"Finally the Night is Here" — @carcinome with the LomoChrome Metropolis 2021

Following the success of our LomoChrome Metropolis 2019 formula, we have developed a brand new LomoChrome Metropolis 2021 formula. We have entrusted one of the very first rolls of this new emulsion to Morgan Roué, a member of our Lomography Community also known as @carcinome. As a big fan of the LomoChrome Metropolis, he particularly appreciates its unique rendering. While following the curfew measures in France as part of the COVID-19 pandemic protocols, he decided to photograph Paris at night to discover a new potential of the latest formula.

Hello Morgan, we are happy to welcome you in the Magazine! Following your test of the LomoChrome Metropolis 2021 formula, could you tell us a little more about the series you made with it? Why did you choose to photograph at night?

Hello Lomography, my wish behind "Finally the night is here" ("Enfin la nuit" in French) is pretty straightforward. We had just spent several months with a restrictive curfew and the nightlife was at a standstill. When you contacted me to test the new emulsion, the idea quickly sprouted to me after several months of not being able to shoot at night. Also, I was curious to see the rendering of the Metropolis during the evening.

"Finally, we found what makes the charm of the film with this new emulsion: strong contrasts, generous grain, but with remaining subtle, desaturated tones without being flat."

In the end, I received the film a few days before the end of the curfew, at the end of June. Initially the goal was to shoot in one full sleepless night, like a trip to the end of the night. But with my hospital obligations it was hardly achievable. So I took the photos on three consecutive evenings, more and more at late hours.

You had already taken pictures with the LomoChrome Metropolis before. What did you think of the new emulsion?

It's hard to compare with my old series made with the Metropolis. Until now I found this film perfect with its desaturated tones for cold atmospheres as I had been able to do in Norway (Fjord Hurlant series) or in the operating room (Du cœur à l'ouvrage series). But I never had really used it at night. Finally, we found what makes the charm of the film with this new emulsion: strong contrasts, generous grain, but with remaining subtle, desaturated tones without being flat. The difference of it from the old emulsion would perhaps come from the colors less attenuated than before and it has a color profile that’s also giving better tones with warm colors.

How did you play with the muted color palette of the LomoChrome Metropolis?

Until now, for night photography I mainly used the Cinestill 800, with a very electric rendering particularly suitable for Asian cities with intense and cold lights like Tokyo. The rendering of Paris at night was rather disappointing, as it’s not quite faithful to the atmosphere with its warm, slightly subdued lighting due to the proximity of people in cafes; its very Latin side. From experience, I already knew that with the Metropolis, the intense reds will contrast in an interesting way with the subdued yellow-green tones of the film. In the end, the colors blend perfectly with the Parisian nightlife, and paradoxically gave a warm and soft side that I did not expect.

The LomoChrome Metropolis has an extended 100-400 ISO range, what ISO did you use to shoot your series?

I shot everything at ISO 400. Firstly, for technical reasons, even if my lenses have an interesting aperture (f /1.7), I wanted to be sure that my shutter speed was optimal to avoid camera shake as I neither used flash nor a tripod. But also for an aesthetic reason to get contrast and a more pronounced grain offered by the film when shot at ISO 400.

What do you like about this film?

Its unique rendering. I really like its dense and subtle grain at the same time, its tones are ideal for me in winter cold atmospheres. It is also an interesting alternative for urban night photography.

Can you share some tips for photographers shooting the LomoChrome Metropolis for the first time?

Try it out in different environments and light situations, vary the ISO. The results will always surprise you.

Do you have any projects you would like to tell us about?

Indeed! I am currently working on a project which echoes my series at the hospital but in another environment. I will give you news soon. In addition, at the beginning of next year I will resume and finish my hospital series with a third part — dedicated to night activities in the hospital.

You can follow Morgan on his LomoHome and his Instagram.

The new formula 2021 of the LomoChrome Metropolis is available on our Online Shop.

written by florinegarcin on 2021-11-20