This photography movement has disavowed AI

In a world of images infused with AI, it is hard to pick up the camera and snap a picture that doesn't have a tech enhancement. From autofocus to removing unwanted objects in an image, automated features are turning photographs into a sort of plastic reality.
However, there is an elegance to film photographs that are steeped in quiet dignity, thanks to their mellow colours and soft treatment of light. Some of those less-than-perfect photos with blurred subjects, light leaks, and overexposed or underexposed backgrounds, were hidden by photographers of the past as failed images — but no longer.
Enter the Lomographers, a motley band of global film photographers who belong to a community with rules like 'take your camera everywhere you go' and 'don't think' and 'be fast' and finally, 'don't worry about any rules.' Their photographic results include haphazard shots full of unorthodox compositions, flaring light leaks, warped colours, bold vignettes, and blurred movements that would scandalise traditional film photographers.
Lomographers, however, are using film cameras with joy and reckless abandon in the age of meticulous, AI-enhanced smartphone and digital photography
Surreal international roots
Founded in Vienna in the 1990s, Lomography is both a company and an artistic movement that allows film photographers to embrace a spontaneous approach to analog photography; a 'Lomographer' is encouraged to use their film roll more freely, and then go out to buy some more.
The company was born when its Viennese founders tried to popularise the Russian remake of the Japanese film camera Cosina CX-1. The fruit of their labour was the resurgence of the LOMO LC-A camera. The mission was a quiet success, and helped bring together like-minded film photographers who adored the strange visual effects that the camera inadvertently achieved, even if they looked like mistakes to photographers with less daring eyes.
Today, Lomography produces a diverse line-up of gadgets, ranging from disposable cameras (that are actually reusable) and mini toy cameras to twin-lens reflex cameras and even premium art lenses, not to mention a respectable range of film rolls. Many of the company's best-known cameras are largely plastic commercial remakes of classical cameras from decades ago, reincarnating them for 21st century users who would not be able to find or even afford the historic originals.
Lomography's film rolls, unlike the standard Fujifilm or Kodak rolls, offer bold takes on colour and grain, with one variant transforming everyday scenes into a dreamy painting of purple and teal hues.
Furthermore, Lomography's cameras and film rolls are designed to surprise, so photographers look forward to getting back their developed pictures to admire the unpredictable interplay of light and colour in their shots.
Accessibility vs affordability
In spite of Lomography's founding aims of making unique film cameras and rolls more commercially available, the truth is that few Indians can afford to sustain a film photography hobby today. Lomography's cameras begin at around $50 and can go up to hundreds of dollars, not to mention the cost of buying film rolls and developing photos. For that price, photographers in India would be more inclined to invest in a smartphone or even an affordable DSLR camera. Critics of the movement go so far as to accuse the company of re-packaging and upselling film rolls that were rejected by legacy brands due to manufacturing defects.
Lomography is confident that there is a strong community of film photographers who don't just click pictures on special occasions, but are actively experimenting with new (or rather, old) formats and devices.
'We have over a million community members from all around the world — across North America, Europe, and Asia. To inspire them, we continuously innovate and release brand-new analogue photography products. Providing fresh creative tools to the film community is at the heart of our mission, and we're committed to keeping analogue photography alive, ' said Lomography in response to The Hindu's query.
In the past year, the company's bestsellers included the LomoMatic 110 film camera, Lomo'Instant Wide Glass, Daylight Development Tank, DigitaLIZA scanning kits, LomoApparat, and Art Lenses, not to mention its own quirky LomoChrome film rolls.
The company promised more launches across product lines in the near future.
India's Lomography scene
Chirantan Pramanik and Ruby Saha, who enjoy photography as a couple, started using analog cameras more than ten years ago after being inspired by friends from IISc Bangalore and professional photographers at the Prabhu Photos studio on MG Road. The studio now sells Lomography products.
'Over the years, the number of analog users has expanded drastically, and now there are more than 10 excellent analog stores and studios throughout India. Most of the people who use analog media click photos as a hobby in excellent Lomographic style,' explained Chirantan. 'There are online analog photography groups consisting of around 1,000 members, including professional photographers. Additionally, there are technical sides like 3D printing for special equipment and adapters, making 35mm camera usable rolls from bulk movie rolls, adapting old movie and projector lenses to old and new cameras, stylising the old cameras, etc, that have arisen to support the Indian Lomography community in the recent past.'
Ruby said that it took some time to get even fellow photographers to warm up to the modern, Lomography approach to shooting film.
'Initially, we got a lot of schooling about our photography style! And it took a long time for others to accept the contemporary style of photography. But, at present, I know at least 20 persons who have their modern style, and their photography style is very unique,' she said.
Discussing their love for analog photography, the couple revelled in the creativity and freedom offered by the film format that many smartphone photographers today believe is limiting in nature.
Chirantan said he liked to experiment with multiple exposures, long exposures, tilt shift shots, red scale photography (flipping the loaded film in the camera before shooting), and cross-processed images. Ruby enjoyed Lomography's film rolls that came with subtle colour distortion.
'I need to make a special mention of purple chrome, which creates a purple forest!' she shared.
The couple also shoots on digital cameras, but Chirantan and Ruby find themselves yearning for the film-based medium. While a digital photographer can flick through numerous automatic modes and settings, Ruby explained that a film photographer's choice of film roll can drastically change even the way they construct their shot.
'To be honest, digital photography demands richness!' said Ruby. 'A new camera model is launched frequently with new features and promises. Then editing them takes forever, because it depends on mood! But with film photography, it is irreplaceable, and I know its potential. If I want to click a good sunset photo at the beach and carry a black and white film (bad choice!), instead, I would wait for someone wearing white breezy clothes or fur babies to come before my camera.'
Chirantan has tried out innovative ways of blending digital and analog camera hardware for better photos. At the end of the day, however, film photography calls them both home.
'We started using DSLRs in 2011 and got bored pretty soon with the color and tones. Adding a digital full frame and a few prime lenses from the analog era, adapted to the digital, gave much better results and more freedom. But then we started using the analog bodies with those lenses and were surprised to experience what we were searching for. We particularly enjoy the entire slow-paced process full of surprises and, of course, the imperfections, tone, and color produced in the analog medium,' Chirantan said.
'In these busy times, I feel content through film photography.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

NDTV

3 hours ago

• NDTV

Russia Advancing Long-Term Economic Ties With India, Key Partners: Putin

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Moscow's action plan for long-term cooperation till 2030 with India should be finalised shortly. Speaking at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum's plenary session, Putin announced that Moscow is advancing long-term economic cooperation plans with its key partners, including India. "Let me remind you that we agreed to prepare long-term cooperation plans with key partners," Putin said while emphasising that "action plans, including those with countries like India, should be completed shortly." "We have already set a goal to boost oil and gas exports. To achieve this, we will develop relations with partners, remove trade barriers, explore new market niches, build infrastructure, and deepen investment cooperation," he said. The St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2025 often dubbed as 'Russian Davos' this year has the theme "Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World." Putin denied that China and Russia are forming a new multipolar world order. "A new world order is emerging naturally, like the rising sun. There's no way to halt it, our role is to formalise this process and facilitate it, ensuring it develops in a more balanced way that aligns with the interests of the vast majority of nations," Putin said. India at the SPIEF was represented by the Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw. Mr Vaishnaw, who is also the minister for Information and Broadcasting, delivered keynote addresses at two significant sessions. Speaking at a session 'The Future of Artificial Intelligence', he highlighted India's advancements in AI and its vision for ethical and inclusive technological growth. While addressing the India-Russia Business Forum, he emphasised the deepening economic ties between the two countries and exploring new avenues for collaboration. Mr Vaishnaw had several meetings with Russian Federal Ministers, leading industrialists, technology leaders, and investors. These discussions focused on enhancing India-Russia cooperation in critical sectors including Logistics & Transportation, Infrastructure Development, Railway Modernisation, Information Technology & Artificial Intelligence. These engagements underscored "India's commitment to fostering strategic partnerships with Russia, particularly in technology-driven and infrastructure domains, aligning with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and global digital transformation," a press release from the Embassy of India in Moscow said. His visit marks a significant step in reinforcing the longstanding India-Russia relationship, paving the way for mutual growth and innovation, it added.

Time of India

4 hours ago

• Time of India

Dixon third company to come up in electronics hub

Noida: Dixon Technologies has secured 22.5 acres in YEIDA's electronics manufacturing cluster (EMC) in Sector 10 near the upcoming Noida International Airport, becoming the third company to join the hub. Officials said on Friday that Dixon has received a letter of intent (LoI) for setting up its manufacturing unit for mobile phones, consumer electronics, telecom equipment, lighting products, and white goods. YEIDA CEO Arun Vir Singh informed Dixon Technologies that their proposal was approved in-principle. However, the final allotment was subject to clearance from the Invest UP Empowered Committee and adherence to state policy guidelines and regulatory norms. Recently, approvals were issued to two other firms — Ascent-K Circuit and Aurionpro ToshiAutomatic Systems — for units under the central govt's EMC 2.0 scheme. The land allotment in the 206 acre cluster gained strong traction from top industrial players, officials said. YEIDA officials said the land acquisition process was ongoing, and provisional LoIs were issued in line with policy clearances. "With Dixon joining the cluster, officials expect the EMC in Sector 10 to emerge as a key electronics manufacturing hub in north India, catalysing further investment and job creation in the region," the CEO added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Utendorf: GEERS sucht 700 Testhörer für Hörgeräte ohne Zuzahlung GEERS Undo The EMC 2.0 in Sector 10 received in-principle approval from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) during the 7th Project Review Committee meeting held on April 11. Havells India Ltd has been designated as the anchor unit and is allotted 50 acres within the cluster. Dixon Technologies operates 12 plants in Noida and one in Greater Noida, managed by its subsidiaries and joint ventures. The company operates dedicated manufacturing units for phones for Xiaomi, Motorola and Nokia, besides earphones and headphones under Boat Lifestyle. In 2023, Dixon Technologies signed an MoU with the UP govt during the UP Global Investors Summit, with Sunil Vachani, chairman of Dixon Technologies, announcing plans for additional units for manufacturing and designing electronic products in Noida. Dixon's Greater Noida plant, sprawling over 20 acres in Ecotech 8, manufactures refrigerators. Collaborating with a Japanese company Rexxame, Dixon operates another Noida plant focusing on manufacturing PCBs for air conditioners.

Business Standard

4 hours ago

• Business Standard

Russia advancing long-term economic cooperation plans with India: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Moscow's action plan for long-term cooperation till 2030 with India should be finalised shortly. Speaking at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum's plenary session, Putin announced that Moscow is advancing long-term economic cooperation plans with its key partners, including India. Let me remind you that we agreed to prepare long-term cooperation plans with key partners," Putin said while emphasising that "action plans, including those with countries like India, should be completed shortly." We have already set a goal to boost oil and gas exports. To achieve this, we will develop relations with partners, remove trade barriers, explore new market niches, build infrastructure, and deepen investment cooperation, he said. The St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2025 often dubbed as 'Russian Davos' this year has the theme Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World. Putin denied that China and Russia are forming a new multipolar world order. A new world order is emerging naturally, like the rising sun. There's no way to halt it, our role is to formalise this process and facilitate it, ensuring it develops in a more balanced way that aligns with the interests of the vast majority of nations, Putin said. India at the SPIEF was represented by the Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw. Vaishnaw, who is also the minister for Information and Broadcasting, delivered keynote addresses at two significant sessions. Speaking at a session 'The Future of Artificial Intelligence', he highlighted India's advancements in AI and its vision for ethical and inclusive technological growth. While addressing the India-Russia Business Forum, he emphasised the deepening economic ties between the two countries and exploring new avenues for collaboration. Vaishnaw had several meetings with Russian Federal Ministers, leading industrialists, technology leaders, and investors. These discussions focused on enhancing India-Russia cooperation in critical sectors including Logistics & Transportation, Infrastructure Development, Railway Modernisation, Information Technology & Artificial Intelligence. These engagements underscored "India's commitment to fostering strategic partnerships with Russia, particularly in technology-driven and infrastructure domains, aligning with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and global digital transformation, a press release from the Embassy of India in Moscow said. His visit marks a significant step in reinforcing the longstanding India-Russia relationship, paving the way for mutual growth and innovation, it added.