Our Lomography New Year Resolutions

6

What were your film-related achievements in 2022? It could be as simple as trying out a new film stock (the new LomoChrome Turquoise formula perhaps?), or a major milestone like finally publishing that photo zine.

Despite cultural and time zone differences, Lomography’s staff is connected by free-spiritedness and the same passion for creativity. For many of us, 2022 was surely the year of allowing our creative energies to discover or re-discover new paths.

With this in mind, I asked a few fellow Lomo-Sapiens about their film-related New Year's Resolutions for 2023. I also found out more about their background stories and favorite moments with Lomography. Let's dive into it!


Catherine Yee, Sales & Wholesale Marketing Executive (Hong Kong)

Credits: yhkwan17

Hi guys! I am from the Wholesale Department of the Lomography Hong Kong team. In my job I talk to different shop owners, and I can listen to stories from them. They also share film knowledge with me, and some feedback on our products as well which can make us do better.

Due to this role, I can have a good relationship with them. Some of the owners tell me when some cameras and film I want are restocked and reserve them for me. This is quite funny and I am delighted to be in this position.

My goal is to try more multiple exposure! I haven’t tried any multiple exposure before since I thought that it was hard to control and couldn't expect what image I would get. But this year, I had the chance to use the LomoApparat which changed my mind. It is fun to play with multiple exposure, which can make a dull photo into a more funky photo and also with a theme!

Birgit Buchart, PR & Marketing (USA)

Credits: birgitbuchart

Growing up in Austria, with a love for (film) photography from an early age, Lomography has always been around. I have been aware of the brand to some extent my whole life. After spending some time in New York City, where my roommate had just snagged a side job at the Lomography Store in the West Village, when I came back to Vienna ready to look for jobs, I had Lomography on my radar because of that.

Thankfully, I looked up the job postings on their website and was happy to find a good match for me. I would have never imagined the path this internship would lead me on and the doors it would open.

Credits: birgitbuchart

Not only did I rediscover my love for the analogue medium and bring it to new levels, I also started off an exciting career in my beloved city of New York, where I now get to lead our Lomography USA team and work with the incredible local Lomography Community that has become a second family.

I definitely want to shoot more. I say that every year though, always more. I hope to shoot a little project of and around my grandmother and her story. I'm also planning on exploring the 110 format more and try some more with that.

Kota Sekiya, Junior Sales & Marketing (Japan)

Credits: kota_97

Back in 2016, I was studying abroad in Canada and using digital cameras (the time before I went crazy for film!) I was looking for a fun camera to use and came across Lomography’s kickstarter campaign for the Lomo’Instant Automat. I was curious about its design. I used it on a couple of occasions but never really paid attention to “Lomography.”

Two years later, I came back to Japan and kept shooting digital. It was May of 2019, when I went on a solo trip to New York City. At the airport, a few hours before my flight, I realized I forgot a Fuji’s disposable camera that I’d purchased for the trip. I kind of panicked and went to a camera store in the terminal. There I found Lomography’s Simple Use Camera! They also had Fuji disposable cameras, but I guess I picked the SUC for its unique packing. Again, I didn’t really pay attention to the “brand” because I was just glad I found something to replace my gone Fuji disposable camera.

Credits: kota_97

Fast forward to 2020, I remember it was mid-November. One day I was cleaning my closet and found the Lomo’Instant Automat and Simple Use Camera, which made me do some research about Lomography. It turned out they were looking for part-time store staff! Now I’m an online and marketing junior manager at the Japan office, but without that one Lomo’Isntant Automat, I wouldn’t have been a member of store staff in the first place!

I went extra crazy for film photography in 2022, and started developing color films by myself. My main goal for 2023 is to get an enlarger! I want my photography process to be 100% analogue! I develop at home, but I always used my inkjet printer for my prints. So, I thought why not print my photos in an old-fashioned way? I’m also planning to have an exhibition using the prints I make with the enlarger. Secret story here. . . my dream is to own a film lab! Yes, I'm really crazy about film and I don’t want this beautiful culture to die.

Javier Pimentel, Magazine Writer (Philippines)

Credits: rocket_fries0036

I started working for Lomography as an online writer last July but I've frequently been using their film stocks ever since I started to shoot film more frequently in 2019. Besides my full time job as a writer for Lomography, I am a DJ/Producer in the Philippine music scene where I mostly play a mix of disco, house, italo, ambient and everything in between. I also bring my camera around during these events and shoot a lot of nightlife.

My favorite thing about my job is to meet people from all walks of life and just asking them about their process and story. I really love getting to know people and just asking about their photography I find it really fun to make new friends.

This year maybe it’s finally my year to get myself an SLR camera. I’ve only been using point and shoots since getting back into film in 2018 and I hope to challenge myself and use a manual camera to shoot. I also want to be able to try all Lomography film stocks by the end of the year as a fun challenge for myself.

Alex Gray, Online Magazine Editorial Assistant (Vienna)

Credits: alexgray

I was actually gifted my first Lomography camera (a Diana F+) all the way back in 2016 by a friend, and I'm ashamed to say it sat unused for about two years.

I was still in a phase of chasing perfection and clarity and so I wasn’t sure about the Diana’s features, the soft focus, vignetting and other “imperfections”. Now of course those are often the qualities that I love most, that peak my interest and pull me in emotionally to a photo. Forgive my early misguided ways!

Gradually I fell for all things Lomography, trying out more and more of the unique cameras and films, which eventually led me to start working for the company last year.

My goal for 2023 is to start self-developing and scanning my film at home. It’s something I've been wanting to do for years, but I’ve moved around so much to different places that it never seemed like a good time to invest in a load of equipment. But no more excuses! I’m also excited to try out some film soups after reading so many recipes from other Lomographers here.

AJ Bajo, Magazine Writer (Philippines)

Credits: sylvann

Before we end, I'd also like to share with you my own goals. For 2023, I'd like to shoot more confidently and take street photography on film more seriously. As someone who prefers landscapes and nature photography (hence the nickname), this would be a bit of a challenge for me as I don't naturally gravitate towards it and get shy about photographing people, or in some instances forget the flash is on!

I'm also most curious about the 110 film format, so for this year I’m making it my personal project to take street photos with 110 cameras, and of course try out all of Lomography’s 110 film stocks.

Outside of film photography, I've made up my mind to finally publish a few copies of my poetry collections and am currently working on the first (it only took me two years.) In 2023, I'd like to incorporate some 110 photos into a Filipino poetry zine I'm planning on making.


Are there resolutions you have in mind this coming year? We’d love to know about them!

written by sylvann on 2023-01-02 #culture #people #lomography #new-year-s-resolution #2023

6 Comments

  1. hervinsyah
    hervinsyah ·

    Good luck all of you💞

  2. sylvann
    sylvann ·

    Thank you, @hervinsyah !

  3. hervinsyah
    hervinsyah ·

    @sylvann 👍

  4. dx76
    dx76 ·

    Дякую за працю.
    Бажаю отримувати радощів від своєї работи.
    Хай щастить у ньому році 2023 🐰.
    Thank you for your work.
    I want to get joy from my work.
    Good luck in 2023.

  5. acrom
    acrom ·

    110 is just great for street photography as people don't recognise it as fast as you can shoot with it. I use a Pentax auto 110 with the 70mm (equals 140mm on 35 format) which has supurb tele-sharpness which combined with the 110 grain makes it huge fun to shoot with and gives great satisfaction seeing the results. Have fun shooting 110!

  6. sylvann
    sylvann ·

    Thank you very much @dx76 ! :)

    Thank you, @acrom ! Yes this is what I expect too haha, I'm quite excited!

More Interesting Articles