Impatient

Just a short note to let you know I am still here.

Are you still there?

The days have been long and hot - until today. I am happy it rained.

I am waiting for 8 films to be developed, and I am impatient. I took my actionsampler to the beach, and at night went out with my Holga. With Diana I went on a stroll through Sofia, whereas the beautifully aged Agfa Isola accompanied me to Zagreb.

In the meantime more vintage beauties arrived. But everyone is still recovering from their long vacations, so I am not seeing much activity from my lomofriends here in Bulgaria.

Come on, girls and guys, wake up, go out, shoot, shoot, shoot!

Now the counting down continues. Will keep you posted on the new photos. Be assured I will continue to bother you with all things analogue....

More on its way

These days are strange days. I am not talking about the beginning of the twenty-first century. I mean these first days of August. They are tough for a lomofan. If the lomofan is based in Sofia, that is. It is either too hot to go outside (if you do, you and your camera, let alone that beautiful analog film inside risk melting). Or it is raining with some record high so-and-so-much-liters-of-water-per-square-meter (if you would go outside then you and camera would drown together with your famous last words).

What can one do apart from browsing the Internet, and seeking -and finding!- other lomofans and other great photography sites? Well, one can spend his hard earned pay on more cameras. I have found some great little beauties from the late fifties and early sixties, like the Agfa Isola and the Ilford Sporty.

I will let you know what they're like as soon as they're here. In the meantime I am happy to announce that the great lomo community here in Bulgaria is growing. Slowly but steadily. And even though technically the new old cameras that are on their way are not lomo or lomography, they are for sure lomo-like. They will open the eyes of new fans of the old old: analog. As for old fans: grab one while you can (I promise I won't keep them all for myself).

Take care, stay out of the heath, be careful of the rain, and I hope to see you soon to share some good photography news with you....

Katya's supersampling

Photography by James Metcalfe

A photograph is more than just

A gift to bring or send.

And more than just the likeness of

A relative or friend.

It is a kindly greeting and

A memory to hold.

Of happy times and pleasant things.

However new or old.

(...)

As you know by now, I love photography. I have taken many digital photos and lately have discovered the specific beauty that analog photography, and more specific, photography with 'toy cameras' can be. I started importing Lomography cameras and old, vintage toy cameras, into Bulgaria because as with all things you like, they're not the same if you can't share your feelings about them with someone. As far as I know no-one is offering them yet here. What I aimed for is to have a group of like-minded enthusiasts. It would make this kind of photography more easier as it would save a lot of explaining at the place where we develop our films that they are supposed to look that way: cross processed, slight light leaks, or four times (almost) the same photo in a row. As I have only started doing this a few weeks ago, and we are not yet at the stage where a lot of word-of-mouth is spreading the love for lomo, we are still a very modest bunch of people (in size only, I guarantee you). And we keep explaining to the guys and girls at the photolabs what it is that we seek in a good photo.

This may now all change, as the first beautiful results from a Lomo Supersampler that only recently arrived in Sofia have seen the light. Ekaterina Piskyuleva took all her pictures on the first day with her new friend, a handsome pearl-coloured Supersampler. The photos in this post are hers. It was an extremely hot day in Sofia, the beginning of a short heat wave. I personally would have stayed inside, windows and curtains closed. But Katya's enthusiasm knew no limits. There she went, on a long and adventurous walk, holding on tight to her Supersampler. As she started walking, she took pictures of life around her: pedestrians, cars, buildings, street signs, and her own feet and shade.

The results are great. Lomo is, after all, first and foremost about shooting life. It is not about taking that standard portret that is only interesting to the person in the photo him or herself. Life as seen by Lomo, or in this case, as seen by Katya, becomes more interesting. All these photos tell their very own story. They add something to what is happening, or they slightly shift our focus so that we see things we otherwise would not have noticed.

Accidents in other forms of photography would mean the photo is a failure. To be discarded. With lomo they become happy accidents. That slight light leak turns the world into that romantic place it supposedly once was. 'Shooting from the hip' means we literally see things from a different angle. Lomo broadens our horizon.

I am impatient to see more Supersampler work and urge Katya to continue. I have heard trowing your camera in the air gives great results, however the warranty does not cover any damages as a result of this high form of creativity! Also, I hope that these great photos open the eyes of other people. So that our modest Bulgarian lomo group will become less and less modest. And we can begin to turn this country into a more adventurous place!

-

To be continued with more great work from this and other Bulgarian lomo pioneers!

United Colors

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gotreadgo/15927660/

I am so excited. I got a nice Lubitel some time ago, took my first photos with the Smena 8M, and have an Actionsampler following me like a loyal dog. I really want to try them all out, see what I can do with them, learn about their specifics, their flaws, get to know their charms.


The problem is, there is not much action going on with temperatures like those in Sofia these days. All I can think of is a cold shower. And a glass of water. And another... The last thing I want is running around town with three cameras. The workload in the office these days hasn't helped much as well. The weekend is going to be even hotter, so I will be staying inside, curtains and windows closed.


Shorts. Icecream. A good book.


Again there won't be outside shooting... Luckily, Lomo has thought of us sufferers in place like Sofia-in-July, those few poor souls that have to make sure the city keeps going while everybody else is swimming and wondering whether to have fish for dinner or whether to have fish for dinner. Cameras like the new generation Holga, the Actionsampler flash, or the Colorsplash, are all very good at indoor photography. They have got great flashes. The Colorsplash has been especially well domesticated and after heavy training is now behaving well in even the smallest apartments. And is doing sow in low, as well as very h-i-g-h temperatures. So finally there is something our friends partying on the beach can be jealous about as well.

The Colorsplash, its creators say, is a philosophy. What philosophy exaclty nobody seems to know. Perhaps the Philosophy of United Colors. The photos I have seen this little gem take indicate that this may be one of the more interesting additions to the rich collection of cameras that Lomography is already offering. Beautiful portraits with a glow of red or blue. Yellow rooms. And even colorful landscapes, building, bridges.

The outside of the camera is atypical in a sense that it does not look like the how-manieth toy camera (for the record, I adore toy cameras). Instead, it has a very sleek, design that reminds me of the sixties. It would not look bad in a separate room of a Museum of Modern Art. With 12 tiny color gels and a color wheel the camera literally bursts with possibilities. A flick of the wrist is all that's required to choose between filters. Even a pretty boring white flash is a possibility (in case you are out of inspiration, or breath). All in all, I believe this is the perfect for a long creative day of inside shooting, with the curtains closed. The perfect tool to shoot your friends at inside parties too. It would even work great for pool and beach parties - but don't tell anyone...

In short: the Colorsplash is here & now.





http://www.flickr.com/photos/mybloodyself/35773112/





http://www.flickr.com/photos/occhichiusi/2307581146/

Hello Hello Hello Hello

Hello, my name is Actionsampler. I can be a bit annoying as I repeat everything four times. I can be a bit annoying as I... Sorry.

They say that every picture tells a story, but mine tell four. I am very bad at taking boring pictures. If you are a person on the move (or just moving, that would do too) and like action-packed adventures then I am made for you. I take 35mm pictures sliced in four sequential panels.

I am the perfect companion for all your travels. I even like being in your bag when you just go shopping for groceries or are taking the bus to work. I am there for you, always ready to come into action immediately. I need no focusing, have a fixed aperture, do not do shutter-speeds. I am as loyal as a dog. People call me simple, but I tend to say I am the best that happened to photography since the invention of the wheel... Oh well, whatever. What I should say is that I am the best that can happen to you. Simple! Me? No way. Just easy-going.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/clash/ CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

All I need is one click, and I will give you a series of four pictures in one print – each scene captured in each frame! I am simple-to-use, lightning-quick, and convenient. Yes, that's me! As they say in the ad about me, 'the Actionsampler will be your fierce ally in documenting your shenanigans'. Now don't ask me what that last word means. But I promise I will document it.

I have just arrived in Sofia (man, it's hot here and my chrome skin does not help) and people have been staring at me from the moment I left the airport. They say they have never seen the likes of this here before. The other day, when I went for a walk, they called me a cheap bastard! I can't deny that. I am yours, forever, for only 55 leva (no, that is not a typo!).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mayeve/ CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Diana & Mark finally met

It was a long journey for both.

Mark travelled all the way from Australia, made the necessary stopovers on the way and finally arrived in Bulgaria a few days ago. He is now more than fourty years old but still looks remarkably good for his age. When he was high up in the air, Diana boarded a plane thousands of kilometres away, in Amsterdam to be precise. Her destination was also Sofia. Judging by her appearance I would say that Diana must be of roughly the same age as, or perhaps slightly younger than, Mark. But you cannot really ask the age of a lady, can you? Diana must have been excited, as she has not been traveling much, ever since her parents in Hong Kong sent her to Europe when she was young.

Diana and Mark finally met today in my office- very officially, with all the right rituals. They knew about each others existence. What surprised all of us was how similar they still looked, even if they had spent their lives in different parts of the globe. Both had been witnesses of events that were important to their owners: birthdays, parties, that first kiss, the baby. And yet, as with all members of their family, it became soon apparent that they both had different characters. I immediately noticed the similar feel of the two, but also saw they have aged differently over the years, both beautiful in their own way.

Both were very surprised to hear that almost none of their relatives had ever been to Bulgaria. The Diana family of photo cameras has be­come highly sought-​af­ter since its initial production in the late fifties and early sixties. The camera is popular amongst professional photographers and amateurs alike. The younger generation, close relatives of Diana, is officially sold today in many places all-over the world. And yet no-one has thought of inviting these handsome little fellows to Bulgaria, let alone importing vintage models of the older generation, allowing Bulgarians to become part of the ever expanding group of Diana fans (and Mark fans, sorry my friend!).

This error needed urgent correction. Therefore, I have started to hunt down a few of the most interesting models, not as much with the idea to start a new business, but more to create a group of enthusiasts in this country, in order to share our love for this and other analog beauties. In this way, hopefully, one day we can organise our very own Bulgarian Lomotrips, exhibitions and events. So please do spread the word and note that I am expecting new Lomo models to arrive any moment now.

But back to our two friends.

Mark was not happy when I called him a "Diana clone" as he insisted he was one of a kind. While I have to admit he is very special, and rarer than Diana herself (don't tell her!), I cannot deny that he resembles Diana in more than one way. Both Diana and Mark are 4x4 viewfind­er cam­eras, and they both use 120-​film. Both have basic aperture settings and both are fully manual. You can either willingly, or by mistake, create great art through multi-exposures. However, with the I(nstant)-​set­ting of the camera, the individuality of all members of the Diana family once again shows. Some Di­anas have a fast shutter whilst oth­ers have a slow version. There is no other way to find out how your Diana reacts but by taking her out for a walk and starting taking photos with her, slowly getting to know her without ever getting used to her or taking her for granted.

Then there are the famous (or infamous, depending on how creative you think you are) light leaks. Don't worry, they all have them! What makes every Diana (yes, and you, Mark!) truly original is that not one camera takes the same photo. They all have their own view of the world, and they are not afraid to tell you through the photos you take with them. Through magic or through light-leaks (I don't know the secret recipe), their pictures tell much more than a thousand stories.

The world as seen by Diana (and yes, by you, Mark!) is a better and more beautiful place. Sharpness and roughness are replaced by romance and softness. I am delighted that both Diana and Mark have agreed to move in with two good friends of mine. They both will make the lives of their hosts more interesting, nicer and, well, better. Of course they will also annoy their hosts every now and then, as they just can't seem to get enough attention. But overall, I am confident that they will spend many happy years together.

Another bit of good news is that I am expecting the arrival of two more cousins from this great family. Their names are Lina and Barnier, both relatives of Diana and Mark (I will not make the mistake again to call them 'clones'). They are very close friends (well, that is at least what they claim, I expect something more is going on between them) and they currently live in a small apartment in Paris. The city of light may well be the best place to live for cameras like them. Perhaps they therefore will need some time to adapt in Sofia, who knows. I will try to find a good home for them, and I hope you can help me. If they can stay together for the rest of their lives we would all be happy! I will let you know when they arrive.

Lubitel 166B

I was born during communism, but lived in the capitalist world. I will never forget the images of the Berlin wall, and even more so of the disbelief in the eyes of Ceausescu just before Christmas, as he is addressing a crowd that no longer listens to him. My wife was born during communism and lived in the communist world. But she was 10 when the wall fell, or the "changes" happened, as they say here in Bulgaria with a large dose of understatement.

Not the kind of people with nostalgia towards socialism, communism and all its rotten features. And yet. After years of constantly upgrading our equipment (better phones, better shoes, better photo cameras) we have taken a sharp U-turn. First came the increase in the numbers of Converse Chuck Taylor shoes. They must be a hundred years old. This was followed by the replica record player, with a crappy sound but a great 'feel'. And the last items on the road into the past are toy cameras and 'amateur' cameras. In came the Diana, followed by good old 'sots' cameras like the Smena, and, as of today, the Lubitel.

The Lubitel. My wife gave me a Lubitel as a present today! And it is not even my birthday. The purchase itself felt like one of those exchanges you see in bad B-movies. Changing time and place, to finally meet in the rain with the seller in front of a cinema that has been closed for years. (Well, the truth is, we moved to a pastry shop because of the rain, but that would sound less exciting, wouldn't it?).

Lubitel. Look twice. Double-lens? Yes. Why? I don't know. It is a mystery, but a beautiful one. Peering down from the top trying to focus almost causes you a headache. This is not a professional camera, hence its name 'Lubitel' (Amateur) but it is not a toy camera like the Diana either. I actually may take a good picture with this one.

It has a good 'feel', is somehow much lighter than I expected and smells of... well, I think it smells of Russian cabbage and potatoes. But it may also be the smell of the plastic, which is now almost thirty years old. I hope to be able to soon take my first pictures with this Black Beauty. And will keep you posted on the results.

For now, long live the USSR!