Some time ago in my last year in hall soohf actually asked me if i'd mind organizing an intro course into/for lomography for the EW members, which i was flattered of course (how could i! im just a noob) but at the same time i was really excited at the idea of spreading the good of lomo and being able to show my 76543234567 cameras (okay i only had 7 at that time, less now) and explain to people what they were all about/how they function. But in the end it didn't materialise but i wasn't disappointed because i'd forgotten about it consequently.

so i thought maybe i'd write about lomography, because i'm in no way an expert in photography but most of my friends do know that i'm a pretty avid lomographer. I can write about it without feeling pressure (so much) as compared to digital photography is basically because i'd say that lomography is all about passion and chance, and maybe just a little bit of skill. So as long as you're into it, there's a really good chance you'd be/become good at it, or at least get a couple of decent shots in a roll, even if you're an amateur, because the beauty of film photography lies in the random, anyway.

taken from wikipedia,(yes, true noob-style)

Lomography emphasizes casual, snapshot photography. Characteristics such as over-saturated colors, off-kilter exposure, blurring, "happy accidents," and alternative film processing are often considered part of the "Lomographic Technique."Users are encouraged to take a lighthearted approach to their photography, and use these techniques to document everyday life, as the Lomo LC-A's small size, simple controls, and ability to shoot in low light encourages candid photography, photo reportage, and photo vérité through the much-touted "10 Golden Rules."

In my own words, then, i guess lomography would be film photography that's taken using special film and/or special film cameras.

By 'special' i mean positive slide film, that, when cross-processed, will result in awesome colour contrasts and saturated colours that normal negative film doesn't give. But if you process positive slide film normally, you'd get normal-looking colours too, so if you don't wanna waste your positive slide film (which is more expensive,duh) you'd remember to tell the uncle at triple D or Ruby that you want the film to be crossed processed, or X-pro, for short. There are only a couple (2-3) places in singapore where you can cross process slide film, so choices are pretty limited and prices a little hefty. An ex-classmate told me you can x-pro slide film for about s$3 in thailand.

Besides the type of film, film format is also important. The film format that most people would be familar with is the 35mm film, which was still in use until the information age consumed us and people started using digital cameras and abandoned their old film cameras.

There are, however, many types of lomographic cameras that are unable to load or function on 35mm film. These use medium format or 120mm film, which is an older type of film that comes with a film spool, as shown in the picture.

The main difference between the 2 film formats is that you get different numbers of photographs, and photographs of a different size. For the 35mm you get typically 24 or 36 shots, while you get 12 or 16 for a roll of 120mm

developed. For the 120mm, when developed the photo you get 3 possible dimension

formats: 6x4.5, 6x6 and 6x9, which are more squarish. for the 35mm you get the typical 3R or 4R size when developed.

By special film cameras, i mean cameras like the fisheye, or fisheye2 camera, which give you (duh) fisheye photographs. basically means the centre of the photo is way wider than normal and the sides more contracted, as shown in the photo below (taken by yours truly! heh). and check out the awesome colour contrasts.

I used to own a fisheye camera but i sold it (for a pretty good price). I figured i could always just get a fisheye lens and attach it to my current other cameras wh

enever i felt like taking a fisheye photo, and that's what loads of people do actually. Even with digital cameras. Hell, even iphone has a lomography application now-digitizing lomography?! just the thought of it kind of puts me off.

Anyway-

other cameras involve primarily the Holga and the diana. I won't elaborate on the differences betwen the two because of all the lomographers i'd met most have chosen to go mainly with either one, and consequently bought all the accessories for/with it- flash, fisheye lens, 120mm-to 35film-format-converter, etc. For the holga it

depends on which model- there is quite an extensive range (just the 120mm film format alone) and these are just some of the more common models:

• Holga 120S – The original Holga, since discontinued. Fixed shutter speed, adjustable focus, plastic 60mm f/8 meniscus lens, two-position f-stop switch, hot shoe, and 6x4.5cm film mask.
• Holga 120N – Updated version with plastic 60mm f/8 lens, tripod mount, bulb exposure mode, improved film counter window switch, foam inserts to provide film spool tensioning, and an additional 6x6cm film mask
• Holga 120FN – A Holga 120N with built-in flash
• Holga 120CFN – A Holga 120FN with built-in color flash
• Holga 120GN – A Holga 120N with glass lens
• Holga 120GFN – A Holga 120FN with glass lens and built-in flash
• Holga 120GCFN – A Holga 120FN with color flash and glass lens

For me currently i hold on to the 120s, which is one of the most basic and oldest models, and i got it online. i love it cause it's pretty light, though a bit on the bulky side. Holgas are known for their low-fidelity aesthetic. The plastic body and lens enables vignetting, blur, light leaks and distortions, that result in mind-blowing film photographs.

Besides the original, the holga comes in loads of fancy colours as shown above (of which some combinations upset my appetite) depending on which model you get but i still think the solid black is the best. Also, there are loads of lomographers who are into customizing their holgas, so there are loads of unique-looking holgas around.

For the diana, which is about 10 years older than the holga, the look is pretty standard. you get the black body with the turquoise top.

There are some special edition diana models including designer collaborations and a glow-in-the-dark model, but my current model is the diana F+, which is of the standard colour. While the Holga is famed for it's black corners and light leaks, diana lomographers rave about Diana's ability to take impressionistic photographs with a soft,

dreamy feel.

Though i own both the diana F+ and holga120s, at the point of time i've chosen to go with the diana and purchased the diana F+ instant back, which makes the film camera an instant camera! How awesome is that! Actually the holga also has an accesory that can be attached to the back to make it an instant camera but it uses some weird-obscure-hard-to-get-in-sg-film so i decided to go with the diana instant back which uses normal fujifilm instax.

i thought i'd end off with some photos i took of rag last year- in remembrance and in honor/celebration of the current rag team's overwhelming victory/success this year! congrats on a fantastic float =)
taken with velvia 50, 35mm film on a chelsea goldenhalf camera

forgot to talk about multiple exposures earlier in the post- but i think these following photos are pretty much self-explanatory. Lomography also emphasizes/allows multiple exposures, which means you get multiple/overlapping shots in the same frame. Awesome effect, right?

okay so i hope that (if you've managed to read all the front boring parts and actually managed to reach here by now you know what lomography is about, and that it's not just stupid outdated photography with cheap plastic toy cameras. Ok so maybe they are cheaper and plastic (undeniably) but they are awesome.