In the spirit of Passion Fest ‘08, Lomographers captured scenes of passion in Bonifacio Global City. Lomography teams scoured the premises for shoots that seal BGC’s reputation as the “Home for Passionate Minds.”
Lomowall to Wall Fun at Global City’s Passion Fest ’08 By Miguel Escaño Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 00:20:00 05/25/2008
MANILA, Philippines - Lomographers stir up a storm wherever they go. Whether up close or 50 feet away, you can easily spot their sort: A quirky assortment of shutterbugs happily clicking away at the unlikeliest subjects. Blue skies, pets’ noses, people’s faces—everyday life draws the Lomographer’s eye. Moments we take for granted, scenes that pass us by—everything old becomes new again through a Lomo camera.
What started as an Internet mailing list in 2003 has since evolved into a thriving community. Lomography, or Lomo for short, is sweeping the nation.
“Lomo is pop culture,” says Bong Rojales, president of Lomomanila. “Lomo goes with the times and the art scene,” he adds.
And so it does...
Although lomographers happily share what they capture with Netizens through Lomomanila.ph, the latest Lomo exhibit at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig should introduce mallers and passers-by to this totally fun, at times wacky, type of photography. “Lomovisions (From dawn ‘til dusk)” runs until May 31 at the Bonifacio High Street as part of BGC’s Passion Fest ‘08.
A series of events and exhibits held at the Bonifacio High Street this summer, Passion Fest ’08 brings together people of different interests and hobbies as BGC builds up a community where leisure, passion and the arts become part of everyday living. As the “Home for Passionate Minds,” BGC is fast becoming the place where individuals can live, work and play in an efficiently run city.
“Lomovisions,” the latest exhibit at Bonifacio High Street, showcases the best shots taken by lomo cameras, a brand manufactured by LOMO PLC in Russia . In the early 1980s, the company released the LOMO LC-A, which would later become the centerpiece of the Lomographic movement. In 1991, the LC-A was discovered by a group of Austrian photography enthusiasts who quickly fell in love with the unique, colorful and occasionally blurry photos produced by this cheap plastic camera. The group founded the Lomography Society International, which promotes and distributes LOMO cameras worldwide.
Lomomanila was founded on February 24, 2003. Ian Roxas started it as an Internet mailing list to help her friend Katya Guerrero spread information on the LOMO cameras she was selling. Five years later, the mailing list has expanded into an online community with over 1000 registered members.
Anyone can be a member, with passion for photography as the only requirement, says Rojales. Interested parties can visit the online forum at Lomomanila.ph, sign up and start taking photos. All you need is a film camera, not necessarily a LOMO. “Even an Instamatic will do,” he adds.
Roxas encourages both hobbyists and professional photographers to join, citing herself as a non-professional photographer who remains an active member nonetheless. “Why do I stay? Well, though photography is something you can do on your own, with Lomomanila, (you also enjoy) the camaraderie of the group,” she shares.
The camaraderie is apparent in how lomographers move as a group, clicking away at whatever draws their fancy. A swarm of bees pollinating flowers as they go comes to mind, with each snapshot capturing a world of color and each click preserving a landscape of emotion.
A mosaic photograph consists of an overall image created by photographs placed side-by-side with each other. Lomomanila applies the same concept to its exhibits in both execution and spirit. A Lomowall creates a mosaic photograph compiling snapshots taken by several members. Overall patterns are arranged according to color, creating a pattern that is unplanned and spontaneous.
“Other photo exhibits focus on the individual photographer, but Lomo exhibits are not about individuals,” says Rojales. “Lomowalls are collaborative in a sense.”
For “Lomovisions,” Lomomanila gathered around 70 members who divided themselves into teams. Each team was assigned to one lomowall. In the spirit of Passion Fest ‘08, lomographers captured scenes of passion in Bonifacio Global City . Teams scoured the premises from morning until midnight for shoots that seal BGC’s reputation as the “Home for Passionate Minds.”
Lomography revolves around a simple rule: Relax, just shoot. For professional photographers, this comes as a soothing balm. “If you’re used to digital, this [Lomo] is a good shift. It presents a different twist,” says Jill Legazpi, 28, a professional photographer who shoots weddings. Fellow professional photographers introduced her to Lomomanila in 2003.
Lomo is liberating, Legazpi shares. In her job, she says, the parameters are strict. “I have to produce good pictures for the client. They’re not mine.” she says. It’s different with Lomo. “The pictures are always yours. You give your personal touch to each photo.”
Roxas praises the freedom of taking Lomo shots. “Being a lomographer changed the way I looked at photographs,” she says. Before being a lomographer, her idea of a good photograph consisted of sticking to the rules. “Everything had to be in focus. Follow the rule of thirds. Good composition,” she notes. With Lomo, she learned to relax and enjoy taking photographs.
“Lomo opened my eyes. Colors don’t need to be realistic. You can play with colors and end up with a photo that moves you,” Roxas shares. “Lomo widened my perspective on what makes a good photograph.”
For other Lomographers, getting back to basics is just as important. No need to carry an armload of equipment. “With Lomo, just bring the camera and a roll of film,” says Gino Arcinas. Roxas agrees. “I used to have this thing about bringing all my cameras.” Now, she adds, “You have to train yourself to bring just one.”
And you don’t have to be young to have fun, either. High schoolers to people aged “40-something” have made Lomography a creative melting pot. Says Lomomanila president Rojales, “It’s hard to describe what it means to be a Lomographer. When you’re part of it, you’ll feel it.”
Arcinas, 21, and a member of the technical support group for a call center, joined Lomomanila in December 2007. While browsing through the online forums, he was astounded by the vivid, alright lurid, photographs taken with LOMO cameras. “I thought (the photos were manipulated using the photo editing software). Phinotoshop,” he says.
Though new to the community, Arcinas doesn’t lack for passion when it comes to Lomo. For the Lomomanila exhibit at Bonifacio High Street, he acted as a team leader. “I’ve joined photo clubs before but this is the only time I’ve really been active,” he says. “Newbie is just a term. Here I felt like a newbie for just a week.”
Angelo “AG” de Mesa, 20, is a student from the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P). He joined the group in February 2003. Coming from a family of artists, he yearned to find an outlet for his artistic creativity and found just that with Lomo. “I like the idea that you can’t go wrong in Lomo,” he says. “It’s also part of my personality. It ticks me off (when rules are) too strict.”
De Mesa shares a memorable “Lomo moment.” During a trip to Hidalgo Street (known for its cheap cameras) in Quiapo, he found an interesting subject. “This guy on the street was selling rope and he was doing rope tricks. I shot him from the hip. In the picture, kitang-kita yung ngiti [his smile showed]. He was very happy with his job.” De Mesa says that if he had used a digital camera instead of a Lomo, the photo wouldn’t have been possible. “If I used a digital camera, I’d have to place the camera in front of my face. He’d notice me and become conscious.”
Hardcore shutterbugs compete and criticize each other’s photos. Lomographers are the exact opposite. “We love the people here,” echo Arcinas and De Mesa. “Whenever I browse the forums, I never get the feeling that I have to get a better photo than this person, na kelangan kong higitan [I have to do one better],” shares Arcinas. You can’t go wrong with these people, agrees De Mesa. “During events, there is a warm feeling. Walang yabangan [No bragging around],” he says.
De Mesa adds: “Sometimes people see me as weird. Pero sa Lomomanila, wala pang nagsasabi nun [In Lomomanila, no one has told me that.]”
This year, Lomography expands nationwide through Lomofilipinas (Lomofilipinas.ph). Rojales says the move is intended to encourage the creation of Lomography groups in the regions. “I’m trying to duplicate what worked for Lomomanila in the provinces. Others should look at it as a model for creating a community. Nothing’s rigid, we’re just having fun,” he adds.
The Lomo spirit, says Lomomanila’s president, is “more than just photography. It’s an attitude. Spontaneous, collaborative, free-wheeling, forgiving.”
Aside from the Lomowall exhibit, the other Passion Fest ’08 events included an outdoor installation art by young new generation artists Bea Camacho, Gary-Ross Pastrana and Ringo Bunoan, whose refreshing take on public art remains on view at Bonifacio High Street until May 30.
Also held during Passion Fest ’08 was the First Bonifacio Global City Alley Cat Race on May 4; music events featuring fashion designer Kate Torralba, Vince Lahora and the Brass Munkeys; and Art Walk with walking tours host Carlos Celdran on May 3 and 17.
Upcoming on May 31 at 8 p.m. at Bonifacio High Street is Fusion, a breakthrough musical event that will blend the instrumentality of the Metro Manila Community Orchestra and UP Jazz Ensemble as conducted by Prof. Chino Toledo with Ms. May Bayot as guest vocalist. This concept event will cap Passion Fest ’08. Admission is free and there will be 200 seats available on a first come, first served basis. Those interested may call 856-0523 or visit the Serendra Concierge.
ADV’T
Copyright 2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
![Zoom Image](javascript:popwin("http://images.inquirer.net/media/showbizandstyle/sim/sim/images/pic-05250522170796.jpg", 640, 480))
Zoom
