Corey Kolb on the Tactile Magic of the LomoGraflok and Large Format Photography

What happens when a UX designer falls in love with the tactile magic of instant photography? For Corey Kolb his expertise in and passion for visual experimentation led him to the discovery of his analogue companion, the LomoGraflok 4x5 Instant Back.

With the LomoGraflok by his side, Corey learned important techniques for shooting sheet film and discovered the magic of instant portraiture and landscapes.

Today, Corey has kindly agreed to sit down to chat with us about his inspirations, tips and tricks for shooting, and how he makes his subjects comfortable in front of the lens.

Hi Corey, welcome to Lomography Magazine! Could you start off by telling us a bit about yourself and your general background in photography?

I live in Jacksonville, Florida and work as a user experience designer. I got a BFA with a concentration in graphic design and digital media from the University of North Florida. At UNF, I was able to take a couple of photography classes. I had a great time but didn’t really do much with photography after I got out of school. I was more interested in graphic agitation, posters, and screen printing.

Not too long ago my daughter was given a Fuji Instax Mini camera. I was jealous of these cool little prints she was able to get. Fast forward, and our house is littered with cameras now.

Why shoot analogue as opposed to digital?

I don’t see image-making as one or the other. I shoot both analogue and digital. I love analogue because it pairs with the physical world so well. Having and holding an image feels great, and Instax film developing in front of your eyes is magic every time. Shooting a negative and making a contact print from it is easy and intimate. I spend a lot of time on a computer, so being able to not use one feels like a luxury.

How did you begin shooting in large format? What made you decide to pick up the LomoGraflok ?

The LomoGraflok was what made me want to get into large format. After my daughter got her Instax Mini camera I became stoked on a SLR Instax Mini camera, the NONS SL42. The ability to have control over shutter speed, aperture, see through the taking lens, swap focal lengths, and get a quick image in my hands with chemical character was exciting.

As time passed, I wanted bigger instant prints and didn’t want to sacrifice the creative control I get with a NONS camera. The LomoGraflok does this for me. I bought a LomoGraflok and a Graflex Crown Graphic camera at the start of my large format journey. Instax film proved to be a gentle teacher in the many ways you can botch an exposure when shooting large format.

When I started shooting sheet film, potentially expensive mistakes and questions were already worked through in hundreds of shots with the LomoGraflok.

Can you tell us a bit about what you typically like to shoot and why?

I like to shoot all kinds of stuff, but I really like to shoot portraits. I built a Graflex Crown Graphic to act like a Polaroid Big Shot in that it is designed to take a headshot, but better. I stripped off the top rangefinder and viewfinder and replaced it with my phone and the Image Junky app. I have a set of infinity stops set so when someone is 90cm away from my camera and the front standard is pulled out to a specific set of infinity stops, they are in focus. Like the Polaroid Big Shot, this makes for a tight portrait. The app gives me a LiDAR distance reading and parallax corrected viewfinder. I am able to focus and compose quickly in low light conditions without having to swap out the ground glass for the Lomograflok.

The opportunity cost with this approach is rigid constraints on framing. I get a tight head shot. I find creativity flourishes under constraints. So I spend time with folks to come up with different ways to make an expressive portrait and focus on lighting. These constraints also add unity to these images.

How do you go about approaching the subjects of your portraiture? Any tips or tricks?

If I want my son or daughter to sit for me, I gotta bribe ‘em with screen time. They get 30 minutes to an hour on the Nintendo Switch for sitting for a portrait.

On the street, I get folks to stand for me in a couple of ways. I will approach some people and ask if I can take their portrait. I explain it is free and that I will send them a scan on Instagram, but I keep the print. The other way this usually shakes out is folks approach me. This setup looks weird and they are curious about it. I explain I’m taking portraits and ask if they want one. Peeps seem to be put at ease given this is not a commercial transaction. I also keep examples I shot that day available for people to see.

Do you have any tips or tricks for shooting with the LomoGraflok?

Maybe this is a personal preference but I like the way instax looks slightly overexposed. I meter at ISO 500 when shooting with the LomoGraflok.

Do you have an all time favorite photo that you've taken with the LomoGraflok? Is there a story behind it?

My tastes are fickle and I don’t know if there has been a photo I have liked for all that long. Pressed I would have to say that the photo of my daughter in the bunny mask I shot with the Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f/2.5 on a Graflex Speed Graphic. I harvested this lens from an air reconnaissance camera called the K-24 that helped us defeat fascism in World War II. Some of the rear elements have thorium in them and have browned. This coloration added an interesting tone paired with what she was wearing that day and the shallow depth of field. I like the shot as an image and I like having a print of my daughter.

What are your hopes for the future of analogue photography?

I hope if folks are interested in shooting analogue that it is accessible to them, whether this is accessibility on price point, knowledge or on any other aspect. Having seen peel-apart instant film become inaccessible is a total bummer.

Do you have any upcoming projects or shoots that you can share with our community?

Catch me at Art Walk in Downtown Jacksonville. I’m out there on Laura and Monroe.

If you're interested in keeping up with Corey and his photographic journey, make sure to check out his Instagram.

written by eloffreno on 2024-09-24 #gear #people #street #landscape #experimental #instant #large-format #4x5 #portraiture