Documenting Isolation: How Lomographers Cope With Confinement, Pt. 4

The world is gradually adjusting to the "new normal". It isn't easy but as we discovered through this series, Lomographers adapt well as they find new ways to pick up inspiration, even in isolation. Today, community members mloscik, ansen, and marek_ share their quarantine photo stories. We hope that their experiences bring you hope and light amidst the crisis.

Fritz, Poland

Name: Fritz
LomoHome: mloscik

Please tell us a bit about this photo series taken during quarantine?

The title ("The Spring That Never Came") refers to the social aspect of the spring. For me, it was always the time of the year when I spend a lot of time hanging out with friends, partying, skating, tripping, etc. This year, because of the pandemics and governmental restrictions, it was impossible to gather and just enjoy together the first waves of sun, warmth, and nature coming back to life. I think I just wanted to capture those beautiful aspects of spring composed with the feeling of isolation and yearn for social connection.

Credits: mloscik

How does the current crisis affect your creative process, your daily routine?

Actually, for me, it was mostly positive. I could do a significant proportion of my professional work from home, which personally, I found more efficient. Because of that, I had more time to work on the things I wanted to do in the darkroom, which is a very time-consuming process.

How do you keep inspired despite the limitations?

Again, more time and lack of social distraction allowed me to catch up with a lot of books, movies, and music. Still, there are so many things I would like to watch, read, listen, and create. I guess I am the type of person, who always finds something interesting to focus on. All I need is an internet connection. Besides, the whole new situation is kind of interesting and inspiring.

Credits: mloscik

As a photographer/creative, are there any lessons or realizations that you picked up from the current situation?

Honestly, I am just glad that nature finally managed to give humanity some sign that cannot be overlooked. The world that we live on right now is very much corrupted and it needs to change. People live with no respect towards the earth that feeds us. We use so much of non-renewable natural resources like they were either infinite or there were no combustion products. We know how bad plastic is and still, we make the world plastic. People have been doing so many unnecessary movements to the other side of the planet and sometimes they didn’t even know their own region. We have friends around the globe but we don’t know our neighbors. What is happening now is just recoil and if we don’t change our ways, it will be worse. The fault lies both with us and the system but what I am mostly aware of right now is that it is not up to us to change but for the governments to figure out new solutions and force those long-needed changes upon industrialists, entrepreneurs and us as well.

Credits: mloscik

Any advice for Lomographers from all over the world?

Think globally, act locally. Find the joy and inspiration in the world that lies closest to you. Still, it is the same world we all live in. Try to be aware of the positive ideas and changes around the world (Amsterdam’s city doughnut project for example) and do your best to take care of your environment.

Check out Fritz's LomoHome to see more of his photos!

An Sen, Vietnam

Name: An Sen
LomoHome: ansen

Please tell us a bit about this photo series taken during quarantine?

This is the 5th film roll, made by Olympus OZ10 Panoramic & Fujica Drive, the first time I loaded 38 frames in a roll. I think it caught perfect scenes. Because of COVID-19 pandemic, I couldn't go far, I just was on my bike and went around lonely in the city, Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City. These frames were taken after work, on a way I went home. I have a friend, her father is serious with COVID-19, he didn't allow her to go outside or meet anyone. I have 2 pictures: she was standing in front of her door and my bike, I told her to take out the mask. Besides, I visited my hometown, Long An province, it took 45 minutes. This place didn't have any COVID-19 cases, so life didn't be impacted. Almost all people still worked and went outside. Children flew kite, I joined with them, I also went fishing, a baby pufferfish on my hand but it's out of focus. In a nutshell, with a little bit of worry, I still decided to leave, go somewhere, I really enjoyed it!

Credits: ansen

How does the current crisis affect your creative process and your daily routine?

I think it's not affected me too much, because I find simple things interesting.

How do you keep inspired despite the limitations?

I still keep my routine, there are no significant changes.

Credits: ansen

As a photographer/creative, are there any lessons or realizations that you picked up from the current situation?

If you can, try to save as much as possible moments, even though it's not perfect, but it will remind memories and reflect moments.

Any advice for Lomographers from all over the world?

I don't have any advice, but I want to say thanks to them that I can see all real life all over the world. Highly respect!

Visit Ansen's LomoHome to see more photos!

Marek, Tokyo

Name: Marek
LomoHome: marek_

Please tell us a bit about this photo series taken during quarantine?

Hello, thanks for your interest. This series of photos called 'Social Distancing Walks' was shot in Tokyo during the state of emergency. Most of these photos were taken near my place, I kept avoiding crowded places and close contact with people. I did not have a specific goal while taking photos, as usual, I photographed what attracted my eyes. Most restaurants and bars remained closed, which made the streets calm and empty. Very different atmosphere than usual, with Tokyo known for its population density.

Credits: marek_

How does the current crisis affect your creative process, your daily routine?

I think in a good way. It was an occasion for me to learn and experiment with new things, like developing my film in Caffenol. This stuff is surprisingly good and gave me the motivation for further experiments. My daily routine is that I usually process my film in the afternoon and go out for shooting the end of afternoons or at night. This hasn't changed a lot with quarantine. What changed is that I avoided taking public transports and going to crowded places. I also usually use a rental darkroom to print my work but it's a little far from my home and I didn't go for a while. I miss that part a lot. I hope I can have my own darkroom one day.

I did also picture more flowers than usual. Cherry blossoms viewing events and spring festivals where canceled here, so I decided to celebrate it my own way. I went out at night
to Aoyama cemetery with light and my camera and started picturing cherry blossoms. Very mystical experience ^^

Credits: marek_

How do you keep inspired despite the limitations?

I personally think limitations are good for creativity. Having many choices makes us overthink which rarely gives interesting results. What is beautiful in photography, is that you walk through the same road every day, the light will never be the same. Sometimes your eye will not be attracted sometimes you'll have that urgent need to take a picture. I very often photography the same places on and on. Of course, by staying home much than usual, I can feel bored, have a low motivation mind. But that's not bad, feeling that way is also part of a creative process.

As a photographer/creative, are there any lessons or realizations that you picked up from the current situation?

I sometimes feel like an urgency to shoot things in an obsessive manner. I realize that taking a break, doing other things (reading, cooking, or doing just nothing), can be beneficial.

Any advice for Lomographers from all over the world?

Keep shooting film!

Visit Marek's LomoHome to see more photos!

Nina, Slovenia

Name: Nina
LomoHome: lomonina

Please tell us a bit about this photo series taken during quarantine?

This photo series was taken during epidemic COVID-19 when Slovenia went to lockdown. A week after lockdown I decided I don't want to miss the most beautiful time in the year when everything blooms. I have been inspired to explore nature and empty cities. I shot multiple exposures with my LC-A+.

Credits: lomonina

How does the current crisis affect your creative process, your daily routine?

The world stopped for a while and our daily routine dramatically changed in a very short time. First of all, I took the opportunity to rest. Finally, I had more time for myself, away from the crowd and people. After a week I felt I need to go out and I need to »do something«. I really believe that boredom gives birth to creativity. So I escaped the 'office' in order to follow nature and creativity.

How do you keep inspired despite the limitations?

Actually the limitation as a consequence of COVID-19 was the main reason for me to become inspired in the things I really love. In the past, time for the things I love was never on my side. I was too occupied with my job and daily routine. During the lockdown, I finally had enough time for creativity.

Credits: lomonina

As a photographer/creative, are there any lessons or realizations that you picked up from the current situation?

I think we have been living in a bubble of comfort for a really long time and everything changed over the night. We changed offices for homes, shopping malls for nature. Nature finally rests from pollutions, factory and car emissions have declined and many cities can see the stars again in the night sky or hear the singing of the birds. We should not forget about nature, we have to protect it because we need it more than anything.

Any advice for Lomographers from all over the world?

Never stop being creative and keep on taking photos :)

Visit Nina's LomoHome to see more of her photos!


We would like to thank the Lomographers who shared their photos and stories with us! Check out parts 1, 2, and 3 of this series. As always, keep safe, Lomographers!

written by shhquiet on 2020-05-31 in #culture #news #people #photography #news #covid-19 #stay-at-home

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