Anya Broido's Beguiling Portraiture on Lomography's Low ISO Black and White Kino Films

We first became acquainted with street photographer Anya Broido when she shared her charming London night-life work with us back in 2020.

The New York-based native Londoner is back with us today to showcase her captivating Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 and Babylon Kino B&W ISO 13 shots and talk about how she utilized the films extremely slow speed.

Hi Anya, welcome back to Lomography Magazine! Can you fill us in on what you've been up to since your last feature?

It's good to be back. So since my last feature, I was busy with a photography residency and producing work for a Solo Exhibition in New York, building my personal projects and working as an Educator in Documentary and Street Photography in New York City.

When you last spoke with our magazine you were featured for your nightlife shots. Between that and recently shooting with our low ISO films, how do you manage to take such beautiful and clear shots when you need to let a lot of light into the camera?

I often find there is more available light to take clear photos than one might realize, my advice will always be to not let a seemingly tricky light situation get in the way of grabbing that photo!

When capturing nighttime shots in the street, I observe where the light sources are arriving from, whether it be a neon strip light or even a reflection, and really notice where they are hitting the subjects or objects I'm seeking to capture. From there I often adjust my frame (getting up really close), my settings (opening up the aperture to its widest), and maybe the position of my subject, adapting to the direction and strength of the light.

With low ISO films, I take in the same principles. The film might also dictate the times of day I decided to shoot, and in this case, I adapted by photographing more in bright sunlight to give myself that flexibility.

Can you tell us more about what you decided to shoot with our low ISO films?

Given the film's ability to handle very bright light and still render beautiful detail without blowing out the highlights, I decided to take advantage of this fantastic quality and worked primarily in bright midday summer days, capturing portraits of the people in the center of Manhattan at that time of day.

I found the intensity of New York summer heat, in the densest and busiest parts of the city often encouraged a powerful and sometimes aggressive energy. I focused on my passion for street portraits and used the time of day and feeling to capture some of the bold energy I was witnessing within the streets, capturing solo portraits of individuals I was observing and meeting along the way.

Do you have any tips or tricks that you can share for working with low ISO film?

Use a light meter! With a more specialized film like this, it is more important to really understand the amount of light you have available to you. Find bright light moments to aid in the beautiful contrast and tonality the film can offer, and to give yourself latitude in how you would wish to shoot and at what settings.

And experiment! It is not a common film to work with, part of the joy is seeing what interesting and new qualities working with such a low ISO film might render.

Do you have a favorite shot taken on the film you tested?

My favorite photo was of a guy who had just recently been released from prison, he was out and about trying to set himself up and take himself to the DMV. He had also been in a car accident and was dealing with the fall out of that on his body and mind. I felt and heard the strength in him trying to build his life up again as well as the loneliness he expressed. He wanted to pose himself in every image with poise and grandeur. He was generous. The moment stuck with me.

What gear did you use to shoot with the Fantôme Kino and Babylon Kino films?

I used the Nikon FM2 35 mm camera, and for this series worked solely with a 50 mm lens.

How do you think our Fantôme Kino and Babylon Kino films complement your style?

I enjoyed how both films created an exceptional amount of detail. Being primarily a portrait photographer, this was a quality to both films I found deeply satisfying and aesthetically enriching.

I loved the more gritty, high-contrast effect that Fantome film had which complimented my street photography aesthetic and my lifelong love affair with all things film noir!

The Babylon by comparison, offered a softer more dreamy quality which when taken to the street offered a more surreal effect which I loved.

What's your number one piece of advice for aspiring photographers?

Keep shooting what is interesting and meaningful to you and it will take you on journeys. Be curious. Don't let technical fears or details get in the way of getting that photo! And keep connected to a community to share ideas and build your focus and network.

If you're interested in keeping up with Anya and her work, make sure to check out her Instagram and website.

written by eloffreno on 2023-11-27 #gear #people #experimental #experiment #portraits #portraiture #low-iso