Strong, crazy, fantastic, unique, original, exciting and sexy! These are words commonly used to describe pictures taken by Lomoers. Currently catching the eye of many a fashionable person, LOMO and the spirit it embodies, have started to lighten the dull life of metropolitan white collars. But what is LOMO and how to become a lomoer? Read on to find the answers.

The history of LOMO
LOMO is the acronym of the Russian Leningrad Optical Mechanical Society. In 1982 LOMO headquarters in St. Petersburg received an order from the state defense ministry to develop a special camera for information agencies that could be used anywhere, anytime and was easy to carry. Modeled after Japanese mini cameras, LOMO designers created the LOMO LC-A, which was actually refused by information agencies who stated it wasn't what they had asked for. In order to get rid of its stock, these LOMO cameras were sold to ordinary families and made their way into Vietnam, Cuba and East Germany.

LOMO came into the spotlight again in 1992 when two Austrian students found one in Prague. They took it back to Vienna and it quickly became popular among underground artistic circles. Continuously rising demand caused these two Austrian students go to St. Petersburg to ask the already-closed factory to start making LOMO cameras again. But what on earth is so magical about LOMO cameras?

The LOMO camera has a 32mm wide lens and works fast. It is extremely sensitive to red, blue and yellow light. Pictures taken with LOMO cameras typically have amazingly bright colors. However, the major attraction of LOMO cameras lies in their rapid snapshot function.

How to be a Lomoer
To become a lomoer, no photographic knowledge is needed but some background information about LOMO may help.

When using LOMO cameras, focus and aperture settings aren't really that important. The main thing is to shoot as many pictures as possible. LOMO pictures are often displayed in groups around a central theme.

Lomo equipment
Four types of lomo cameras available on the mainland
Lomoers on the Chinese mainland have access to only four types of cameras: the Colorsplash, Sampler, Fisheye and Frogeye.

Priced at RMB 730, Colorsplash cameras are equipped with four-color lenses that allow the photographer to change the color of the photos. Samplers (a Super Sampler is priced at RMB 499) have four wide-angle lenses capable of capturing four consecutive actions. The Fisheye camera (RMB 500) can compact everything included in the view into its unique fisheye shape. The Frogeye (RMB 730) can be used up to four meters under water.

LC-A
Nicknamed the Little A, LC-A cameras are the earliest cameras used by Lomoers. They used to be priced at RMB 300, but nowadays the prices of ordinary LC-A cameras have gone up as high as RMB 1,800 on some auction websites. The better ones can cost as much as RMB 2,400.

Holga and Mikona half-cameras
The first 120-film camera, the Holga, is characterized by its unpredictable excessive exposures. Accessories like the Holga 120 to 135 can transform most Holga 120 cameras into 135 cameras.

Common 135 film cameras can shoot 36 pictures on a single roll of film, yet with the Mikona half camera photographers can double the pictures shot from a single roll of film.

Where to get Lomo equipment
Beijing
EMO Life Concept Store
Location: opposite the south gate of the Great Wall Hotel, Liangmaqiao, Dongsanhuan, Chaoyang
Tel: 010-6508 2402

Shanghai
Loomoo
Location: No.201, Nanchanglu, by Shaanxi Nanlu
Tel: 021-6473 2562

Developing tips for Lomoers
Lomoers developing film themselves
Use the E2C method: develop using liquid negative film to develop color-reversal film. This will bring out the contrast of your photos and highlight the green tones. If you want to experiment with unpredictable effects, try using expired film.

If you're getting your photos developed in a photo shop
Make it clear that you want every frame developed, otherwise you may lose some truly excellent pictures.