Singapore Photographer Tan ek's Colorful & Edgy Adventure with Lomography 35mm Film
2 3Film photographer Tan ek has taken us to vibrant Singapore — with a series of Lomography 35mm films! He has shared the unique angles to embrace the summer breeze in this ever-changing space.
Hello Tan ek, it’s nice to have you here in the Lomography Magazine! Please introduce yourself to the Lomography Community!
Hello! I am a film photographer, YouTuber, director and cinematographer, soon to be studying film at LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore. I love powerful storytelling through visual media, and creating makes me feel alive.
Share with us your photographic background. What is your story? How did you get into analogue photography?
I started photography back in 2020, alongside an interest in consumer tech and electronics. I bought my first DSLR shortly after, and continued growing my technical skills and trying new things.
In 2023, I received my grandfather’s old 35mm film camera, a Nikon FE, and that was what started my transition to analogue photography. As I began following more film photographers on YouTube, I came to love the intentionality of film photography, as well as the fun of being able to play with different cameras and film stocks. Since then, I’ve never looked back, and I firmly believe the analogue process helps me create my best work.
What was your first impression of Lomography 35mm Film? Which one impressed you most?
I love that there is a wide selection of film offerings from Lomography that can suit any use case or creative vision. The unusual colors of film stocks like LomoChrome Purple, LomoChrome Turquoise, and Lomography Redscale encourage me to shoot things I normally wouldn’t shoot, and lean into the unpredictability that comes with the film workflow.
Which one is your favorite film among the 5 rolls you've shot? And why?
I personally really liked my Redscale images - they complemented what I was shooting really well. Having a variable ISO was interesting as well, and I decided to underexpose the Redscale a little to emphasize the silhouettes I was shooting.
Which one is your favorite photo?
The Redscale shot of the two models sitting under the light rays, for sure. When shooting this roll, we were just exploring a building and chanced upon an empty room with the light streaming in through the window just perfectly, and of course we had to take a shot there.
" Photography can be really serendipitous, and that’s what makes the process all the more special! "
What feature do you like most about the film?
I love the experimental colors. Knowing my pictures will come out with funky colors allows me to step out of my usual habits and comfort zone more easily, and I’ll sort of be in a different mindset while shooting. It is always good to try new things and broaden one's horizons. That is something shooting Lomography film helps me achieve.
How do you choose the perfect situation for shooting this film?
I believe lighting makes or breaks images, and most of the time I’ll do what I can in the unpredictable Singapore weather to make sure I shoot in good light. I’ll watch for how it shapes my compositions, and if need be, find certain locations that give me the lighting and set pieces I need (e.g., the Redscale shots).
Any messages to Singapore Lomographers out there?
Keep creating and trying new things! There is so much to explore in photography, and in our little red dot as well. The people who say Singapore is boring don’t know what they’re talking about. This hobby has allowed me to discover another side of my country I didn’t know existed. Take your camera, get out of your house, go somewhere new, and shoot some film.
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Thanks to Tan ek for offering a glimpse into his creative world. Check out more of his work on Instagram and keep the inspiration rolling!
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