Maria Louceiro Creates Surreal Scenes with the LomoApparat and Lomography Color-Shifting Films

In this interview Portuguese photographer Maria Louceiro shares her first experience with the LomoApparat and our color-shifting LomoChrome Turquoise and Redscale films. Check out her wonderfully experimental and surreal results.

Hi Maria! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Maria Louceiro, I'm from Porto, Portugal and currently based in Berlin. Photography has been my profession for a few years now. As a photographer, I've always been fascinated by conveying moods and feelings with the interplay of light, shadow, and color in the world around us.

Please tell us a bit about your photography background. When did you start taking photos?

My journey into photography began after finishing my engineering degree. I started taking photos at concerts, slowly becoming a music photographer over time and gradually evolving, leading me to explore various facets of photography, among them film and experimental techniques involving both analogue and digital photography.

A lot of your projects are shot on film. When did your journey in the world of analogue photography start?

I ventured into analogue photography since never really wanting to strive for perfection in image-making, but instead getting more substance from using and playing with the mistakes and "imperfections" from film. It resonated with my desire for a hands-on creative process where I was physically intervening in the outcome, experimenting, turning these so called mistakes or accidents into the soul of the images.

Do you remember your first ever film camera?

Yes, I still remember my first film camera, a Holga that proved a magical tool and opened new doors for me. Due to its unpredictable nature, I learned how to create and translate this particular "dreamlike" mood I had in mind.

Many of your works feature experimental film photography. Why this choice in a digital era?

The choice to also use film in a predominantly digital era comes from my love for its unpredictability and the unique texture it brings to images. It allows me to experiment with textures, colors and the unexpected, in a way that digital photography doesn't quite replicate.

These wonderful photos were taken with the LomoApparat camera and our LomoChrome Turquoise and Redscale films. Was it your first time trying them?

The experience with the LomoApparat camera and the LomoChrome Turquoise and Redscale films was wonderful. It was my first time experimenting with this particular camera, and the camera's versatility with it's different filters along the films' color shifting capabilities impressed me the most, allowing me to convey the emotional experiences during a hiking trip, from the incredible cliffs, combinations of colors and textures of the rocks and ocean, to the diverse nature and incredible out-of-this-world secluded beaches that seemed to exist out of someone's dreams.

What are the features of our camera and color shifting films that impressed you the most?

The Turquoise film impressed me with its ability to transform familiar landscapes into surreal scenes. It turned skies and oceans to a nostalgic orange, while the greens and blues of rocks took on an otherworldly hue, creating almost extraterrestrial settings. As for the Redscale film, the warm tones complemented the serene but enigmatic nature of the beaches we hiked through. An unexpected pink hue that emerged in some frames also ended up adding a unique characteristic to the images which I really liked. The camera itself was a delight to use, especially after getting more used to and acquainted with the several filters for creative experimentation. Of these, the splitzer was a personal favorite, along with the most striking feature for me, which was the multiple exposure capability, allowing for layering different elements of the environment into abstract landscapes.

You have worked with many big clients. What are the challenges when trying to bring your own dreamy personal style in commissioned works?

Working with big clients while maintaining my personal style is always challenging. It's a balance of continuing to pursue the unpredictability and mistakes but meeting the client's expectations and quality of the images. Often, clients want the particularities of the aesthetics of my work reproduced in a more digital or clean interpretation, and in this sense, I am always experimenting with new methods to maintain my style in a larger context.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

I draw inspiration from various sources, the strongest being of course nature, and cinema. Nature, with the changing landscapes, colors, and textures, the way light filters through the trees, reflects on the water creating unusual patterns or unexpected shadows are just a few examples. Cinema, on the other hand, influences my work in a different but equally important way. The composition of the shots, lighting, and mood in films contribute to how I frame my shots and use light and color to communicate certain moods. The cinematic approach involves an appreciation for mood and atmosphere, and an understanding of how to convey emotion through visuals.

Can you share with us your process during a typical day of shooting?

My typical shooting day involves several steps of planning. I pay close attention to the details, from selecting the equipment and film, to considering the natural light and composition, set, makeup and clothing, within the purpose of the shoot. Either outdoors or in the studio, I do make a strong point of leaving a lot of space for experimenting and serendipity to happen, approaching each photoshoot with an open mind. After the shoot and selection of images is done, there's usually more room for experimentation.

Do you have any interesting projects or collaborations planned that you would like to share with our community?

There are some experimental projects I'm working on that I will be sharing on my Instagram!

Visit Maria's website to see more of her photography works.

written by melissaperitore on 2023-12-14 #gear #people #experimental #lomography-redscale-xr #lomochrome-turquoise