LomoGuru of the Week: Bloomchen

After almost a decade of hibernation off the analogue universe, Bloomchen recently picked up his Lomo LC-A again which eventually led him back to the happiest place there is – Lomography! As he is relatively “new” again within the Community, we had a little chat with him and was really nice to update us of what’s been happening on his life both online an offline!

Name: Torsten Dittkuhn
LomoHome: http://www.lomography.com/homes/bloomchen
Location: Berlin, Germany
Number of years as a Lomographer: 15 years with a 7 year break between 2004 and 2011.
Number of years in the Community: Ahm, we´re still talking of months: 7!

Share to us your most memorable experience in the Lomographic Community.

Well, there are many even though I´m not that long in the Community. In a broader sense it is a great experience each time I get to see a really astonishing picture by someone in the Community. One of those you wish to take yourself someday – true inspiring shots and there are just many! Each week users try new stuff and come along with something more brilliant. And the good thing about the Lomo Community is its openmindedness and the fact that almost everyone is willing to help you when you ask something about techniques, films or cameras. So Lomography people share and I really like that.

Just a few days ago I had another true memorable moment. About a month ago I started a project in which I buy/lend and then test 30 different cameras in 30 weeks. After I uploaded the first album I got some nice feedback and a user from Belarus (@1122) asked me if I would be interested in getting a Smena Symbol for this project. She would send me the camera if I send her two rolls of film back. And I was like "Hell yes!“ And in less than a week later the packet arrived at my home and I was really astonished about the kindness and trust. Thanks again!

Have you actually met people in the Community that you now consider as close friends? If yes, name at least one of them.

Actually no, I haven´t met anyone in the Community yet. But this will happen pretty soon I hope. For the 30 weeks project I hope to meet @laurasulilly who´ll hopefully lend me a camera and I hope I´ll find time to go on a walk with @sushi_9009 and others. Besides that there are many I´d really like to meet for a Lomo-Walk or have a couple of drinks and talk. For example @ohpleasedontgo – we write messages now and then and she´s a really nice and helpful person. Or @grazie and @atria007 who are really inspiring. And all those others with photographs I really adore look up to and who are although very inspiring. I know I´ll forget some but to name a few who come to my mind immediately: @furn7973, @itisanormalname, @lereile, @jeansman, @oliviermenard, @suizidekid, @warning, @mczoum, @sebastianerras, @moodification, @mikahsupageek, @volker-jp, @lighthouseblues, @weidong, @vicuna, @troch, @clownshoes, @werriston, @tequ, @clickiemcpete, @stouf, @artichect, @blueskyandhardrock… I like their Lomohomes. So if you ever come to Berlin I hope you know what you have to do. I would be pleased.

Do you think you’ll still be taking Lomographs in the next 5 years? Why?

That´s simple to answer: YES! – Well, if we don´t run out of slide films. But I´m convinced I will. I already had a seven year break due to my sports which was very time eating but that gave me the opportunity to take part in two World Championships and that was an experience that was really worth it.. Right now I already have a family and therefore less time for practicing and so without noticing or really forcing it Lomography came back to me. The decisive factor was when my girlfriend who gave me a La Sardina as a gift for last year’s anniversary and that´s when I started to shoot and shoot and shoot again.

And here we are with rule #3: Lomography is as it was before the break again a part of my life not an interference and I have a camera with me everywhere I go.

What is your favorite Lomo camera and why? Do you have any memorable experiences while using this camera?

That changes from time to time. Currently it´s the Holga I bought some weeks ago. But I don´t have it that long to share great memorable experiences with you apart from shots I took I really like as for example “The man with the pipe”. So I´d say it´s my first Lomo camera: the LC-A. She´s a true friend of mine since 1997. We share many many memories and particularly a very aweful shot my girlfriend took of me in our holidays on Corsica quite some years ago. But we both just have a laugh each time we see it. Don´t be sad if I don´t share this shot with you but there is a reason: I´m a bit vain and the shot is straight ugly. It was taken at times I didn’t do sports for a long time and was only eating and drinking without moving. Back then I didn´t even notice I got chubby cheeks and my girlfriend didn´t tell me. Today the shot puts a smile on our face so it keeps a treasure and that´s why I like it.

Is there any advice you can give to new analogue shooters?

Well, to all people who find their way to analogue photography nowadays I can say: “Congrats, you´re not wrong!”. My advice would be to think over what it means to hold a print in your hands. This is important to me because it´s my story of analogue photography. When I bought my LC-A back then I just wanted to document my life in pictures because there weren´t any pictures of me being a teenager. So I shot anything nonsensically. Today after my break my approach is different: I´m trying to not just take a picture of something but instead want something to be noticed on the picture. Quite often that doesn’t work but it´s a great feeling when it does. So don´t be too sad and don´t hesitate to go out and shoot after getting a roll back from the lab without a single good shot. It doesn´t really matter because if there would be an awesome shot you’d still think your best shot will probably be on the next roll. So in each case you think you can do better and that´ll keep you going. Lomo on!

They are the ones whose passion transcends not only by what they do and say, but also with what they see and capture with their film cameras. And with such attributes aforementioned, they are what we call LomoGurus! Every week, we get to ask questions and reveal some insights with the most talented and productive of all Lomographers from the community!

written by fookshit on 2012-05-13 #lifestyle #interview #community #feature #q-a #lomoguru