Tamara Saadé's Uncanny Landscapes with LomoChrome Turquoise and Purple Films

Last time we spoke with longtime LomoAmigo Tamara Saadé she shared with us the magic that comes with shooting film at weddings.

Today she's back with us to share her fantastically uncanny LomoChrome Turquoise and LomoChrome Purple shots, as well as tell us about how she's using the unpredictability of film photography to loosen up and wind down as 2023 comes to an end— all in perfectly Lomographic "don't think, just shoot" fashion.

Hi Tamara, welcome back to Lomography Magazine! Can you fill us in on what you've been up to since we last spoke?

Hey Lomo! It’s always a pleasure to be back here. Since our last conversation, I’ve been very much of a hermit, in front of my laptop, editing, and planning out my next projects, and some weddings to shoot.

I think as photographers and artists, it’s important to talk about those “quiet” periods, where we don’t produce much. They’re necessary to our creative process.

Can you tell us about what you decided to shoot with our LomoChrome Turquoise and Purple film stocks?

I think these two films have so much potential when it comes to creating surreal landscapes, but also transform mundane everyday moments in something magical.

I’ve seen a lot of people use these films as well to shoot some historical landmarks, and it just gave a twist to an otherwise cliché view. I especially like how the pine trees I shot came out on both Turquoise and Purple LomoChrome films: quirky, but eerie at the same time.

What gear did you use when shooting with our LomoChrome films?

I love to use SLR cameras with the LomoChrome films, to have a bit more control over the exposure, especially the ISO. I find that it can really affect the way colors turn out.

How would you say the experimental film stocks compliment your style of shooting?

Experimental films like the LomoChrome series are great for amateur photographers, as well as professionals. I think we can all loosen up a bit when it comes to film, and have more fun with colors, not take it too seriously.

Photographers can definitely use the color shifts to their advantage, to complement or highlight a certain aspect of a subject or a story. For fashion, editorial, and even documentary photography, I think color saturation, and playing with hues can have a really powerful impact.

Do you have an all time favorite shot between the two film stocks?

It’s so hard to pick one single shot from my LomoChrome series, I just love how they keep on surprising me.

I started seriously shooting film around when the LomoChrome Purple was still produced with the old formula, and fell in love with the surprising results. When Lomo brought back the Turquoise, I was ecstatic.

I do have to say, I have a soft spot for extremely green spaces shot on LomoChromes, and the way the Purple, Turquoise, and even Metropolis, render nature.

Any tips or tricks for shooting with our color shifting LomoChrome films?

The most useful tips I found while researching the LomoChrome films, is to play with the ISO, between 100 and 400. I think it can really affect the outcome, and give the photographer more control over the final results.

Do you have any upcoming projects or shoots that you can share with our community?

As I said, it’s a bit of a slow period for me right now, so I’m giving myself time to focus on other aspects of my career, or simply taking care of my mental and physical health. It’s okay to not always have projects lined up, and I feel that in such a fast paced age, we can beat ourselves up about it.

Until the end of 2023, I think I’m laying low, hoping for more missions in 2024!

Anything else you'd like to share?

I think one thing I learned from the Lomography community, and from shooting the LomoChrome films, is not to take myself and my photography too seriously.

I do get it that with the price of films and the cost of developing, we’re valuing each shot religiously, but sometimes it’s okay to shoot for the sake of it and have fun! That’s the beauty of film, you never know what you’ll get out of it!

If you're interested in keeping up with Tamara and her work, make sure to check out her personal Instagram, wedding photography Instagram, and website!

written by eloffreno on 2023-12-26 #gear #culture #people #experimental #lomohome #golden-rules #community #community-member