Community Spotlight: Henry Ipema (@hankips2) and Martynas Katauskas (@duffman)

Being one of the largest analogue photography communities on the web, we are proud of the creativity and diversity of our members. For this month's Community Spotlight, we are pleased to introduce to you Lomographers Henry Ipema (@hankips2) and Martynas Katauskas (@duffman) and their unique way of seeing the world.

Name: Henry Ipema
LomoHome: @hankips2
Location: Chicago Suburbs

Hi, Henry! What do you do and what got you started with photography?

I am a diesel mechanic and engineering student. I remember seeing the work done by Drew Rhodes in the 'Purple Wasteland and Turquoise Desert' magazine article and being blown away by the photos made with Lomohrome Purple. It was unlike anything I had seen before and decided to order some Lomochrome Purple film before I even had a camera. A true horse before the cart moment. I found an old Canon FTb with some lenses on eBay and ordered it a few weeks later. I fell in love with how simple and mechanical the camera is and I haven't stopped shooting since.

How did you discover Lomography and what made you join our analogue Community? Who are your favorite photographers here?

I stumbled upon Lomography by chance really. I was procrastinating doing my homework and was searching for all kinds of things online. Once I discovered the analogue community, I was attracted to a certain freedom of expression that wasn't present any other social media sites. I love to search through the community from all around the world and be inspired by everyone's view of the world. For that reason, every Lomographer is my favorite!

What is your favorite subject to photograph? What do you usually look for in a scene before you hit the shutter?

I love to look for patterns and lines that make the story in the frame, especially in nature.

In this day and age, why choose film?

I shoot film because it forces me to be in the moment. I believe this results in better images. Digital cameras are convenient but lack a certain soul, in my opinion. There is just something that happens when the light is directly put onto a roll that digital processing can't capture. It is kind of like the warmth and authenticity of a vinyl record.

What does a perfect day look like for you?

Camping in the mountains or on the beach with my wife and my old Canon FTb.

Name: Martynas Katauskas
LomoHome: @duffman
Location: Hannover, Germany

Hello, Marty and thanks for letting us feature you in the Community Spotlight. How long have you been a Community Member and what makes you stay?

I've joined Lomography right after getting my first analogue camera in 2012. It was a Diana F+. After seven years I'm still here because of the great community filled with many inspiring people. Joining the competitions is always fun as well.

Your LomoHome is filled with wonderful images from different places. What was your favorite destination and what made it memorable for you?

I would like to mention my two favorite destinations. Those are New York and India. I've spent in total over a year in New York and about three months in India. Both places are extremely different but the experiences I made, the people I met and things I saw there are totally incomparable to anything else. Really mind-blowing. To get an approximate idea about what I'm talking about, take a look at my photos. It won't be enough though. You have to experience yourself! I can imagine to leave everything (except my girlfriend) anytime behind and just go live and photograph there.

Let's talk about your work. What catches your attention? How do you choose a subject?

I like to photograph subjects that are funny or extraordinary. Mostly people. My girlfriend is my favorite subject to shoot. She is gorgeous! I usually don't really choose. It's more of a very quick feeling of YES! That's it! And you can already see me running to capture it.

What do you wish to get across with your images? Why choose photography to tell stories?

'Till lately, I used special films and cameras or shooting techniques to create something unique and just to enjoy myself. I still am! But since I've begun studying photojournalism and documentary photography, I'm starting to work more on projects and telling stories. I don't like writing and a picture can tell more than a thousand words anyway.

Lastly, how do you see the film community/industry in the next ten years? What's your forecast for it?

I would never have thought that so many films would get discontinued. On the other hand in the last two years, a lot of new films came to the market. So it's hard to predict. Lomography is doing a great job, I think. Keep film alive!

Stay tuned for our monthly Community Spotlight to discover the work of some of the most talented Lomographers!

written by cheeo on 2019-06-23 #people #duffman #community-spotlight #hankips2