A Quick Guide

to
Analogue
Photography
CONTENTS

Let the Analogue Fun Begin 3

What The Hell is Lomography? 4

A Very Useful List of Photographic Terms 5-6

Types of Camera 7-8

All About Film Formats 9

Film Types 10-11

It’s Just the Start 12

let the analogue fun begin

d ea r lomograp h e r ,
If you’re reading this then the chances are high that you’re new to
Lomography, so we want to wish you a very warm and happy welcome
to the analogue party! Come on in, grab a seat and relax, there’s no need
to close the door – everyone’s welcome!

For our first-time film shooters or old-time analogue admirers looking to

brush up on their knowledge – we’ve put together this super-simple guide
to help you learn the basics or simply refresh your memory about the
basics of film photography, aren’t you lucky! We’ve packed in a whole
lot of interesting information including a quick overview of camera types,
film formats and some useful photography terms to help you along on
your analogue journey!

We’re keeping it short but sweet – ultimately, we think that it’s best to
learn by doing. The art of Lomography is simple, there are no mistakes!
In fact, like in life, much of the excitement comes from those unplanned
moments.

So, get out there, start experimenting and remember,

th e f u t u re is an al ogu e .
All the best on your analogue adventures,
lomography

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w h a t t h e he l l i s lo mo gr a phy ?

We all know history lessons can be a bit boring, especially for those of us who
want to just get out and start shooting film, so we’ll stick to the important bits!

Way back in 1991, a group of students discovered the Russian Lomo LC-A
camera in a quirky camera shop in Prague. They had fun shooting from the hip
and taking a new and exciting approach to analogue photography. In 1992, the
Lomographic Society International was founded and we began work on the
global mission to keep the art of analogue alive.

Today, we continue to dedicate ourselves to experimental and creative photography.

We are constantly expanding our collection of innovative films, cameras, instant
products, lenses and photographic accessories; as well as designing and producing
all the photographic tools you need to create, capture and communicate this
curious world we live in. Whether you’re a complete novice or a seasoned pro,
we believe that you have the power to create something incredible.

But we couldn’t do it without our dedicated Lomographers. We’ve got over 1.5
million followers across our social media platforms as well as a 1 million strong
creative community of Lomographers over on our Community Site
(lomography.com/homes) – the largest online archive of analogue and
lomography.com/homes
experimental photography in the world. Their thirst to travel, experiment, make
mistakes, share and experience LIFE in all its beautiful, bizarre, and bewildering
glory is what makes Lomographers special and keeps us on our toes.

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A VERY USEFUL LIST OF
PHOTOGRAPHIC TERMS
If you come across some technical terms that you just haven’t quite
understood have no fear, here’s a little list to help you find your way!

Apert ure
refers to the size of the opening, usually on a lens, that allows light to
get into the camera. Big aperture means a lot of light will get in, small
aperture means less light.

Cross-proces si n g
or ‘X-pro’, means developing your film using the 'wrong' kind of
process – for example, developing a color slide film using color
negative chemicals or vice-versa. Cross processing often produces
wild, crazy and exciting colors.

F ilm G rain
is the optical ‘texture’ you can see in film photos that give them a
unique look. It comes from particles in the chemicals involved during
the development process.

F rame size
the dimensions of each frame.

Half-frame
half-frame cameras allow you to take two photos on one standard 35
mm frame. This means that you can take 72 photos on one roll of
film instead of the standard 36!
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ISO
this is the ‘speed’ or ‘sensitivity to light’. A film with a low ISO
number (like 100) is less sensitive to light, providing the best results
on sunny days. Films with a higher ISO number (like 800) are more
sensitive to light and better to use on cloudy days. But don’t let the
numbers hold you back, experiment with different ISO settings for
interesting effects!

Long Exposu r e
involves using a long shutter speed which allows the photographer to
blur the moving objects while sharply capturing the stationary elements.

Mult iple Exp o sur e

when you take a photo in which two or more images are taken on the
same frame.

Sat urat ion

refers to the brightness of a photograph's colors.

Shut t er Speed
this is the length of time that your camera shutter is open, exposing
light onto the camera sensor. Essentially, it’s how long your camera
spends taking a photo.

Vign et t ing
refers to the reduction of brightness at the corners of a photo, which
produces very artistic results by drawing attention to the center of
your photo.

W ide-an gle
a wide-angle lens captures more than a standard lens, so you'll fit more
in the frame and see more when you get your photos developed!
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 types of camera
We know it’s a big and scary world, but we’re here to help! Maybe not with some of
life’s more important questions, but then again, what’s more important than analogue!?
Here’s a handy guide to help you decide which film camera is right for you.

3 5 mm Ca m e r a s
SLRs are the most common kind of film camera that
use the 35 mm film format. These handy snappers
provide many exciting creative opportunities for the
budding analogue photographer or fine-tuned film
shooter. We’ve got a whole range of 35 mm film
cameras, from our Simple Use Reloadable heroes to
legendary LC-As, offering affordable and experimental
analogue fun.

Medium F or m at C am e ra s
To keep this super simple, medium format cameras
are slightly bigger than 35 mm cameras, using 120
format film. A bigger film roll means a bigger negative
and this means finer details and a smoother grain
than 35 mm shots. Neat! Medium format cameras
usually shoot smooth analogue squares and there is
plenty of opportunity for experimentation.

110 Came r a s
Perfectly pocket-sized cameras for fun, portable
photography! 110 cameras shoot with the miniature
110 film format. They’re small, easy-to-use and totally
affordable! But they’re not just cute, they’re perfect
for spontaneous snapshots and still produce great
results, despite their reduced size!

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Instant C am e r a s
These versatile snappers use self-developing film to print your
image. Simply snap away and after every shot, your photo will
pop out of the camera, developing in seconds before your very
own eyes! We have a whole range of instant cameras to suit
your style, packed full of creative features.

Panoram i c C am e r a s
Capture more in every shot in long-framed, panoramic photos.
Our panoramic cameras offer some really exciting experimental
effects – think spinning 360° cameras for never-ending
panoramas, liquid lenses and more – shoot 35 mm film
and are super simple to use.

Mult i-l e ns C am e r a s
These are cameras with more than one lens. Your final print
will be made up of smaller images giving some unique and fun
effects, perfect for action shots. Jump, dive and explore your
way to becoming an analogue superstar!

Fisheye C a m e r a s
These 35 mm cameras produce unique, spherical images and
capture more than the human eye can see. Great for close-ups
or fitting all your friends in the frame, why not try recreating
your favorite ‘90s album cover or shooting from some
interesting angles?

Pinhole C am e r a s
These cameras have a tiny hole, or ‘small aperture’ in
photographic terms, and no lens. This allows more creative
freedom over your shots and some really intriguing special
effects to play with!

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ALL ABOUT FILM FORMATS
Once you’ve decided on a camera, you need something to shoot on. There are different
types of cameras and therefore, different types of film! We are committed to keeping
analogue alive and one of the ways we do this is by producing all different kinds of
films. We stock 110 format, 120 format, and the ever-popular 35 mm format in lots of
crazy colors as well as several types of black and white films.

3 5 mm Fi lm
This is the most popular kind of film (for your
35 mm camera). A standard roll allows you to
shoot up to 36 exposures – but there are also
24-exposure and 12-exposure rolls – and it
can be used in a wide variety of cameras.

1 2 0 F il m
Otherwise known as medium format film, it
offers a higher level of detail and often better
quality images. Typically, one roll allows you
to shoot either 12 (6×6) or 16 (6×4.5) images,
depending on the frame size of your camera.

110 Film
Teeny-tiny film format, also known as pocket
film. Each roll allows you to shoot up to 24
little square shots and discover entirely new
perspectives!

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 FILM TYPES
The final piece to the puzzle, once you’ve got a camera and you know which film
format you need, you need to select the type of film! Fortunately, this is pretty simple.
Do you want color? Something creative? Black and White? The choice is yours!

Color Ne g a ti ve
The most common type of film – realistic and
colorful, choose different ISO films for
different effects under different lighting
conditions. It’s straight-up, straightforward
and can be developed in a lab (or by you!)
using standard C-41 chemicals.

B l a c k a n d W h it e
Fancy giving your shots that vintage, classic
look? Add a timeless look to your pictures
and play with different contrasts and light
conditions for that often sought-after film
‘grain’ loved by many. It is usually developed
in different chemicals than color films so it’s
a good idea to check with your friendly lab
technician first if they can develop it.

Experim e nta l F i l m s
Unlock a side of photography you had only
dreamed of! These films let you achieve
gorgeous splashes of colors without the need
for special filters. Our LomoChrome Purple
and LomoChrome Metropolis films are great
examples! No special filters or weird develop-
ment techniques needed!

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Redscal e F i l m

It lets you achieve gorgeous splashes of fiery

reds, oranges and yellows. All you have to do
is shoot and get creative! Developed using
standard C-41 chemicals.

S l id e F il m
Also known as reversal film, it’s developed
using a special E6 process and it produces a
positive image or ‘slide’ that can be scanned as
it is. These photos display more vibrant colors,
contrast and are sharper than a negative
image. Also, this film is the most popular
choice for cross-processing as it creates
more contrast and stronger colors again!

Expired
Yes, film has an expiry date but we don’t tend
to pay too much attention to that! Using expired
film can result in some really interesting and
unpredictable images!

I n st an t
Used exclusively with instant cameras, it
develops very quickly using special chemicals
stored inside the film and activated once the
picture is taken.

11
 IT’S JUST THE START

Congratulations, you are now well on your way to becoming a film photography pro!
You’ve learned some key photography terms to impress your friends, found out all
about types and formats of film and, hopefully, figured out which kind of analogue
camera you’d like to shoot with.

https://shop.lomography.com/ is always
Fortunately for you, our Online Shop (https://shop.lomography.com)
stocked with all the experimental cameras, lenses and films you can dream of. It’s your
go-to for your next analogue obsession. What’s more, you can create your very own
https://www.lomography.com/homes to interact with our dedicated
LomoHome (https://www.lomography.com/homes)
community of Lomographers and to share your shots with the world and get involved
in loads of competitions to win some awesome prizes!

Keep up to date with the latest Lomography news by subscribing to our newsletter
http://www.newsletter.lomography.com/ and enjoy a variety of interviews, tipsters
(http://www.newsletter.lomography.com)
and analogue projects when you read our Online Magazine:
(https://www.lomography.com/magazine).
https://www.lomography.com/magazine

For our social media snappers, make sure you tag your shots with #HeyLomography
for a chance to be featured!

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

www.facebook.com/Lomography/

www.twitter.com/lomography

www.instagram.com/lomography/

www.youtube.com/user/lomographicsociety

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