Lomo what?

Hola.


This is my first entry for my new blog. Funny story actually. The first time I heard about the Lomo was a few months ago, in a magazine article in Junk or Klue. Can't remember which. All that I could remember was that I didn't take a second look at Lomo after reading the article. Sure, it caught my attention, with all those cute colourful cameras standing in line next to each other, like army troops ready to get into war, but that was that. Truthfully, I don't know why I started thinking about it. Next thing I know, I was doing some research on the internet, saving the snapshots from thousands of Lomo users around the world.  I think all this time I've been living under a rock cuz I haven't the slighest clue what a 'lomo' or 'lomography' means! This goes to all of you out there too! At first I thought it was just one of those terms used to describe a photography technique or some sort. Which is kinda true! Hey, not bad for a wild guess. :)


I guess the reason I decided to make this page was because I was mesmerized by the awesome, interesting, somewhat-bad-but-in-a-forgivable-way shots the Lomo captures. You'll see what I mean.


So what's the big deal with Lomo? What on earth is it?


Basically, the word Lomography derives from the word Lomo. Lomo is short for Leningrad Optical-Mechanical Almalgamation. Phew! Lots of syllable in that one! Yes, it does look really simple and dull, but it works like wonders. 


The first Lomo camera ever invented was the 35mm LOMO LC-A. The small hand-sized cute glossy black camera was introduced to the world in 1988. It looks like this. 

Sadly, the company no longer produce anymore LC-A. :(


These rules serves as a guideline for using the camera. 


The 10 Golden Rules for Lomography:


1. Take your camera everywhere you go.
2. Use it any time - day and night.
3. Lomography is not an interference in your life, but part of it.
4. Try the shot from the hip.
5. Approach the objects of your lomographic desire as close as possible.
6. Don't think. Just snap. (I added the last part to make it sound catchy).
7. Be fast.
8. You don't have to know beforehand what you captured on film.
9. Afterwards either.
10. Don't worry about any rules.


Lomo is all about having fun with your camera! :)


Here are some of the characteristics:

• Over-saturated pictures
• Extreme optical distortions
• Rainbow-coloured subjects
• Off-kilter exposure
• Blurring and alternative film processing

Also, check out these uber cool pictures I found!

Wow these shots looked like as if it was taken by a professional photographer with his professional camera. Good news is; you can still get this kind of masterpiece by simply using a Lomo camera. Or a compact camera (if you know the tricks) :P


Besides, you don't need Photography 101 or lessons on how to achieve that perfect potrait or picture anymore. It's minus the headache (especially for those like me who doesn't respond well to verbal instructions) and you get to have more fun being free and careless! Just snap snap snap! Like a pro! Well atleast you can pretend to be like one. But hey, the pictures won't lie and it'll turn out beautifully! Just make sure you know WHAT you wanna capture and what goes in and what goes out.


Gosh, I sound like someone who has already owned a Lomo. :( 
I'm gonna get one soon enough I hope, when the cash starts rolling in. :)
Now this is a promise that I'm not gonna break! The excitement is TOO much to ignore! Hehe.


Thank God for Lomo cameras, which is actually quiet affordable, I don't need to get a DSLR to work on those shots. They can be very costly for a rookie like me. Besides, I'm just trying my hands at photography, so I quess it's better to start from the bottom. Hehe. Cheapskate! Lol! :D
I want to explore more on what these powerful toy cameras has to offer and go 'back' in time like it's the 80s! woohoo!!