Serious photography with lomo cameras

At the beginning of this year, I started taking an interest in lomography. The idea of low-tech, film plastic cameras (more commonly known as lomo cameras) is thrilling, as it poses a fascinating contrast to the world of instant gratification that we have grown so accustomed to with digital photography. It also does not hurt that these cameras usually look adorable and are affordable as well. However, what got me hooked are the wonderful effects you can achieve with these cameras.

I love trawling Flickr for inspiring photography. In particular, it is often the dreamy, colour-saturated quality of lomographic photographs that will catch my eye. This set of pictures, taken by the "Lomo Kompakt Automat" (the original lomo camera), is among my favourites of all time. The vibrancy of these pictures convinced me to start snapping away with my own lomo.

Photo taken with Lomo Kompakt Automat	Holga

My foray into lomography starts with the "Golden Half", a half frame format camera that runs on the easily available 35mm film. The best thing about a half frame camera is how you can optimise your roll of film by taking twice the number of shots - a roll of 36 exposures give you 72 snaps! Being able to develop my pictures at most photo labs is also a key appeal of the Golden Half.

What's great about lomo and other film cameras is how there is such a wide range to choose and build a collection from. Here are some of my personal favourites:

1) I adore the very pretty "Diana", a cult legend in the 1980s, for its famous radiance and unpredictability.

2) The "Holga" is an all-round crowd-pleaser and with the newer models being released in bright, cheery shades, it doubles easily as an accessory!

Ikimono

3) Right now, I'm lusting after the "Blackbird, Fly" in hot pink. This twin lens reflex camera has an alluring retro vibe that is very charming.

4) The "Book Camera" speaks to the James Bond in me with its potential for espionage and intrigue; when I'm not using it, I can just shelve it with my real books!

5) The "Ikimono" is the latest addition to my collection and the smallest camera I know. Tiny enough to hook onto a keychain, it' almost too cute to use!


Where to buy?
Currently experiencing yet another revival (they are always going in and out of fashion), lomo cameras can be found readily, so hunting down the camera of your choice should not be difficult. You can either shop around online or make a trip down to one of the many retailers around the island to check out the products up close.

8StoreyTree is a local online shop that specialises in the sale of lomo cameras, rare films and other photographic paraphernalia. I recommend shopping locally to save considerably on shipping cost and time.

A growing number of locations have started stocking lomo cameras due to their growing popularity in Singapore.

For the more serious photography enthusiasts, you can consider dropping by Objectifs, Centre for Photography and Film-Making. In addition to stocking a good collection of lomo cameras, the space often hosts photography exhibitions and provides a conducive environment for discussion among budding photographers. You can also sign up for photography classes to further hone your craft.

If you find yourself in the Ann Siang Hill area, you can pop by BooksActually and The Asylum as they offer a small range of the better-known lomo cameras. More notably, The Asylum stocks the 110 film (used in the Ikimono and Book cameras), which is relatively rarer. Film can be expensive if you shoot often, so watch out for sales and stock up when they roll around.

During a recent trip down to Vivocity, I found that PageOne has dedicated a little section of their space to lomo camera photography. The cameras stocked there are from the Japanese brand, "Superheadz", which produces many of the cameras I have introduced in this article. You can also pick up relevant books on lomography while you are there!

One of the key reservations people have with film cameras is the hassle of having to develop the photos. While one can develop 35mm film at most photo labs, developing the less conventional 110 and 120 films can be trickier.

The 110 film can be developed at a number of places, including the Fee Fee House of Photographics, the Triple D Minilab and the Astro Imaging Centre. Users of 110 film may choose to develop their pictures in either black and white or in colour. Giving the photo lab a call to find out more about the available services is also a good idea.

For the development of 120 film, a good friend of mine (who owns a Holga) recommends Ruby Photo. The amicable gentlemen who run the shop will also be more than willing to share useful tips with you while you are waiting for your photographs to be ready.

So, ditch your digital camera for a while and embrace the blurry fun of toy camera photography!

Stephie & Dottie
Stephie & Dottie are the girls behind Fashion Nation, a high profile blog featuring their adventures in the realm of fashion and retail in Singapore. Catch a glimpse of their worlds on inSing.com every Wednesday.