Lomography and Photography
Moments last, well, only for moments. That’s why we do our best in capturing and immortalizing those moments for us to enjoy later on when the moment has passed.
Sometimes, telling stories aren’t enough to make those moments linger, and because of that, we make use of technology’s gifts like video recording, and sound. But all of these can’t stand against the timeless still-images made by cameras that promises forever to those priceless moments and makes each image speak of its own unique story.
The rising trend in lomography gave us this new line of “happy-accident” images that supported the subculture of point-first-then-shoot-without-thinking kind of imagery that got the rather “serious” technique-based world of prosumer level photography’s attention. One thing’s for sure, the diversity of available disciplines in imagery –like Lomography and Photography- gives enthusiasts the artistic freedom to express themselves through still-frame imagery.
In terms of technique and disciplines, lomography – as stated by many semi-pro and pro lomographers, - is basically point and shoot photography (with the use of lomography cameras of course). (Lomography Vs Photography. (2003). Retrieved March 16, 2009, from ClubSNAP photography community: http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48587)
In lomography, basically, all you need is to do is point at whatever you want to take a picture of then press the shutter/exposure button. To produce its unique photos, lomography is done with film. The use of film offers various, unique and exciting features such as multiple exposures that produce overlapping images; light leaks that give wild burns on the negative and half frame exposures that make for seamlessly ending panoramas are only possible with the use of film. (Lomography. (2009). Retrieved March 16, 2009, from Lomography Society International: http://www.lomography.com/about )
Generally speaking, equipment in lomography is fairly cheap due to the material used in making them. Most lomo cameras are made with full plastic bodies, including their lens. In lomography, there are many different types of cameras like the auto-vignette “holga”, movement sampling “super sampler”, extra wide angled “fisheye 2”, the flash suppressed “Diana F+”, the eight eyed “oktomat”, and many more. Most of these cameras prices range from two thousand to four thousand pesos but the Diana F+ is an exception because it will cost around twelve to fifteen thousand pesos at minimum due to its expensive built-in hot shoe flash. ( Products.(2009) . Retrieved March 16, 2009, from Lomography Embassy Manila: http://www.lomographicembassymanila.com/products/cameras )
Film has a major role in lomography, and is the only thing that makes lomography costs higher (around fifty pesos in negative development fees, printing fees that will range from three to forty pesos depending on the size, not included). Regular film is applicable but seasoned lomographers prefer to use special kinds of film like Black and White films, films with an ISO higher than five hundred that enables lomographers to capture fast moving objects, and that can produce the image they are looking for. Lomo cameras usually come with a built in flash like the color splash lomo that gives off a color tinted flash. ( Accessoriess.(2009) . Retrieved March 16, 2009, from Lomography Embassy Manila: http://www.lomographicembassymanila.com/products/accessories )
Lomography has no problem in popularity and usage. Lomography is rapidly gaining popularity with the younger generation over the past 5 years, thanks to its low price, its own style of images, and its different features.
In prosumer (a combination of professional and consumer) level photography, the techniques and disciplines are vital to produce images that you want. In comparison to lomography, prosumer photography is much more technical. It’s not as simple as pointing and pressing the shutter button. It requires a certain level of knowledge. There are a lot of things to consider like shutter speed or the speed of things that you can take a picture of, ISO level or the numerical exposure index of the film being used, aperture priority or a semi automatic exposure system in which the photography sets the camera for, f-stop or the setting of an adjustable lens aperture, focus or the control for the depth of field, lighting or the current lighting conditions of the location, etc. Most prosumer level photography is done digitally with Digital SLR Cameras mostly know as DSLR’s.
The downside to this kind of photography is that it is expensive. The basic material for photography will be a camera body, and a lens. A camera body (suitable for prosumer level photography) will range from fifteen thousand to eighty thousand pesos while a single lens will cost from five thousand to a hundred thousand pesos depending on the type of lens the person will buy. There are also camera kits that will include a camera body, a lens and other basic accessories that will range from twenty to a hundred thousand pesos. (Henry's Photo Supplies, 2009) The other possible accessories in photography will be the battery of the camera, memory cards to store the photos, flashes and lighting, filters, tripods and other types of lenses. Because these cameras come in digital formats, developing will not be necessary. Printing –costing from around three to forty pesos depending on size- will be immediate and more convenient. Prices of flashes, lighting and lenses will vary with every model and brand.
Photography by far, has been the formal method for image capture, and it is also the most used. Almost every image that is used in advertisements, magazines, newspapers and other related material are taken with the use of Photography. Now, as these cameras are getting cheaper, the number of hobbyists, amateurs and professionals are increasing.
In terms of sophistication, prosumer photography compared to lomography is much more complicated. In equipment, prosumer photography equipment also proves to be much more expensive than a plastic-bodied lomo camera although, it does not prove anything on which is better. For popularity, photography is much older than lomography giving it the advantage of time and service, although lomography proves itself to be faster in acquiring the interests of people. The two kinds of imagery cannot be compared when it comes to how artistic they are, since art is never appreciated in the same way for all of us. Some might consider lomography a cheap excuse for the lack of photography skills; some might say that photography is an overrated practice, and so forth. One thing is for sure; memories worth immortalizing as images are witnessed with light – something that photography and lomography need in common to produce images.
Moments last, well, only for moments. That’s why we do our best in capturing and immortalizing those moments for us to enjoy later on when the moment has passed.
Sometimes, telling stories aren’t enough to make those moments linger, and because of that, we make use of technology’s gifts like video recording, and sound. But all of these can’t stand against the timeless still-images made by cameras that promises forever to those priceless moments and makes each image speak of its own unique story.
The rising trend in lomography gave us this new line of “happy-accident” images that supported the subculture of point-first-then-shoot-without-thinking kind of imagery that got the rather “serious” technique-based world of prosumer level photography’s attention. One thing’s for sure, the diversity of available disciplines in imagery –like Lomography and Photography- gives enthusiasts the artistic freedom to express themselves through still-frame imagery.
In terms of technique and disciplines, lomography – as stated by many semi-pro and pro lomographers, - is basically point and shoot photography (with the use of lomography cameras of course). (Lomography Vs Photography. (2003). Retrieved March 16, 2009, from ClubSNAP photography community: http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48587)
In lomography, basically, all you need is to do is point at whatever you want to take a picture of then press the shutter/exposure button. To produce its unique photos, lomography is done with film. The use of film offers various, unique and exciting features such as multiple exposures that produce overlapping images; light leaks that give wild burns on the negative and half frame exposures that make for seamlessly ending panoramas are only possible with the use of film. (Lomography. (2009). Retrieved March 16, 2009, from Lomography Society International: http://www.lomography.com/about )
Generally speaking, equipment in lomography is fairly cheap due to the material used in making them. Most lomo cameras are made with full plastic bodies, including their lens. In lomography, there are many different types of cameras like the auto-vignette “holga”, movement sampling “super sampler”, extra wide angled “fisheye 2”, the flash suppressed “Diana F+”, the eight eyed “oktomat”, and many more. Most of these cameras prices range from two thousand to four thousand pesos but the Diana F+ is an exception because it will cost around twelve to fifteen thousand pesos at minimum due to its expensive built-in hot shoe flash. ( Products.(2009) . Retrieved March 16, 2009, from Lomography Embassy Manila: http://www.lomographicembassymanila.com/products/cameras )
Film has a major role in lomography, and is the only thing that makes lomography costs higher (around fifty pesos in negative development fees, printing fees that will range from three to forty pesos depending on the size, not included). Regular film is applicable but seasoned lomographers prefer to use special kinds of film like Black and White films, films with an ISO higher than five hundred that enables lomographers to capture fast moving objects, and that can produce the image they are looking for. Lomo cameras usually come with a built in flash like the color splash lomo that gives off a color tinted flash. ( Accessoriess.(2009) . Retrieved March 16, 2009, from Lomography Embassy Manila: http://www.lomographicembassymanila.com/products/accessories )
Lomography has no problem in popularity and usage. Lomography is rapidly gaining popularity with the younger generation over the past 5 years, thanks to its low price, its own style of images, and its different features.
In prosumer (a combination of professional and consumer) level photography, the techniques and disciplines are vital to produce images that you want. In comparison to lomography, prosumer photography is much more technical. It’s not as simple as pointing and pressing the shutter button. It requires a certain level of knowledge. There are a lot of things to consider like shutter speed or the speed of things that you can take a picture of, ISO level or the numerical exposure index of the film being used, aperture priority or a semi automatic exposure system in which the photography sets the camera for, f-stop or the setting of an adjustable lens aperture, focus or the control for the depth of field, lighting or the current lighting conditions of the location, etc. Most prosumer level photography is done digitally with Digital SLR Cameras mostly know as DSLR’s.
The downside to this kind of photography is that it is expensive. The basic material for photography will be a camera body, and a lens. A camera body (suitable for prosumer level photography) will range from fifteen thousand to eighty thousand pesos while a single lens will cost from five thousand to a hundred thousand pesos depending on the type of lens the person will buy. There are also camera kits that will include a camera body, a lens and other basic accessories that will range from twenty to a hundred thousand pesos. (Henry's Photo Supplies, 2009) The other possible accessories in photography will be the battery of the camera, memory cards to store the photos, flashes and lighting, filters, tripods and other types of lenses. Because these cameras come in digital formats, developing will not be necessary. Printing –costing from around three to forty pesos depending on size- will be immediate and more convenient. Prices of flashes, lighting and lenses will vary with every model and brand.
Photography by far, has been the formal method for image capture, and it is also the most used. Almost every image that is used in advertisements, magazines, newspapers and other related material are taken with the use of Photography. Now, as these cameras are getting cheaper, the number of hobbyists, amateurs and professionals are increasing.
In terms of sophistication, prosumer photography compared to lomography is much more complicated. In equipment, prosumer photography equipment also proves to be much more expensive than a plastic-bodied lomo camera although, it does not prove anything on which is better. For popularity, photography is much older than lomography giving it the advantage of time and service, although lomography proves itself to be faster in acquiring the interests of people. The two kinds of imagery cannot be compared when it comes to how artistic they are, since art is never appreciated in the same way for all of us. Some might consider lomography a cheap excuse for the lack of photography skills; some might say that photography is an overrated practice, and so forth. One thing is for sure; memories worth immortalizing as images are witnessed with light – something that photography and lomography need in common to produce images.
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