Lomo Buffalo, NY

June 13, 2022  •  Leave a Comment

Smena 8M, a simple plastic Lomo cameraSmena 8MA simple plastic Lomo camera This day's photography was all about experimenting and seeing what I could come back with from familiar places using not so familiar tools. In my hand, I had a very simple plastic camera, the Smena 8M, which was actually the camera I started my photographic endeavors with back in the 1980s.

It's a very simple fully manual camera that requires no power as there is not meter or any other electronics. Both shutter speed and f-stop are set on the lens. The shutter is cocked with a dedicated lever also on the lens and is thus separated from film advance. While that may take some getting used to it's not really a problem. And if you forget and click the shutter release button? No problem, cock it and fire away again. It's also very simple to do multiple exposures if one so desires. Focus is accomplished by zone focusing. The real bonus? Given the simplicity the camera can deliver some surprisingly good quality and sharp photographs.

To complete the Lomo experience I loaded the camera with a Lomography Metropolis color negative film, which delivers photographs featuring a different color palette and pronounced grain. Colors are mostly muted and somewhat shifted towards the greens. I used that film before and was not much of a fan for natural landscapes but enjoyed the results from urban settings.

BUFFALO, a scene from Canalside, Buffalo, New York.BUFFALOA scene from Canalside, Buffalo, New York.

BUFFALO, a scene from Canalside, Buffalo, New York.
Photographed with a Smena 8M 35mm camera on Lomography Metropolis color negative film

For the first photograph I struggled a bit as the space in front of the building is limited and the camera has a fixed 40mm lens. At first, I was reluctant to raise the camera up as I am not a fan of converging vertical lines in architecture but I eventually had to accept reality. Plus, it was a lo-fi kind of a day so why not? In the end, I am now very glad I did. I like both the version above as well as the Cyanotype print I made with it.

Next up was a walk over to the Naval Park to see how the ships would look with this lomo combo. In the end, I opted for an obvious angle I had photographed before. I think the colors of the film go well with the steel hulls.

USS Croaker and Company, Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park.USS Croaker and CompanyBuffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park

USS Croaker and Company, Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park
Photographed with a Smena 8M 35mm camera on Lomography Metropolis color negative film

And finally, away from the Canalside and waterfront, the next photo is on Buffalo's Main Street with its signature Buffalo Metro Rail.

Train on Main, The NFTA Metro Rail train on Buffalo's Main StreetTrain on MainThe NFTA Metro Rail train on Buffalo's Main Street

Train on Main, The NFTA Metro Rail train on Buffalo's Main Street
Photographed with a Smena 8M 35mm camera on Lomography Metropolis color negative film

Overall, this photographic outing revealed that this extremely simple plastic camera is perfectly capable and I will certainly be using it again. And I still like the Lomography Metropolis film for urban settings. I guess they picket the name (Metropolis) well.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Instagram @danielnovakphoto - Facebook @danielnovakphoto - flickr @masinka

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more travel photography, my Travel Photography gallery offers an interesting mix of places all around. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Vintage USS Little Rock, Military & Naval Park, Buffalo, NYVintage USS Little RockBuffalo, NY Vintage Erie Canal Harbor Train Stop à la 70s, Buffalo, New York (NY)Erie Canal Harbor à la 70sBuffalo, NY Vintage USS Croaker and Little Rock. Military & Naval Park, Buffalo, NYVintage USS CroakerBuffalo, NY Sunny Spring Morning at Buffalo History Museum, Buffalo, NYSpring Morning at the MuseumBuffalo, NY Morning Reflection, Buffalo History Museum and Japanese Garden, Buffalo, NYMorning ReflectionBuffalo, NY


Comments

No comments posted.
Loading...

Visit one of my photo galleries to purchase prints and other photo products. Thank you for visiting!
Subscribe
RSS
Archive
January (5) February (1) March (2) April (3) May (3) June (2) July (3) August (3) September October November December