I used to use the past tense a lot on this page because I did without analogue photography for about 7 years upon changing from dietary vegan to ethical vegan. As a result, my beloved hobby went by the wayside (film is made from gelatin, a meat by-product). However, in 2024, I suddenly (and inexplicably) decided to make an exception about film, so here we are again!
One of my hobbies is photography, but not just any kind of photography. I use unusual, vintage, and toy film cameras and ascribe to the movement called Lomography. It's for lovers of analogue photography - no digital cameras used there. Lomo's motto is "Don't Think, Just Shoot". It's about being in the moment. Lomo has its own line of cameras, but you can use any film camera and be a Lomographer. I have a few of Lomo's cameras, as well as a vintage camera. I have lots of fun with my cameras and have taken them to some great places. I was very happy with the results, and others seem to like them too.
I first became aware of Lomography when a Tori Amos edition of the Diana camera was released. As big a fan of Tori as I am, I thought it impractical to buy an expensive 120 format camera whose film and developing are also expensive, even if the resulting shots were unique and artistic and it came with an autographed CD... A while later a photo contest was announced via her website. I decided to get a Lomo camera, one that took regular 35mm film, which was a lot cheaper and easier to develop. My first camera as a self-professed Lomographer was the Diana Mini, Love is in the Air special edition (the camera with clouds on the right). It's a plastic camera, known for its dreamy deep saturation and square format. It also takes half-frame pictures and comes with a pack of color gels that you can put into the flash, to give your subject a wash of color. It's adorable and attention-grabbing! I wrote a review of the camera for Lomography Magazine. I used my Diana Mini to take photos for the Tori Amos photo contest. I didn't win, but I took a lot of creative shots that I am very proud of. The instructions were to take photos inspired by cities on Tori's tour. You can see my photos here and here. I had this one a good many years, but in 2018 the shutter button broke off and was not repairable. I was sad. She lasted 44 rolls. I did replace it with a Diana Mini Picnic Edition in 2024 (the second photo on the right).
My next Lomo camera was the Oktomat (the red brick of a camera on the right). The Oktomat is plastic, uses 35mm film, and has 8 lenses. It takes 8 sequential shots over the course of 2.5 seconds. The result is like a cartoon strip or a flip book laid out in one frame. You can get some really cool moments captured this way. This camera lasted a few years, however stopped working after 17 rolls. I recently bought a new one, let's see if it works!
After reading about and seeing pictures of the Stereo Realist camera, I became fascinated with 3D photography. Following a failed experiment with a cheap Nishika camera from the 1990s, I acquired an original Nimslo 3D camera from the 1980s (the black camera on the right). The flash didn't work, but the camera performed well in sunlight and decently in bright indoor light. The Nimslo camera has 4 lenses that are set at slightly different angles. It takes 4 photos simultaneously and the resulting frame has 4 shots on it. You view the 3D by refocusing your eyes, without the need for special glasses. I liked that about it. Unfortunately this camera gave out on me after 13 rolls. It happened during a PJ Harvey concert and the photos were lost. :( I recently bought a new one, let's see if it works!
Then I got a Disderi Robot 3 camera (the white and pink camera on the right). It takes some unusual shots like the Oktomat, but with only 3 lenses. It only took a few rolls before it started misfiring.
Eventually I ventured into the world of instant photography with the Lomo'Instant, Kickstarter Special Edition (the orange and green camera on the right). I thought about getting a vintage Polaroid, but they don't do much compared to the infinite creative options of the Lomo'Instant, where you can do multiple exposures, light painting, and color flash! I became a light painter with this camera, with all kinds of colored lights and flashlight gels. It was so much fun! This camera still works.
My last analogue camera before my hiatus was the Sprocket Rocket (the wide red camera on the right). Other than taking wide-angle photos, the camera's special feature is that the entire film is used, therefore exposing the sprocket holes at the top and bottom. Gimmicky, but still fun to use. This camera also still works.
My newest analogue camera after my hiatus is the Diana camera made by Lomography (the black and turquiose camera on the right). A replica of the cult classic 1960s Diana camera, it provides a dreamy low-fi analogue look so many people love.This camera is new.
The newest gimmick camera I have is a vintage Split-Cam (the black and yellow camera on the right). It combines different photos in the same frame for creative effects. This camera still works.
Now for some photos! Click the thumbnails to be taken to the photos' pages on my Lomo site. There, you can see hi-res versions and read technical specs. The photos, arranged by camera, are in chronological order. All of my Radiohead photos are on the Radiohead page. For even more photos, go to my Lomo page.
