Ticket to Winter Photography Competition Recap

1

On November 7th, the Chinese solar term Lidong (立冬) began, marking the official arrival of winter. To celebrate, Lomography launched the Ticket to Winter Photography Competition in China. Lidong symbolizes not just the beginning of winter but also a time when nature begins to rest—a poetic season to pause, reflect, and embrace the beauty of the colder months.

Through this event, we invited participants to share their winter stories through their lenses. Whether it was the morning frost, hot tea by the window, the first snowfall, the biting northern air, or the warmer southern sunshine, these moments became creative inspirations for their “Ticket to Winter.”

Film photography enthusiasts took up this challenge, capturing a diverse range of winter scenes and turning them into unique seasonal “tickets” that celebrated the season’s charm. Together, these entries weave a stunning visual narrative of winter’s beauty, infused with heartfelt reflections and stories.

After much deliberation, eight talented photographers—Jio photos are loading, TwilightRush, HEMERA, Xinxin, Li Hengli, kokomi, Xiaotian Wang, and Greybird Taatiau—were awarded prizes. We were fortunate to interview four of the winners. Let’s explore their creative worlds and uncover the inspirations behind their stunning submissions.

Photo by Jio photos are loading

Hemera: Reliably, Conveniently, and Effortlessly Documenting the World

Hemera’s journey with film photography began at the age of 12 when she received her first film camera. Back then, developing film required saving up her allowance for a month, but the joy of reliving moments captured on her way to school made the wait worthwhile. To Hemera, “Film photography is about revisiting memories, consisting of two parts: ‘impressions’ and the passage of time. When recalling an impression, we don’t always need sharp details. Our minds naturally connect the dots of color and light to trigger memories and emotions. The delayed process of film development turns it into ‘preserved jam for memories.’ We capture beautiful moments and, in an unguarded instant, reopen them to savor their sweetness, prolonging the trace of time.”

Photo by Hemera

She is drawn to film for its compact and portable nature, which she believes aligns with Lomography’s core design philosophy: to reliably and conveniently document the world without the burden of heavy equipment. She also loves the unpredictability of film, which adds more depth and intrigue to the memories it preserves.

Her submission came from an early 2024 snowstorm in Wuhan, where she ventured to a horse ranch with a shovel in hand, ready to photograph Friesian horse Nando and Lipizzan horse Meile galloping through the snow. For the shoot, she packed three lightweight film cameras— the Diana Mini, La Sardina, and Lomomatic 110 —all small enough to fit into the pockets of her jacket.

Photo by Hemera
“The Diana Mini and La Sardina are made of plastic with raised shutter buttons, making them easy to operate with gloves and worry-free against melting snowflakes. Meanwhile, the Lomomatic 110’s automatic shutter made it reliable for all-day shooting.”
Photo by Hemera

Her favorite photos were taken with La Sardina using LomoChrome Turquoise film. “The dreamy out-of-focus effect of the Sardina paired beautifully with the film’s surreal tones, creating impressionistic, artistic imagery that remains captivating every time I revisit them. The dynamic range of LomoChrome Turquoise also surprised me, perfectly capturing the quiet beauty of desolate wilderness scenes.”

Greybird Taatiau: The “Tangible Realness” of Film

In Cantonese, “Taatiau” means comfort, and this sentiment reflects Greybird’s approach to both the photography process and his works. Influenced by friends during his student days in 2016, he rediscovered an old point-and-shoot camera at home and fell in love with film photography.

“Film allows me to immerse myself without external distractions. Developing film and holding the negatives in hand adds a ritualistic, tangible sense of creation, he shared.

Photo by Greybird Taatiau

For the Ticket to Winter competition, he chose to work with black-and-white Ilford Pan 400 film. “The monochrome tones transformed the southern shrublands into a scene reminiscent of a snowy winter.”

Photo by Greybird Taatiau

One of his standout works features his model, Fang Xiu, whose expression evokes a feeling of longing. “It reminded me of a line from The Grandmaster: ‘Flowers bloom beneath the leaves once; I tread through snow in my dreams countless times.’”

Photo by Greybird Taatiau

Kokomi: The Thrill of Uncertainty and Delayed Gratification

Kokomi’s love for film began in middle school, inspired by film-like tones in photo-editing apps. She became captivated by the delayed gratification and uncertainty unique to film photography.

Photo by kokomi

Her entry featured serene snow-covered landscapes in Finland, where quilt-like blankets of snow, indistinguishable deer, and a tranquil atmosphere stood in stark contrast to her daily life. Each frame perfectly encapsulated the winter theme, offering a poignant visual escape.

Photo by kokomi

Li Hengli: The Magic of Revisiting Film Negatives

Li Hengli’s film photography journey began during his first year of graduate school, when he used his scholarship to purchase a German twin-lens reflex camera. Since then, he has been captivated by the art form.

Photo by Li Hengli

For Li, the most compelling aspect of film is revisiting the negatives. “Each roll feels like a time machine, where the silver halide grains transport me back to the moment the shutter clicked. I can almost feel the breeze brushing against my skin in those memories.”

His submission documented a hiking trip in Northern Xinjiang during a gap period after losing his job. Invited by his friend, he explored Urumqi, Hemu, and Kanas, accompanied by the season’s first snowfall. Armed with a half-frame camera and a 645 medium-format wide camera, he meticulously captured the journey. “The limited number of film rolls and frames made me cherish each shot, treating every moment with the utmost care.”

Photo by Li Hengli

These photos remain his treasured “winter tickets,” often revisited to relive those cherished memories.

Pro Tips from the Winners

• Hemera: "Measure the length of your arms and legs to help with manual focusing. If you’re new to film, start by shooting in sunlight for better results. Always carry your camera—you never know when beauty will reveal itself."
• Greybird Taatiau: "Experiment with expired film for unexpected effects. Try double exposures or intentionally let light leak by briefly opening the camera back. It’s all about embracing surprises—whether delightful or shocking."
• Kokomi: "As an amateur photographer, focus on enjoying the process and capturing life’s fleeting moments. Even accidents like light leaks or frame overlaps become irreplaceable memories."
• Li Hengli: "Don’t let others dictate what you should photograph. And never hand your film camera to mischievous, nimble-fingered friends—they might open the back and ruin your film!"


Thank you to all the participants who shared their “winter tickets” with us. We hope more people will pick up a camera, capture life’s beauty, and write their own stories with film!

written by jluo on 2025-01-21 #culture #news #people #competition #winter #china #lomoamigo

Mentioned Product

Lomomatic 110

Lomomatic 110

Your passport to adventure; hit the road with the sharpest, most creative pocket-sized camera on Earth. With a sophisticated metal body featuring a powerful glass lens & advanced creative features plus a detachable flash, your 110 journey starts now!

More Interesting Articles