A Journey with the Lomo'Instant Square Glass by @rocket_fries0036
7Like many of us, instant photography was something I was exposed to while I was growing up. My earliest memory of the format was my older sister capturing random moments with her friends and covering her wall with these photos. These memories became decorations which would remind her of the small yet fun moments growing up.
In my case, I never used an instant camera until I started working as a writer at Lomography. I tried out the whole lineup of our Instant Cameras, with the Lomo’Instant Automat being particularly fun to use, but one camera I didn't understand until I got to use it was the Lomo'Instant Square Glass.
The camera itself is eye-catching. It looks like something out of another era. As the name suggests, it uses the Instax Square format, but it's also the first dual-format instant camera – meaning you can switch it up and use the Instax Mini format as well. With all the usual attachments like the portrait and splitzer lens attachments, the main thing that caught my attention was its portability and sharpness of the lens. I decided to try out the camera during some parties and events to see if this camera could be my next daily companion.
My first attempts with this camera had a lot of technical difficulties. First off, I had to get used to the zone focusing, the power of the flash, and the parallax error of the camera.
Furthermore, I was using an expired pack of Instax Square. Though some shots turned out well and had cool faded and vintage-looking colors, about halfway into the roll I was only getting blank shots. I also wasn't able to check the battery, so during one event the camera died on me and I wasn't able to take the shots I wanted to get at that party.
After these hiccups, and some more trial and error, I was able to get the shots I imagined in my head into my hands. From the get-go, I think this camera is perfect for portraits. The minimum focusing distance of the Lomo'Instant Square Glass is 0.8m, which allows you to get those really sharp close-up photos that remind me of model casting photos from back in the day. I don't know if it was the camera or even the format, but with the Lomo'Instant Square, I noticed most of my shots would be less “in-the-moment shots” but rather portraits of my friends and even acquaintances. I think these portraits were some of my favorite pictures I've taken, as it made me step out of my comfort zone in terms of my style and appreciate the art and delicate nature of taking a portrait.
I think the next best thing about this camera is its portability. The camera turns on when you push the lens out of the body, which means when it's closed it's more or less flat, allowing you to slip this camera inside your bag without much fuss. Sometimes bringing cameras to events can be bothersome but the compactness of the camera is really what made it an easy choice whether I was going to a fashion event or an all-night rave.
I also played around with the different modes of the camera, from long exposures against chaotic lighting, to shooting high-powered flash to capture my friends on the dancefloor, some failed multiple exposures and I even just tried to use the cameras as a point-and-shoot in the way I would usually shoot the events I cover. I think the square format of the camera really makes you consider choosing a main subject as shooting group shots with this camera can give unfavorable results.
In the end, I found the Lomo'Instant Square Glass dependable when capturing any moments, whether you want to take some fun fashion portraits or find those intimate moments during a party that you can treasure forever. Like any camera there is a learning curve – watch out for the parallax error, make sure you have back-up batteries and be mindful of the focusing distancing – but once you get the hang of it the Lomo'Instant Square Glass is a camera you will always want to have in your bag.
Where would you like to take your Lomo'Instant Square? Comment Down Below!
written by rocket_fries0036 on 2024-08-20 #gear #culture #party #people #instant #disco #portraits #lomo-instant-square #apac #instax
No Comments