Sunday 20 November 2011

Occupy Leeds

I have spent the last few evenings (well late into the night really as I was there til 4am today!) at the Occupy Leeds camp in the city centre. I think before I went down there, I, like a lot of other people in the UK had the opinion that the umbrella movement which has now come to be known as "Occupy" was a bit of a waste of time. After all, the people who are giving up all there time to be on such sites permanently are unemployed, so who would really "miss" them and therefore pay attention to the prostest/demo? I realise now, having spent a significant amount of time down there in City Square chatting to the people and learning more about the worldwide movement that there is a great cause to be found there. They are representing the 99%, with which I myself identify. Whether or not you feel that setting up camps in towns and cities across the UK is the best way to have your voice heard (the jury is still out on this for me), you have to agree that is A WAY. It is a peaceful, friendly, non-violent and all-inclusive way for the people who are dissatisfied in the UK to get their point across. And not just across to those in positions of power, but to everyone.




these are some shots from Dave's LC-A+ as I haven't scanned mine yet

The thing I have been most impressed with since visiting the site, and the reason I have now decided to continue to offer my support and appreciation to those who are organising this mass demonstration. I have met lots of people in the time I have been going down to the site, these range from the most liberal and political thinking socialist types through to fairly conservative right wing fanatics, and I have really enjoyed hearing what everyone has to say, even if I don't always agree with them totally. Some people are protesting about the greed of the banks, the number of unemployed young people in Britain today, the amount spent on warfare compared to the NHS, the privatisation of our public services and a whole range of other things. The conversations have been super interesting and I have certainly learnt a lot just by being there. I would recommend you go and visit the camp, or a similar one if there is one in your area, I can guarantee that the cups of tea and great chats will be going on constantly 24/7!
Billy Bragg even made a guest appearance Friday

Thursday 3 November 2011

New lomo product = obligatory blog post










OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
The Lomographic Society Proudly Presents


The LomoKino - Super 35 Movie Maker


Lomography in Motion: Take the next step in Lomography with the first camera that makes your Lomographs move on any kind of 35mm film
Unique Art: Become the director of your very own LomoMovies and produce unique and precious pieces of movie art by simply winding a crank
True Gadget: Irresistible design and unlimited creative possibilities will make gadget loversí hearts pound faster
LomoMovies Online: Upload, watch and share your very own LomoMovies on www.lomography.com


Lomography in Motion
How great it must have been to witness the first pictures as they started to move or to see the Lumiere brothers amazing the crowds with their very first short films. After over 200 years of movie making, million-dollar-special-effects, big scale film studios and endless Hollywood dramas, we give you the chance to return back to the roots of movie making and witness the very first steps of moving Lomography. The LomoKino allows you to become a director yourself and capture Lomographic movies on 35 mm film of any kind: no sound, no special effects, no post production ñ just simple Lomography in motion. 


Unique Art
To become a true LomoMovie director, just simply wind the crank of the magic box to capture 144 shots on one roll of 35 mm film - which makes 36 to 48 seconds of LomoMovie. You can use any kind of 35 mm film for different effects: Slide film, colour negative, redscale or B/W. After developing the film, spool it into the specially developed LomoKinoScope and watch your Lomographs moving over and over again. What sounds very simple produces a unique piece of art which can either stay in your hands only or can be given as a special present to somebody who really deserves it. Show your sweetheart how fast your heart is really pounding or capture a flying birthday cake for your grandma who will feel catapulted back in time. 


True Gadget
A wise man once said ìform follows functionî ñ naaaah ñ we like to say ìform follows motionî and thatís why we designed this camera to become a true gadget. Its irresistible design takes you straight back into the time when people left the audience screaming because a locomotive was speeding towards them on a movie screen and the movies were still a true business without special effects. It comes in a package either alone or with the LomoKinoScope, one film canister and a marvelous book. Its creative possibilities are so diverse that not even we can tell the limits. Itís up to you, gadget lovers, to take this baby in your hands and explore what movies used to be like the Lomographic way!


LomoMovies Online
Unlike the very first filmmakers we can call a powerful tool our own: the internet! Linking the simple technology of the LomoKino with our website, enables you to upload, watch and share your own LomoMovies. To give you a taste of the special LomoKino aesthetics and the sheer endless creative possibilities, we asked filmmakers from around the globe to create their own LomoMovies. Visit our website to get some inspiration and start shooting your first LomoMovie!


www.lomography.com




Technical Details
Film type: all kind of 135 roll film 
Lens: 25mm
Exposure area: 24mm x 8.5mm: 144 images/film
Continuous Aperture: f/5.6 - f/11
Shutter: 1/100
Hand cranked: approx. 3-4 fps, 36-48 sec. movie per roll
Film counting: volume display
Focusing: (normal) 1m~infinity,(press button for) 0.6m close up
Tripod mount: yes
Retail price: tba


WHAT THE HELL IS LOMOGRAPHY?  
http://www.lomography.com/about


The Lomographic Society International is a globally active organization dedicated to experimental and creative snapshot photography. Boasting over a half-million members across the world, the concept of Lomography encompasses an interactive, vivid, blurred and crazy way of life. 
Through our constantly expanding selection of innovative cameras & photographic accessories, we promote analog photography as a creative approach to communicate, absorb, and capture the world. 
Through the efforts and skill of our Lomographic Society members, we seek to document the incredible planet around us in a never-ending stream of snapshots ñ literally a global ìLomographicî portrait as seen through the eyes of countless individuals and cultures. 


The Future is Analogue!