Evan Purney's First Impressions of the LomoApparat

Analogue photographer and creator Evan Purney is no stranger to experimenting with film. After previously testing out the Fisheye No. 2 camera, he's back to tell us all about his first impressions of the new, totally experimental LomoApparat.

Hi Evan! Welcome back to Lomography Magazine. Can you tell us what you've been up to since your last feature?

Thanks for having me again! Since my last feature things have been pretty quiet. I've dialed back my content creation a bit, and am trying to just focus on having fun taking pictures. I'm still trying to find a good balance of sharing regularly but avoiding burnout.

What was your first impression of the LomoApparat?

I really liked the look of the camera, and was immediately excited to try out all of the experimental features.

What was your favorite feature of the camera?

My favorite thing to experiment with were the lens attachments. Trying to plan out compositions with the kaleidoscope lens and Splitzer was a lot of fun, and I got some really interesting results with them!

Any tips or tricks for the camera?

It's a super simple camera with lots of options for experimentation, so I guess my only tip would be to have fun and try to be creative! I tried lots of different stuff, and know I barely even scratched the surface of what can be done with this little camera.

Who would you recommend the LomoApparat to?

I think it's a great camera for anyone new to film photography wants to start experimenting more with their film photos. I also feel it generally creates some very interesting lo-fi aesthetics, so it is definitely worth considering for many more experienced photographers as well.

What does it mean to you, to see new film cameras being released in 2022?

I find the state of film photography in general very exciting. It's clear that many companies are realizing that film is here to stay, and are reinvesting into new film technologies. Lomography is kinda ahead of the curve on this, and I'm really happy to see their continued commitment to film.

Do you have a favorite photo that you took with the camera? Is there a story behind it?

I always have a hard time picking a favourite, but it would probably be this double exposure I took of the MacDonald bridge in Halifax. This was actually my only attempt at this shot and I'm stoked with how it turned out. At first glance it looks like a reflection, but on closer inspection the bridges clearly don't line up.

If you could take the LomoApparat anywhere in the world, where would it be?

This is a tough one. I love shooting street photography with a wide angle lens, plus the Apparat is so small and quiet. I'd have to say a big city, maybe Toronto or New York.

Do you have any hopes for the future of analogue photography?

I am really hoping we see some film cost reductions, but I'm very concerned a lot of folks will be priced out of the medium before that ever happens. With Kodak announcing yet another price increase in 2023, many film photographers (myself included) are beginning to move at least partially to digital photography. There are thankfully some alternatives to Kodak, but if anything halts the growing popularity of the format, it's going to be the rising costs of film.

Anything else that you'd like to share?

Not really! Check out my TikTok, website, and Instagram page if you're interested in seeing more of my photography! And of course thanks again to Lomography for the opportunity to try out this new camera!

If you're interested in keeping up with Evan don't forget to check out his TikTok, website, and Instagram.

written by eloffreno on 2023-02-18 #gear #people #wide-angle #experimental #street-photography