Fun Times in Singapore: Lomographer Janessa Ong and the Lomo'Instant Square

Singaporean Lomographer Janessa Ong has been living the analogue lifestyle since 2016 when her friend got her a film camera. After signing up for a film developing workshop, Janessa got even more into the art of film photography.

Fast forward to 2019 and she continues to explore all things analogue with the latest addition to her photography arsenal, the Lomo'Instant Square.

As a young Lomographer, Janessa attributes the friendships she has made through the local analogue community as her primary inspiration. The result of this is photos filled with youthful energy and fun activities with good friends.

Janessa notes that the Lomo'Instant Square is becoming one of her favorite cameras to take on daily appointments and that taking photos of singular moments in her life is more enjoyable with it.

"I love taking the Lomo’Instant Square with me everywhere! It’s an amazing camera for portraits because of its unique design. People are often curious about its look and it becomes a natural talking point when meeting new people. The people that I shoot also appear more relaxed in the photos because it is considered a “fun camera”. I also use it to document my daily life."

Janessa also shares with us some tips and word of caution when using the Lomo'Instant Square.

"The first thing to grapple with when using this camera is overcoming parallax error. You can expect to do some trial and error at the start before becoming fully comfortable with using it. Once mastered, it’s a very easy camera to use. The second thing to take note of is the distance between camera and subject. Similar to earlier, once you shoot enough to work out the kinks of the camera, you’ll be fine! Lastly, I would recommend using the add-ons such as the portrait lens, splitzer, and color gel flash filters to get creative with!"

When recounting her whole Lomography journey so far, Janessa can't stress enough how much friends she has made through analogue photography.

>" Through Lomography, I have made great friends. I think one of my favorite memories (besides the many fun photowalks), was the opportunity to showcase my work in an exhibition. As someone who is new to photography, it was an eye-opening opportunity. I love the community's strong sense of camaraderie and willingness to share their experience."

On a more personal note, Janessa states that "film photography has filled my emptiness and loneliness in life." Sharing some wisdom, she further notes:

"I think it is important to stay genuine when shooting and this will show through your photos. There is no one out there who will share the same exact aesthetic or viewpoint that you have. Thus, you should believe in your own originality and body of work. Just keep shooting if it makes you happy. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. Reach out to other Lomographers and collaborate to grow. At the end of the day, shoot what you enjoy and enjoy when you shoot!"

For more of Janessa's work, visit her LomoHome @onceuponasong and Instagram.

written by crissyrobles on 2019-01-28