Izad Razi, Singapore
Favorite Lomo Cameras: Holga 120GCFN, Actionsampler Flash, La Sardina
Favorite effect produced by Lomo cameras:Cross-processed chaos
Favorite film to use: Fujichrome Provia, Lomography xpro 200, Kodak T-Max 400
Favorite photos taken with a Lomo camera
How long have you been doing Lomography?
On and off since 2008. More active as of 2010.
What got you started in Lomography?
As with the very essence of lomography itself, I got started on a whim. I toyed with the idea of getting a toy camera (pun intended) for the longest time in 2008 but thought it to be expensive back then. One day, a friend’s girlfriend decided to get a Holga for herself and asked if I’d like to get one too and split shipping costs. Without hesitation, I said yes. The Holga 120GCFN became my first lomo camera. I remembered the first roll was very disappointing, as were the subsequent few rolls. I didn’t know X-Pro existed. I didn’t know I was shooting in Bulb mode. I get confused about the 12/16 frame thing. I was a total noob. I was close to giving it all up, till by chance, a good roll finally happened. For reasons unknown till today, I must have switched the mode to N instead of B, and used “the more expensive film” (known today as slides), got it cross-processed…and bam, magic happened. It was that unexpected victory, if you will, that pulled me back into lomography when I already had one foot out the door. I guess you could say, magic happened when I needed it the most. The rest, as they say, is history (in the making).
Why do you Lomo?
It’s mad addictive. The thrill of acting nonchalant when collecting processed films from the lab, only to rush outside and rip open the bag to see the photos with as much fervor as an addict, is immensely pleasurable. Plus, wondering where or when I shot a photo of which I have no recollection whatsoever is possibly the best form of mental exercise.
Why We Lomo was a project I started in 2009 to feature the many faces that Lomography has managed to capture. Its home was a now-defunct creative blog but has since found its new home here. Be sure to check back every fortnight on Tuesdays for a new featured profile. Know a Lomography enthusiast? Email me at hello[at]nikipaniki.com.
