Rotterdam's Vibrant Nightlife Captured on King's Day with the Fisheye No. 2 by Roffa Archive

1

Is there a better way to capture the essence of a party than with analogue photography? The students behind Roffa Archive certainly don't think so. When we stumbled upon their Instagram archive, we were immediately drawn into the vibrant nightlife of Rotterdam. With King’s Day approaching, we asked them to switch their usual gear for the well-fitting bright orange Papaya Pop variant of the Fisheye No. 2 camera. After all, what better way to capture the energy of the celebrations than with the extreme wide-angle Fisheye lens? Today, they’re here to share the results and their experiences!

Photos by Roffa Archive

Hi Roffa Archive, welcome to Lomography Magazine! Can you please start by telling us a bit about who's behind this archive and how you came up with this project?

Thank you! We are Mara, Franka, and Annemoon, and we're photography students based in Rotterdam. Our journey with this archive began as a school project about two years ago. We got the assignment to start a year-long project aimed at community engagement. We started this during the COVID pandemic, when the vibrancy of Rotterdam's nightlife was almost non-existent.

Photos by Roffa Archive

Recognizing the importance of nightlife and its cultural significance, we wanted to bridge connections and highlight its essence through an online photo archive. Our vision was to create a unified platform that celebrates all genres and subcultures and to create inclusivity beyond its immediate purpose. The archive also serves as a time capsule of our generation. Our aim was to create a lasting legacy that future generations can reflect upon.

Can you tell us a bit more about your photography style?

Well, first of all, we always use analogue point-and-shoot cameras when we take photos. We chose this because it helps us stay discreet and blend in better at clubs. Plus, we love the vintage feel that analogue photography gives.

Besides that, each of us has our own unique approach and style. Mara enjoys getting up close for her portraits, focusing on interesting faces. Franka likes to capture movement in her photos, aiming for spontaneity and immersing herself in the party. Annemoon, on the other hand, focuses on capturing the intimacy of nightlife—kissing, touching, and the emotions that come with it.

Photos by Roffa Archive

All these styles combine give our collection a unique mix. We also have a love for capturing the extremes—whether it's bold outfits, unique makeup, or the intense actions people engage in at events.

Could you briefly describe what makes King's Day special and share how you celebrate it?

Yes, of course! The original purpose of King's Day is to celebrate the king's birthday, but I think for our generation, it's not really about the king anymore. Nowadays, it's a day when every city in the country is filled with people wearing orange and partying.

Especially in big cities like Rotterdam and Amsterdam, there are a lot of fun events to go to. Every bar hosts an event, the city is filled with festivals, and partying and drinking with friends on the streets is also a lot of fun.

It's a wonderful day of positivity and enjoying yourself with the people you love. We celebrated this King's Day by going to a festival called 'Kroonjuweel' in the west of Rotterdam!

Photos by Roffa Archive

How was your experience with the Fisheye No.2 camera ?

It was great fun! We've been using the same type of cameras for so long, so it was nice to try something new. Of course, we had to get used to the new camera at first, but once we got the hang of it, it became really interesting.

The fisheye effect really challenges you to experiment with compositions and try new perspectives and angles.

Photos by Roffa Archive

What were your first reactions seeing the results?

So cool! It's always exciting to get your film developed and see the results, but this time it was extra exciting of course because we had no idea what the results where going to be.
Especially now that we've seen the results we know what looks cool and how we should approach it next time we use the camera! It feels like a fresh, creative journey that has opened up new possibilities for us.

Photos by Roffa Archive

Why do you think shooting nightlife works so well in Rotterdam?

We believe Rotterdam is a truly unique city that sometimes doesn't get the appreciation it deserves. Especially when it comes to the people and organizations that create nightlife events, they come up with such original and amazing concepts that we feel need to be seen.

The people of Rotterdam are warm and connected, and we feel this sense of community while shooting there. They are welcoming and open, and we believe they are very proud of their city.

Photos by Roffa Archive

Amongst the shots taken, do you have any favorites?

Photos by Roffa Archive

We definitely like to incorporate a bit of humor into our archive, and this picture made us laugh a lot. We think the look on this guy's face is hilarious, and although we don't remember the exact situation while shooting, it was probably funny! Additionally, we think the fisheye effect adds a very cool touch to this picture.

Do you have any upcoming events planned that you're looking forward to?

Good question! Most of the time, we are very spontaneous with the places and events we go to, and we don't plan months in advance. However, there are two festivals—Blijdorp Festival and Rotterdam Rave—that have been on our list for the past two years. Unfortunately, we couldn't make it in the past, but we hope to capture these events this year as they are some of the biggest festivals in town!

Photos by Roffa Archive

Is there anything else you would like to share with our community?

Start a project you're passionate about! When we started Roffa Archive, we were definitely a bit scared that it might fail or lead to nothing. However, starting it and working hard to create something meaningful turned out to be the best decision. This project has brought us countless amazing opportunities and experiences that we would have missed if we had let fear hold us back. So go out there and create something great!


Thank you so much, Roffa Archive! Can't get enough of the photos? Check out their Instagram for more content!

Feeling inspired to take some pictures yourself? Don't forget to bring a Fisheye No. 2 camera to the party, fun times guaranteed!

written by lomocato on 2024-06-09 #culture #people #party #nightlife #netherlands #fisheye #fisheye-no-2 #king-s-day

Mentioned Product

Lomography Fisheye No. 2

Lomography Fisheye No. 2

See the world through 170⁰ of fabulous Fisheye distortion. Our Fisheye cameras use regular 35mm film. A built-in flash can be switched on so you could have more coverage in underwater depths or even at late night parties.

More Interesting Articles