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The LOMO's are coming! The LOMO's are coming!
By Caitlin Moore
The LOMO's quirky history begins in late Soviet-era Russia, in 1982. The Russian Minister of Defense and Industry initiates collaboration with the LOMO Russian Arms and Optical Factory with the intent to provide their comrades with a cheap, yet high quality, people's camera. The result was the LC-A, or Lomo Kompakt Automat Camera.
The lens benefited greatly from Russian military technology. The Minitar-1 was designed by the legendary Russian professor, Radionov. LOMO images are known for their startling clarity (even in low light) and their rich color saturation.
With the fall of the Soviet empire, the LOMO factory located in St. Petersburg fell upon hard times and was closed. It seemed that the outside would never have the chance to appreciate this brilliant Russian camera. That is until a group of students vacationing in newly-democratic Czechoslovakia brought LOMO back to life.
In 1991, a group of students vacationing in Prague discovered the LOMO camera while wandering through the shops. They purchased a few of them, and started shooting roll upon roll of film at random. When they arrived home in Vienna, they were astonished to discover the richness and immediacy of their images. By 1992, interest in these cameras had grown immensely and the Lomographic Society in Vienna was founded.
Eventually, LOMO "embassies" started cropping up in cities all around the world. The Lomographic Society then convinces Vladmir Putin – the current Russian Premier and then Vice-Mayor of St. Petersburg – to reinstitute LOMO production. The LOMO was reborn!
The LOMO camera has reached cult-like status ever since. "Lomographers" taking part in art projects are given a series of guidelines to adhere to:
1. Take your LOMO everywhere you go.
2. Use it anytime – day or night.
3. Lomography is not an interface in your life, but a part of it.
4. Shoot from the hip.
5. Approach the objects of your Lomographic desire as close as possible.
6. Don't think.
7. Be fast.
8. You don't have to know beforehand what you captured on film.
9. Afterwards either.
10. Don't worry about the rules.
Now who would have ever thought that the Cold War would end with the Russians shooting cameras? Now get out there and start shooting, Comrade!
About the Author
Caitlin Moore recently joined the LOMO craze, and is currently working on an installation piece for a local gallery. When she is not snapping random shots, she writes for http://www.dpdigest.com – a photo gear and supply website, with a plethora of information about digital video recorders, Canon digital cameras, and Sony digital cameras and more.
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/14780.html
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