thumb|right|The original [[Lomo LC-A, which inspired the movement]]
Lomography, or simply lomo, is a photographic style which involves taking spontaneous photographs with minimal attention to technical details. Lomographic images often exploit the unpredictable, non-standard optical traits of toy cameras (such as light leaks and irregular lens alignment), and non-standard film processing techniques for aesthetic effect. Similar-looking techniques with digital photography, often involving "lomo" image filters in post-processing, may also be considered lomographic.
"Lomography" is claimed as a commercial trademark by Lomographische GmbH. However, it has become a genericised trademark; most camera phone photo editor apps include a "lomo" filter. The LOMO LC-A produces "unique, colorful, and sometimes blurry" images.
Lomography has been a highly social pursuit since 1992, with local and international events organised by Lomographische GmbH. Lomographische, doing business as Lomography, is also a commercial company selling analogue cameras, films and accessories. It hosts local and international events through its non-profit division, the Lomographic Society International. The company is the namesake of the lomography genre of experimental photography.
The Lomographic Society International was founded in 1992 by a group of Viennese students interested in the LC-A. Lomography started as an art movement through which the students put on exhibitions of photos; the art movement then developed into the Lomographische AG, a commercial enterprise. The new company reached an agreement with the deputy mayor of St Petersburg, the future Russian Prime Minister and President, Vladimir Putin, to receive a tax break in order to keep the LOMO factory in the city open. This changed as of mid-2007 with the lens now made in China as well. In 2012 the LC-A+ camera was re-released as a special edition. It costs ten times the original secondhand value of the old LOMO LC-A. and several lenses such as the Daguerreotype Achromat lens collection for analogue and digital SLR cameras with Canon EF, Nikon F or Pentax K mounts, inspired by 19th century Daguerreotype photography. In 2013, together with Zenit, Lomography produced a new version of the Petzval Lens designed to work with Canon EF and Nikon F mount SLR cameras.
Some have questioned the pricing of Lomography's plastic "toy" cameras, which run from US$100
- Lomo LC-Wide
- Diana F+ – a new 110 format camera with a glass lens
Film
The company produces 35 mm, 120 and 110 film in color negative, black and white as well as redscale. Lomography also produces its own range of experimental color-shifting film called LomoChrome.
Photo gallery
<gallery>
File:Fisheye2 0709.jpg|A Fisheye 2 with a fisheye viewfinder
File:2023 Aparat Łomo ŁK-A (3).jpg|A 1988 LOMO LC-A camera
File:Wakayama-jo-Lomo.jpg|Fisheye-lens photo of Wakayama Castle
File:Lomography Supersampler (5237253103).jpg|Lomography Supersampler
File:2023 Lomography ActionSampler (1).jpg|Lomography Action Sampler
File:Lomography Oktomat photo.jpg|Photo taken with a Lomography Oktomat with 8 sequentially-firing shutters
File:VistaQuest VQ1005 1.3 MegaPixel digital keychain camera.jpg|A VistaQuest VQ1005 1.3 MegaPixel digital keychain camera
</gallery>
See also
- Lo-fi photography