Community Spotlight: Blaise (@bwbrennan) and Matukhno Vitaliy (@matukhnovialii)

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Being one of the largest analogue photography communities on the web, we are proud of the creativity and diversity of our members. For this month's Community Spotlight, we are pleased to introduce to you Lomographers Blaise and Matukhno and their unique way of seeing the world.

Credits: bwbrennan & matukhnovialii

Name: Blaise
LomoHome: @bwbrennan
Location: Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Hi, Blaise! What do you do and what got you started with photography?

When my buddy Adam and I lived together in college, we carried around his dad's old Canon Rebel G with a kit lens and shot film (Fuji Superia 400) wherever we went. We would get it developed and printed at CVS and post them on the wall of our kitchen, which was always a great conversation starter with guests. A couple of years later, nostalgia for that time got me thinking about buying a camera of my own!

How did you discover Lomography and what made you join our analogue Community?

Another buddy from college, Dan, shoots film and really embodies the Lomography ethos. He mostly shoots with a Lomo LC-A, loves taking double exposures, and developing his own film. He taught me how to develop C-41 at home, and eventually mentioned that I should check out this platform for sharing my photos!

Who are your favorite photographers here?

I recently discovered @kerlingarfjoll when looking up the Nikon FG. I love their use of bright colors and creative compositions.

Credits: bwbrennan

What is your favorite subject to photograph?

Since I like "walkabout photography" (by which I mean a casual and fun blend of street photography, documentary photography, portraiture, and self-portraiture), I'll really just take pictures of whatever is around. Friends, pets, strangers, or myself in silly situations. It's especially gratifying when a friend decides to use one of my pictures on their dating profile.

What do you usually look for in a scene before you hit the shutter?

I totally believe that our subconscious knows, or eventually learns, what to look for in the viewfinder. Eventually, when I develop and scan the exposure, I can piece together what it is that drew me to the scene. Sure, I'll sometimes plan a shot ahead of time, and sometimes I'll even try to be choosy with my shots since film can be pricey (I'll point my camera in that direction, mime taking the picture, and tell myself, "maybe next time..."). For me, this hobby is all about letting that part of my brain take over and capture whatever it finds interesting.

In this day and age, why choose film?

It's a little expensive and a little impractical, but there's something special about the process. If we were just trying to capture exactly what we see, we would use our phone cameras with HDR, algorithmic bokeh, and all that noise. Instead, I like the trust I have to put in my brain and my eye, the camera and the meter and the lens, the emulsion and the developer and the scanner. The situation gets flattened and transformed at every step until you finally get a unique image that only you could have made.

What does a perfect day look like for you?

You can't do this all the time or else it wouldn't feel special: play hooky from your job or from school, take a camera (and a few extra rolls of film!) somewhere you've never been before, and enjoy the feeling of concentrating on just one thing: taking pictures without any of responsibilities or pressures of everyday life.

Credits: bwbrennan

Name: Matukhno Vitaliy
LomoHome: @matukhnovialii
Location: Ukraine. Luhansk region, Lisichansk

What do you do and what got you started with photography?

Since I live in one of the most disadvantaged cities in Ukraine, I try to improve at least something a little in it. Therefore I organize various cultural events, festivals, exhibitions, and so on.

At the moment, my main project is "Gareleya Neotodryosh" where I give an opportunity to showcase the creativity of young artists, photographers, musicians, and filmmakers of the region, but given that we have no institutions that are willing to support our project, the exhibition is held in abandoned houses, factories, and various marginalized areas.

I started taking photographs after several photographers from Germany came to our city - Josh Kern, Jule Wild, and Uelgen Atakmn. They were in Ukraine for the first time, and I was very surprised that they decided to come to Lisichansk because this is completely the end of the world. I tried to get acquainted with them at least a little with the context of the city and show them something interesting. Аfter meeting them, I got the motivation to try to shoot on film. I found my father's old camera ZENIT at home, but alas, it didn’t work. After that, I borrowed a FED camera from my friend and started trying to shoot something.

How did you discover Lomography and what made you join our analogue Community? Who are your favorite photographers here?

Not so long ago, I got money for film development, which I had accumulated for a whole year, and my friend Ignat (@ignatik) told me about this place where he publishes his photographs. Actually, he is one of my favorite photographers here.

Also, I really like pictures of these people:

@akio_nakai
@zargleu
@tiredofrachel
@mjhmtl
@bardiabrd

Credits: matukhnovialii

What is your favorite subject to photograph? What do you usually look for in a scene before you hit the shutter?

I live in a city where the influence of the Soviet Union is still very noticeable. Numerous factories, destroyed industrial facilities, angry people on the streets, and in general the very heavy atmosphere here. I try to convey the mood of my region through these photographs, one might say, I create a portrait of him, through the prism of outdated Soviet film and the same old Soviet cameras. I really like the warping effect of the old black and white film, it cannot be faked or duplicated.

In this day and age, why choose film?

Taking pictures on old films, through these old Soviet cameras, I try to see the modern world through the prism of the past, or even look at the current world through the eyes of people who still retain nostalgia for the Soviet Union.

What does a perfect day look like for you?

The same day when I do another cool event in my city)

Credits: matukhnovialii

Stay tuned for our monthly Community Spotlight to discover the work of some of the most talented Lomographers!

written by cheeo on 2021-04-13 #people #blaise #community-spotlight #matukhnov-vitaliy #bwbrennan

3 Comments

  1. gheinz
    gheinz ·

    @matukhnovialii @bwbrennan great post! Love your work!

  2. lomodesbro
    lomodesbro ·

    Me too, ka pai/choice

  3. akio_nakai
    akio_nakai ·

    @matukhnovialii Thanks! Your monochrome so cool:)

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