"Can You Imagine, Blooming?" — Artist David Alpert's Tender Photos with the Lomo'Instant Square Glass

Artist and curator David Alpert collects memories through instant photography. Personal and sentimental, his photos are brief glimpses into his world. His camera of choice remains the Lomo'Instant Square Glass, which he has been using since January 2018 after buying his first one as a birthday gift to himself.

We recently had the chance to ask David a few questions about his approach to instant photography, shooting with the Lomo'Instant Square Glass and more.

Hi, David! Welcome to the magazine. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? How did you get into analogue photography, and what made you interested in the instant format?

I'm an artist and curator in Kansas City, Missouri, United States (where I'm from). I help run a non-profit movie theater called Stray Cat Film Center, and I just opened an arts space with some friends called 100,000,000. In addition to photography, I write, play music, and draw. I'm currently learning cello.

The person I'm in love with recently gifted me an Olympus XA3. It is basically my first time shooting 35mm, so we'll see how that goes. I tattooed the word "compassion" above my right knee. I can see how some people might think that is a little kitsch or something, and it probably is, but I like that tattoo. I did it myself.

Outside of one high school class, I had not done much analogue photography before I started shooting instax. I've always liked photography. The art museum here, the Nelson Atkins, has a particularly good photography collection.

I started shooting instax in January of 2018. I had been doing more long-term, big projects, and I needed to do something that would create art very quickly, something portable. I chose instax because I didn't want to take the time to learn photography. Initially, I thought of my photography as a side thing, but seven years and about 2,500 pictures later, it's become the most prolific part of my practice.

For you, what are the pros and cons of instant photography?

Instant photography allows for quick, visible adjustments. Every picture is a print. It takes away the difficulty of choosing which negatives to print. They're small/portable and relatively cheap. You can't control very much on the camera. In essence, the constraints of instant photography allow for more freedom to take a lot of pictures without overthinking. I normally tend to overthink.

We noticed you use the Lomo'Instant Square Glass a lot. How long have you been using this camera and what do you like about it?

I've been using the Lomo'Instant Square Glass since January of 2018. I bought it for myself as a birthday gift. I bought a replacement one this past summer. My first one had been dropped and bruised enough times that the light sensor and shutter were starting to have a little trouble. I like how portable it is. I like the quality of the photos/film. They are a little more cool in terms of color, more blues.

I like it as a friend. I take it everywhere with me. I feel safer when it's with me. I've bought all my albums on etsy, and one time the vendor sent me a free camera bag that fits it perfectly.

You also seem to capture a lot of photos of your cat, self-portraits, and outdoor scenes. How do you choose a moment to shoot? Do you typically go out of your way to compose or is it more like a spontaneous urge to take a photo?

I usually have a spontaneous urge, or I go somewhere with the thought that I'll probably take pictures of something/someone. Sometimes I compose particular portraits, and I'll take multiple photos until I get what I want. I also take pictures as most people would, while on vacation, or of the people that I care about. I take pictures of flowers because they're miraculous. Can you imagine, blooming?

As someone who's been using the Lomo'Instant Square Glass for quite some time, do you have some tips for using this camera?

The viewfinder is not through the lens, so it's hard to center stuff. I use a tripod frequently. If you take pictures of people/places/things you care about, you'll like your pictures more, but other people might not. That's ok. It's harder to take a picture of something that already looks interesting, but do it anyway.

The flash works well. I like the color gels. Take bad pictures. Keep them. You might like them later. Take pictures of yourself. Be a model. Take pictures of someone you absolutely adore. If you're nostalgic, like me, you're going to love this.

What are some memorable photos you've taken? Can you share with us the stories behind them?

I use my photos like a diary, so they kind of act as a part of my memory. One of my favorite photos is of a building in the East Bottoms in Kansas City. I think it's probably the best photo I've ever taken in terms of formal aesthetics. I took that picture on a long walk from my place, which is a common way I take pictures.

I took a double exposure of me and mom at the beginning of Covid. This was when we weren't supposed to touch each other, so I used the double exposure as a way to simulate a hug.

When I first started dating my person, I mailed her instant photos of myself along with a letter and poem. I think it might be a big reason why she fell in love with me initially. I could tell you about all of my photos. I archive them with specific titles and dates.

Are there cameras or other film formats you'd like to try out in the future?

I just started shooting on 35mm. I've done some Super 8mm stuff. I like that a lot, but it's expensive. I've always been drawn to medium format but not enough to actually learn it. I feel like instant film and medium format are similar, but I don't know why I think that.

Lastly, do you have any ongoing/future projects you'd like to share with our community?

I recently scanned all of my grandparents' old Super 8 home films. I'd like to make a film by editing those together in some way, adding some of my own footage and some audio, maybe an interview with my mom.

I also make a book every year of a selection of my photos from the previous year, so the 2024 edition will be coming out sometime within the next 8 months or so. I host a love-themed writing competition every year. All of you should enter next year.

Send me a letter! I promise to write back.

Just a fun questionto end , if your photography style were a song, what song would it be?

This is the hardest question in this interview. Right now, it might be You'll Be Ok by Fennec, but it could also be Cassette Loops by Michel Banabila. Something ambient and vaguely sad.

We'd like to thank David for sharing his images and stories with us! To view more of his work, visit his website and Instagram Page.

written by sylvann on 2025-03-12 #gear #culture #people #instant #lomo-instant-wide-glass #david-alpert Share Article