Capturing New Possibilities with Alexis Rosario and the Lomo LC-Wide

Hailing from New York City, 22-year-old artist Alexis Rosario has built an impressive portfolio in commercial and editorial fashion photography since starting her journey back in high school. A quick glance through her work reveals she is not afraid to get up close and explore different emotions, angles, and concepts.

We equipped Alexis with one of our classics, the Lomo LC-Wide, to see how she could take on the challenge of wide-angle photography. Needless to say, she killed it. Read our conversation below!

Hi Alexis! Can you briefly introduce yourself?

Hey everyone! I’m Alexis Rosario, a 22-year-old Puerto-Rican and Brazilian portrait and fashion photographer, originally from The Bronx but currently based in New Jersey.

When did you start shooting film? And how has your relationship with it evolved?

An elective photography class in high school exposed me to shooting film back in 2015. I had learned how to shoot experimentally through DIY pin-hole cameras first, then graduated to 35 mm with the Minolta XG-M. However, I didn’t discover my passion for film photography until 2018 - I was starting my freshman year of college and signed up for my “Intro to Photography” course. Despite dropping out of school I still credit my newfound love for film photography to that course and my professor Alane Poirier. She challenged my perception on what it really meant to incorporate conceptualization in my practice.

Shooting film has ultimately transformed my creative thought process by teaching me patience and defeating my impulse for instant gratification. It has definitely gotten me through some of the roughest points of my life and gave me the voice to tell the stories that I could not vocalize about during my journey. Last, I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities it’s allowed me to connect with other creatives and hear their stories.

How do you describe your style of photography?

I would describe my photography as commercial fashion and portraiture mixed with fine art elements. However, I also find elements of street photography prevalent throughout the development of my style. I’ve grown to love incorporating NYC cityscapes and landmarks I find throughout my commute around town. There’s something brilliant about unifying a scenery that sets the vibe and fits the narrative around my subject or the garment!

What were your first impressions of the Lomo LC-Wide?

Personally, at first I was a little skeptical because of its compact size but let me tell you – this camera can pack a punch! I noticed it had several features you normally wouldn’t be able to find in a point-and-shoot such as the ability to select full-frame, square or half-frame format shots with the flick of a switch. With it being a point-and-shoot it kind of eliminates some of the guesswork you would normally perform versus if you were shooting an SLR or rangefinder.

However, for some SLR users like me I’m accustomed to manually focusing with my 50 mm. I had mistakenly disregarded the lever that switches between near focus which focuses from 0.4m-0.9m, and far which focuses between 0.9m to infinity. As a result, I had a variety of images that were in focus and some that were not. Otherwise I enjoyed shooting the Lomo LC-Wide. It has its quirks but does an excellent job of capturing your subject with ease.

How was your experience shooting in wide angle?

Absolutely mind changing - I genuinely feel shooting in a wide angle allows what may seem impossible to catch on my 50 mm possible. I had the opportunity to capture an excellent amount of space between my subject and the background. I found it much easier to cover certain angles and perspectives that would normally require me to get on the ground to shoot my shot. I can say I felt confident shooting the wide-angle lens, and it exceeded all my expectations to continue incorporating it into my work.

What film did you decide to pair this camera with?

I used Kodak Portra 400. It’s my holy grail. I find it the best stock for skin tones and simplifies any color grading I do in post-production.

Do you have a favorite photo out of this collection?

One of my favorite photos out of this collection is where Vegas appears to be standing in front of the chrome sculpture in Downtown Manhattan. I wanted to experiment with reflection and organic movements. Vegas appears to look contemplative with his hands on his head as he’s the primary focus in my image. What I loved the most was Vegas appeared in the coolest monochrome look marrying different textures, and featuring a crewneck from his brand Primer Rebelde De America.

If you could take this camera anywhere in the world, where and what would you shoot?

I would most likely shoot new faces and places in London. Especially around Notting Hill and Hackney Wick. While I’ve been shooting in NYC for years, the thought of stepping out of the city has always lingered - these places have their own unique charm. There is so much talent out there, it would be such a dream to get to discover that through the power of connection and photography.

If you could give yourself from the past a piece of advice, what would you say?

It’s ok to say no to certain projects that don’t align with your purpose or direction. Sometimes we can find ourselves saying yes to everything out of acceptance, but truly knowing your worth will change your trajectory.

As cliché as it sounds, before I was a photographer, I was just a person who was passionate in getting to know others out of genuine curiosity. As a creative there is a need to distinguish the difference between business and passion projects. In a society that heavily promotes self-servicing ideologies, there will be people who feel entitled to your time, energy, and resources from the moment they meet you. Establish heavy boundaries and stick to them to avoid experiencing burn out.

Is there anything you want to add?

To anyone just starting photography or shooting film - be consistent! Don’t give up, don’t get discouraged, and get used to hearing people tell you NO. Drop your ego and pride. Being proactive and assertive in advocating for you and your work can expose you to new opportunities. Figure out what direction you want to go in and remain tunnel vision on your goal, and sometimes that goal may change as you learn new things, but that's ok, that's what it's about!

Not every shoot or collaboration may be a successful one but you're learning this way! Take the time to practice mindful shooting, and allow your process to be intentional - it’ll change the way you shoot forever.

To keep up with Alexis' work, check out her Instagram and website.

Learn more about the Lomo LC-Wide here!

written by kaylalew on 2023-04-10 #gear #fashion #wide-angle #nyc #lomo-lc-wide