petrina_yyuen Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 What are the opinions on Lomo? Firstly what do you think of Lomo cameras? Many say they are really just crappy cameras that have been marketed well, that they can simply just fall apart... What do you think of the "lomo rules"? They say not to think, and just shoot... Which results in sometimes candid, but IMO crappy shots... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randall ellis Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 Marketing. They used something that already existed (a product that had a 'cult' following) to expand their market to those who prefer to let others do their thinking. It's an old story. There has been some fantastic work done by people with cheap cameras, but the whole "Lomography" thing is just a marketing move. A successful one it would seem, but still nothing more than marketing. - Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phule Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 People are free to explore photography in any way they wish. The more they do the better we all are, IMHO. I see no difference between someone spending $100 on a lomo and someone spending $5000 on a DSLR. In both cases the reason behind the purchase can run from "I have money and I want to spend it" to "I have a specific need that this camera addresses." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourthst Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 I've seen some wonderful Lomo images, some awful ones too. Same for Hassy, Leica, Sinar etc. Photography is about the image, not the camera. If a Lomo helps to express your way of seeing it's a good camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert lee Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 "What do you think of the "lomo rules"?" Fine, just better and easier to execute with your cell phone cam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_moseley1 Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 Lomo: "you may as well use the bottom of a milk bottle" My new marketing line...somehow I think they might well not use it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_swinehart Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 The quality of the Lomo image is too good - that's why I own a Holga...although, I'm quite smitten with the Diana Edelweiss Edition... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shannonholm Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 I have a couple....and I think they are a refreshing change every now and then compared to hauling my 30d with the oh so heavy 24-70 2.8L glass. Sure, I dig the highly technical precision side of photography some days......but i think the simplicity of my lomo cameras have helped me to more fully explore my artistic impulses. (and i've always been a huge fan of experimental photography, double exposures, and motion blurs.) I live in NYC and some days we walk up to 10-15 miles in a day.....just pack up a bag and take off...wandering aimlessly. checking out shops, parks, galleries.....getting caught in the rain....and arriving back at the apartment hours and hours later. my lomos provide a more portable (and less expensive) means to always have a camera on me. ( I am late to this digital game, began my craft as a film purist and have yet to cave and buy a digi point and shoot.) I have a Holga cfn, fisheye 2 and an oktomat and have just as much fun shooting with them as I do my SLRs. Do i swear by them or these supposed 'rules'? no.....but i think they are a fun addition to my photographic arsenal. and none have them have broken on me yet........(fingers crossed.....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdcarma Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 Cool. I'm no longer a crappy photographer. I'm an experienced lomographer. I just use better equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnycake_.1 Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 I'm old enough to remember "Pet Rocks." [...look it up in Wikipedia] "Lomo Rules?" P.T. Barnum is right, "There's a sucker born every minute."] Lomos are cheaply-built, inexpensive cameras. I think Holgas are even worse/better. The photographic 'gear' doesn't "capture the moment." The photographer "captures the moment." "The Moment" didn't exist until the photographer decided that this moment was worthy. As the "Casual Conversation" forum does not permit 'attachments,' I will begin a Lomo SuperSampler thread in the "No Words" forum. Johnny<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshroot Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 The concept of making images with "toy" cameras is neat and can come up with some cool results. The whole "lomography" thing is just great marketing. People have been making neat toy camera images long before anyone thought up "lomography". That having been said, there's nothing wrong with buying a camera from them. Just have fun with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_needham Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 "...spending $100 on a lomo..." Yeah, except their cameras run $250 to $700. Buy an $80 Oly Stylus Epic. It has slow sync. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 The idea of using cheap or flawed cameras actually goes back before Lomography, but this effort formalized and gave a name to the idea (e.g., http://www.lomography.com/ ). It does two things 1) forces attention to the basics of composition, since so little else is controllable, and 2) introduces a random factor that can sometimes produce felicitous results. Of course, as with all film characteristics, some people try to do it in Photoshop instead. Debbie Grossman has a how-to in the September 2008 Pop Photo. I think her approach is a little overcomplicated, though. I find it easiest to get the crummy lens effect by using Photoshop CS3's Filter>Distort>Lens Correction feature to introduce distortion, vignetting, and so on rather than to cure them. Of course more touches can be added.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmajanefalconer Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 A lot of the stuff the lomo society sells is Russian deadstock, and that stuff is built like a tank! The rest of the stuff is plastic novelty cameras. They really do overcharge (and almost all the stuff I have of theirs I got elsewhere for half the price), but they do make nice sets, with nice colour art books with some cameras. I'm a member of a lomo group, and whilst there are loads of boring beige fisheye pictures of someone's cat, there are also loads of brilliant eyecatching photos on there, particularly from the members from Russia and Singapore. The lomo lca is pretty nice. It does low light shots very well, is very difficult to damage, and the designers went a bit overboard with the lens coating, giving quite a nice effect. I got mine in Tallinn for £30, the shop had a whole shelf of the things. I've got my eye one one of their panoramic cameras, the lens swings round with each shot. I've seen some amazing pictures taken with them.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive1 Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 Lomography offers the opportunity to experiment with photography at its most basic and cheapest. Personally, I think the world of photography would be a better place if every photographer spent a few months shooting only with a Holga. The limitiations and possibilties of these wonderful cameras will change the way you see photography, hopefully for the better. And, like it or hate it, Lomography is contributing to the survival of film, which can't be a bad thing. <center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/2757264076_da92f6950b.jpg?v=0"></center> <center>Holga 120N with split filter, TMAX400 (from print)</center> <center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/2575270575_c88209a17c.jpg?v=0 "></center> <center>Multi exposure in colour at night</center> <center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/2583709087_4bbde2891e_o.jpg "></center> <center>In-camera photo-stitching, Holga-style</center> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lex_jenkins Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 It's a lifestyle thing. If a tool motivates and inspires you, use it. I've seen painters who can do more with the frayed end of a stick than I can with an expensive sable brush. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grodis Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 What can be said about a $39 plastic camera with factory light leaks? Sorry... I just don't get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh_suarez Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 Holgas are fun to use and they are keeping film in buisness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger_smith4 Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 I just got my Diana (moved up from a Holga) so I'm ready for some more contact print cyanotypes on various inkjet papers that aren't meant for it but work great. Try that with your DSLR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phule Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 [[What can be said about a $39 plastic camera with factory light leaks? Sorry... I just don't get it.]] Have you ever used one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshroot Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 This thread has actually gotten me to dig out my holga and put a roll of film in it. This is probably the first roll of film I have shot in....oh....five years probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnycake_.1 Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 "This thread has actually gotten me to dig out my holga and put a roll of film in it. This is probably the first roll of film I have shot in....oh....five years probably." ... Why? ... I 'think; I ponder.' Johnny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshroot Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 Not sure what you are asking. <p> <i>"Why is this the first roll of film that you have shot in 5 years?"</i> <p> Because I switched to digital photography in 2001 and never looked back. I am completely satisfied with digital and have been since the beginning. I do not miss paying for film or processing and I do not miss scanning or printing. I've got nothing against film, I'm happy for others to use it. I'm just not interested in doing so myself. <p> <i>"Why did this thread get you to pull out your Holga?"</i> <p> No reason, it just reminded me how much I loved the "toy camera" issues that Shots magazine used to do and how fun the randomness of holga shots can be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astral Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 Here's an interesting critique, entitled <a href="http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/lomography/" >Why I don't like Lomography </a> - together with some information on Soviet cameras, etc ..... AC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert lee Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 If the attraction is the Lomo philosophy, practice it with your cell phone cam. It's a better lomo than Lomo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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