’t lie, is photography. Another thing I also love which combines perfectly with Lomography is traveling. I love to travel and I was fortunate to do it a lot some years ago. Now I’m at home for two years already, scratching my arms and dreaming about the pictures I would take if I could go to well… any place would be great!

How long have you been a Lomographer and how did you find out about the Community?

It all started with a newspaper article about the LC-A from 11.12.2000 which I still keep in my LC-A box. My Father read it and decided to offer me the camera for my 17th birthday. He always encouraged me into photography.

I still remember the day we went to get the camera in a very tiny place in Alfama where Lomography Embassy Lisbon first had their space in the city! I have used this camera for years with some great results and some struggles, too. But I suppose it was only when I got my Supersampler in 2006 that I registered in Lomography.com, in the old site. When Lomography launched the new site I got much more involved in the Community and I’ve learned A LOT since then!

What are your plans for the holidays?

Oh, same old, family and friends arround home. Can I tell about what I would like to do this holiday instead?

I would like to be in a place like a small village in Alasca, Ireland or Scotland… Somewhere in the countryside with grass or snow and amazing skies, where I could take pictures of cows and star trails. Maybe in a little hut by the fire! After all, just somewhere where I could celebrate the simplicity of life and the beauty of nature.

Any New Year’s resolutions for 2013?

Haha! Clearly, get organized and plan some good holidays next year!! I don’t usually make any resolutions in this time of the year sinceI get the “New Year feeling” in the end of summer probably because I’ve been a student most of my life.

If you could recommend one movie and one song to everyone, what would they be?

Only one?! This is like those terrible “One submission rumbles!” Hmmmm, a film that I consider to be a masterpiece is “Persepolis” by Marjan Satrapi. I love the way the story was told and how it shows a world we are often disconnected to in such a human way.

I can also relate to it in some personal level. It reminds me of an Iranian family I met and also, jasmin flowers are very special to me. I find this film truly beautiful! There is another movie that really touched me but in a way I can’t express, it’s “Grizzly Man” by Werner Herzog. Now, that’s a strong movie, it left me speechless!

For the song, I’m choosing something everybody knows (and if not, they should!) “In My Secret Life” by Leonard Cohen. The music is beautiful, Sharon Robinson rocks, and I get chills when I hear the great voice of Mr. Cohen. No need to say anything about him.

This lyrics can be interpretated in many ways and he is probably talking about his life and career. But I think any human being can relate to this. We all have a secret life inside us, don’t you think? I’m listening to it now, the live version in London and I love when he says “The dealer wants you thinking that it’s either black or white” and then, I can feel the relief in his voice, “Thank God is not that simple in my secret life." Thank God, really, neither in mine!

What’s your favourite analogue camera to shoot with? Why?

In answering this question I asked myself another question: If I could only have one of my cameras, what would it be? No doubt, the LC-A!

This camera is amazing once your learn how to properly use it, something I confess to have only achieved lately. Although I can’t use some accessories with it, like the Krab and the Splitzer, I love the possibility of choosing a lower ISO or different appertures when comparing it with the LC-A+. It is able to achieve very nice results in low light conditions. It has great lens, the colors are amazing with both slide and negative film, and it is even possible to make easy immediate multiple exposures! It is also very resistent (Sovietic material!) and small enough to carry around.

But I can’t help mentioning my beloved Spinner. It’s the most amazing camera Lomography has ever made and I just love it! So, if there was a second favorite camera… :)

What’s the next camera you’d like to get your hands on?

The LC-Wide. I hope Santa Piggy reads this. :)

What’s your favourite memory from this year?

My summer vacations! Me and my boyfriend alone in an endless sand beach, only the sea, the sky and the seagulls. This memory is what keeps us on the rest of the year! :)

And now for the toughest question – What’s been your favorite photo from the past year? Why?

Hahaha, got you, that’s easy!

I chose this picture because I think it is beautiful, both the composition and the colors. In fact I’ve little to do with it, it’s the great taste and sensibility of the ladies running this coffee shop that make most of my picture!

But I think I have also reasons to be proud of myself. This picture was taken with a low ISO film, Velvia 50, and indoors — what I’ve always found to be challenging. As I seldom achieve satisfying results while shooting indoors, this picture means to me that I’m finally mastering my LC-A! :)

Oh, and there is something weird about this picture that also made me choose it: it doesn’t look like one of my pictures!

Any holiday shout-outs or tips for your fellow Lomographers?

Get you and your beloved ones crazy holiday accessories and shoot some funny portraits in order to start 2013 laughing out loud! :D Lomo on!

written by mayeemayee on 2012-12-04 #people #community #lomoamigo #saidseni #holiday-lomoamigo