Flora on Film with Chloe Whelan and the LomoChrome Purple 35 mm

Irish photographer Chloe Whelan recently tested out some LomoChrome Purple 35 mm film in a botanical garden, the perfect setting to highlight the gorgeous color shifts that this film can produce. We talked the Chloe about the appeal of shooting with film and her plans for the future.

Hi Chloe, please tell us a bit about yourself.

Hey, I’m Chloe and I’m from the beautiful west coast of Ireland! Photography has fascinated me since I was a kid. I used to spend hours cutting out photographs and art from magazines, books, even CD booklets and create collages on my bedroom walls and personal diaries. It really inspired me, I have always been intrigued with how people experience and express themselves in the world. I am quite a sentimental person too, I love capturing fleeting moments and life’s little intricacies - from a simple shadow cast to exploring new countries and cultures. Photography allows me to hold onto these moments forever.

How did you get into shooting film and what was the appeal?

I have always been drawn to the nostalgic feel of film photography. The texture, color and imperfections give every image so much character. I had the opportunity to work in a local photo lab and learned a lot about the whole process. I fell in love with the physicality of it all. It also meant I was lucky enough to have the freedom to experiment a lot when I was starting out. Film photography forces you to really connect with your camera, slow down and take in the world around you. Shooting film has changed my outlook on life and inspires me to get out and be present.

The moment I discovered LomoChrome Purple I knew I had to try it out. A lot of the magazine clippings I was drawn to as a kid were those Pink Floyd-esque psychedelic scenes and band shoots - I am super fascinated with 60s/70s culture and the film reminds me of that. Its ethereal, dreamlike color shifts completely transform familiar scenes and it’s just so magical and fun to shoot! I plan on using the Lomo Fisheye lens with the film soon for some cool 70s inspired band shots. The color shifts make composition and subject choice more experimental and playful, you don’t really know what the shots will turn out like. It made the development/scanning process so exciting. Perfect for when you are feeling a little inspiration-less and need a fun challenge.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to try out this color shifting film?

Embrace the experimentation. There are never any rights or wrongs, the beautiful color shifts and tones of the film will transform any image into a work of art all by itself. Pay attention to the greens in your surroundings as they change most drastically. Try shooting the film at different ISOs too, it’s really so versatile and the possibilities are endless. So looking forward to shooting some more.

To see more of Chloe's work visit her Instagram page.

2025-04-28 #gear #people #plants #botanical #lomochrome-purple Share Article