Camera Overview: La Sardina, Orinoco Ochre
Open Eye Gallery simply loves Lomography! A glancer into the independent shop and you will notice a whole cabinet full of colourful, playful photographic toys, many of which have achieved a cult following as analogue is becoming more and more fashionable.
It is easy to wonder why Lomography has become so popular – in a world of full-auto and instant upload, why would anybody want to constrain themselves to the long process of shooting film, never mind with a plastic lens! The ethos is this: photography should be as fun as it is limitless. I am reminded of Lomography’s philosophy by the relief text on the back of my own beaten up Golden Half camera, which enthusiastically exclaims
“So throw away your book and why don’t you go out!”
With such vigour, I am often persuaded.
Lomography cameras are purely mechanical; there are no electronic parts whatsoever so being left in the rain or snow is simply not an issue and when dropped, they bounce. What Lomography actively does is dismiss any excuse for not taking pictures; they are some of the most simplistic machines available and produce images that are raw (not .raw, but RAW!) and so devoid of the usual digital algorithms that each image simply oozes character. These machines are to be used to effectively break down the stereotypes of precise, modern photography and also photographic tradition as a whole. It means to take the craft of photography away from the camera and into a way of recognition of an image. The absolute essence of image making is thrust somewhat forcibly, and definitely crudely, into the hands of the photographer.
Look a little closer at the Lomography cabinet and perhaps you will see a new orange box winking at you. This is known as the ‘La Sardina’, aptly named for its sardine-can appearance. The specific name of this odd, orange snakeskin camera is Orinoco Ochre and it comes with a matching orange Fritz the Blitz flash and multiple colour filters to create some truly strange effects. Certainly, this limited edition unit is an attention snatcher and acts as a perfect icebreaker for those impromptu street portraits.
There are two shutterspeed settings, N or B – that is 1/100 or Bulb. Using the Bulb setting, the film can be exposed to the chosen subject for an infinite amount of time meaning that this camera, simple as it may be, is great for street photography but also good for photographing the stars or, given its 22mm manual focus lens, even the Milky Way. The inclusion of an MX switch also makes creating multiple exposures impossibly easy. The Orinoco Ochre is well designed, simple to operate and an absolute pleasure to use!
Since orange is the theme, Open Eye Gallery now stock Lomography Redscale XR 50-200 35mm film (which bathes the subject in a deep, warm glow (how autumnal!) due to the negative film being traditionally loaded backwards into the canister. Being ranged between ASA 50-200 and with 36 full frame exposures, this is a significantly versatile film stock. Whilst rated at it’s native 200ASA, the orange and red tones are more prominent but rated more towards 50ASA the hues become less intense and more subtly introduce blue tones into the image. Being developed via C-41, redscale is really easy to process for such a strange effect.
La Sardina Reptilla Orinoco Ochre is available to buy from our shop for £99.99.
Redscale XR 50-200 35mm film x3 pack is also available to buy from our shop for £11.90
