Meet our LomoGuru: roxyvonschlotterstein

A passion deeply rooted in her childhood, photography serves as a form of meditation and a creative outlet for Germany-based community member roxyvonschlotterstein. Aside from keeping an active LomoHome, she puts forth effort in participating in photography-related projects and activities with her fellow German lomographers. In this interview, she shares more about her memorable experiences in community, thoughts about shooting on film, and a tidbit about her LomoHome name.

Name: Susann
LomoHome: @roxyvonschlotterstein
Location: Berlin, Germany
Number of years as a Lomographer: 3
Number of years in the Community: 3

Tell us about yourself and what you do.

I am Susann from Berlin. I have a boring nine-to-five office job. As I was born in the early 80s, I grew up with analog photography and I have been passionate about it since. I am a passionate traveler and a sucker for books, music, and good beer.

Tell us something about your LomoHome’s name. Why did you decide to have that username? Or if that’s your actual name, what would be a different LomoHome name you’d like to have?

My LomoHome‘s name is a homage to one of my literary childhood heroes named “Rüdiger von Schlotterstein”. He‘s a little vampire and was created by Angela Sommer-Bodenburg. Because I am female I needed another name which is glamorous rock ‘n‘ roll-like and similar to Rüdiger. Et voilà, Roxy von Schlotterstein became my alter ego. And no, I don‘t want to change that name.

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

Besides the first LomoWochenende in Kassel, which took place on June 2014, I think the “disposable camera traveling through Germany” project is my favorite. I started it on March 2014 and it was a pure bliss. It took some time before I managed to wrap up the project, but during those 10 months I enjoyed being in the German Lomography community so much. Everyone who took part in this project was caring and a very dedicated photographer. All participant put effort to finish the project. I never imagined that the project will be this successful and I didn’t expect to get to know those lomographers more.

The results of the project can be seen here (1, 2).

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

The LomoWochenende 2014 was a perfect chance to meet lomographers whom I just have been messaging, swapping film, or admiring photographs before. I met too many lomographers to name them all but I think I can call the following awesome people as my (photography) friends: @nia_ffm, @avola, @stellastellar, @trash-gordon-from-outer-space, @faaabii, @hafenperle, @freakoftheweek, @pearlgirl77, @katinkaja, @blitzlichtmomente, @lienchen.

In addition, I’d like to point out that I am friends with my personal favourite LomoGuru @suizidekid, which always seems surreal since I see him as a talented artist and not just that kid who takes pictures.

I also met @dopa and @esbo once and I am really looking forward to seeing them again this December.

During my project before I got to know a lot of great German lomographers whom I now consider as my photography friends. This sounds weird as I actually haven‘t met them all in real life. Nevertheless, I’m really hoping to meet @candee2104, @stacy_mcpommes, @schugger, @poepel and so many others one day, too.

All in all, whether I have met these people in real life or not, I consider all of them as friends since we are united by our same passion for photography.

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

I love it and it makes me happy, so yes! As long as there will be film and I can afford it, yes! With photography you are able to capture moments that people can keep as tangible records. Photography in general is a kind of meditation for me. It calms me. Over and above, film is challenging and it‘s my outlet for creativity. It never gets boring and I will grow old with it.

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

My favorite Lomo camera is the Lubitel 166+. It is the camera that made me fall in love with medium format photography. I had my best time with it during my travels to Peru and Bolivia last year. I was the only camera I carried with me and I didn’t regret it.

Please share with us your favorite Lomographic shot and explain why you love that particular image.

I love autumn best. This photo perfectly shows how I like to see autumn. Besides it’s one of my very first shots with my Lubitel. It made me fall in love with medium format photography, cross-processed slide film and the Lubitel camera, all at once.

Please share a Lomograph you wish you had taken and explain why.

This photo by @wolfinthewoods perfectly captured a view of transience. It‘s a timeless shot. Looking at it, you can‘t even tell when it was taken, which could be yesterday or even 50 years ago.

I think the black and white film highlights it even more. I am lucky to have a print of it hanging on my wall.

What’s the best Lomographic or photography advice you think you have given?

None, I guess. Or better, I can’t remember giving an advice. I still see myself as a learner with regards to photography in general and I still get helpful advice from others.

If there’s one song or movie that best describes your Lomo life, which one is it and why?

Seriously, I should pick one song? If I have to name one song, it would be I Call It Art by The Kills, a cover of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin’s La Chanson De Slogan.

There‘s a line in the said song that expresses perfectly how I see my Lomo life generally: "Call it hate, call it love, I call it art.“

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

Shoot, shoot, shoot to learn but be picky. When I started shooting with my Diana F+ three years ago, I shot terrible photos. Today, I still shoot terrible photos from time to time. The only thing that changed is that I don’t show them. There’s no need to show photos that you really don’t like or feel comfortable sharing. But terrible photographs are important part of the constant progress. And ask question to other lomographers whenever you can.

2015-11-08 #lifestyle #lomoguru #lomoguru-of-the-week #meet-our-lomoguru