First Impressions of the Lomo'Instant Wide Glass with George Devereux

Professional photographer George Devereux has a unique way of expressing his creative vision through his portraits, choosing to shoot with film to create both striking and, at times, beautifully subtle work. In a recent Lomography interview, he said "…shooting film is like placing a hand in a box of chocolates and plucking out something delicious." We couldn't have put it better ourselves.

We decided to send George the Lomo'Instant Wide Glass to test, and he came back with a few words about his experiences and some helpful tips for anyone wanting to make the most of this glass lens instant camera.

Hello George, nice to have you back. What were your first impressions of the new Lomo'Instant Wide Glass?

From the moment I got my hands on the Lomo'Instant Wide Glass, I was intrigued. Having limited experience with instant cameras, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I'd seen plenty of hazy, soft-focus instant photos before, and that’s kind of my vibe.

What did you decide to shoot with this camera and why?

I decided to dive into portraiture, a familiar genre. I was curious to see how the camera would capture the rich, autumnal tones of the season, as well as a more traditional pastel pallet. I played around with a small studio setup for the first series, and some natural light shots outdoors for the second, in which I played around with underexposing.

What did you think of the results? Did they surprise you in any way?

The results from the Lomo'Instant Wide Glass genuinely surprised me, and was a huge amount of fun to play with. Indoors, I was impressed with how the camera balanced exposure, capturing sharp and vibrant portraits, and was pleasantly surprised by the sharpness that the glass lens delivered, producing amazing results that retained that Lomo quality that one can expect from instant film.

Outdoors, I experimented with underexposure and found myself delighted by the dark, moody tones it produced, not really knowing that I could achieve these kinds of results on instant film. The subtle unpredictability of instant film development, and the few minutes it took to properly develop added an element of excitement to each shot too.

Any tips for other people wanting to try out the Lomo’Instant Wide Glass?

For anyone looking to dive into the world of the Lomo'Instant Wide Glass, my biggest tip is to embrace the playful spirit of instant film. Don't worry about achieving perfection, instead, embrace the candid, spontaneous nature of each shot. Play around with the settings, experiment with exposure and definitely make use of the flash to enhance your shots, as instant film can be quite light-hungry.

Overall, my time with the Lomo'Instant Wide Glass was a blast. It's a camera that feels substantial, not gimmicky or toy-like, and it truly brings the joy of instant film to life. The glass lens offers impressive sharpness, and despite my initial concerns about hitting focus, the results were consistently satisfying. I would shoot again!

Thanks to models Bethanie Marriot and Jadzia Calimano

To see more of George's work visit his Instagram page.

2024-12-18 #gear #people #uk #portriat #george-devereux #lomo-instant-wide-glass