3 Deplorable things

1. The spoiling of the youth through false education

2. The degradation of fine paintings through vulgar admiration

3. The utter waste of lifetimes in unconscious pride and prejudice

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"I-love-you" has no usages. Like a child's word, it enters into no social constraint; it can be a sublime, trivial word, it can be an errotic, pornographic word. It is socially irresponsible world."


- Roland Barthes, Lover's Discourse

Lomography 101

Why lomography


“The intent of LOMOgraphy as a philosophy is to let go of all the burdens of traditional photography, and capture life as it is, as directly as possible. To translate freedom into pictures. To be free, wild, and young. To be spontaneous.”



On a very candid note, I lack ample photographic education since I constantly try to explore things on my own, just like when I educated myself how to play drums. However, with little guidance from a classmate, I eventually learn some of the dos and donts in lomography. And I still have a lot to know about it.


Lomography seems to be in vogue apparently. It emerged as a new way of photography years back. Lomography has one general rule, but a Lomographic society which I spotted in the internet created ten rules for lomo aficionado (see below). Anyhow, lomography’s motto is “don’t think, just shoot.” Point and shoot so to say. (A big) BUT there is no guarantee that your shots will be great; one needs the (necessary) skill to take a good shoot, using this rule.


When I was in high school I wanted to be a photojournalist, but ended up being a news writer in our school paper. So photography is one of my frustrations. Upon entering college, I focused on many things; tried to make it to a dance group in school, joined an organization of musicians’, writers and all. Basically, I forgot about considering photography as a “talent” and a hobby. Later last year, my friend urged me to buy a lomo camera, which I brought in Cebu. So my camera was first exploited in Cebu. My first set of shots is posted here in my blog but the rest is yet to be developed. Don’t have time to go to Hidalgo, the renowned place in Quiapo often visited by camera buffs, the place where I buy and develop films. One time we even met the official photographer of Imelda Marcos there, forgot the name though. And members of lomo manila (a lomo society in Manila which I am a part of) visit there to purchase stuff for their dearly loved cameras. Most of my friends, if not all, yearn to get their hands on a lomo camera (if not a dslr). I included but right now I am contented with my lomo camera, suits me being a novice in the field of photography Fantastic, it is.



The introduction and, now, the revival of lomography as an innovative way of photography created various externalities, in economic and social terms. Lomographic societies were formed both in local and national levels. An entire line of branded analog Lomo cameras was produced. Marketing of the products intensified. It is a profitable business nonetheless. The truth of the matter is that lomography is part of capitalist conspiracy, but I do not intend to discuss it here.



Giving us rules to break

Ten golden rules of lomography

1. Take your camera everywhere you go
2. Use it anytime-day and night
3. Lomography is not interference in your life but part of it (lomography is a powerful sign that u are alive)

4. Try the shot from the hip (choice of perspectives)no limits

5. Approach the object of your lomographic desire as close as possible

6. Don’t think (William firebrace)

7. Be fast

8. You don’t have to know what you captured beforehand in the film (random occurrence)

9. Afterwards either (read between lomographs)

10. Don’t worry about any rules





Funny, the last rule says that you should not worry about any rules. It’s as good as saying that the first 9 rules do not matter, or should not matter at all. Talk about giving rules to break. But that’s the catch. Lomography gives you overflowing freedom, in form, in perspectives, in everything. If it doesn’t require us to think, then it does not require a skill to be able to practice and learn lomography. When one is asked why he/she desires to have a lomo camera, the classic immediate answer would be to say that it’s the ‘in’ thing right now. The ten golden rules of lomography make you believe that lomography is a part of your life- the common concept capitalists feed the consumers with. That it is a necessity rather than a luxury. That is satisfies your well-being rather than your desire. Freedom is such a concept almost devoid in meaning. And the people behind the crafting of this illusion in lomography bank on the people’s desire to be ‘in.’ They bank on the concept of freedom as a way of life, through photography. It creates rules which contradict the freedom it preaches. Or the other way around.



Now why do I enjoy lomography, even if the film and developing expenses demands exhausting your pocket till the last peso? For a person always burdened by rules, lomography is the only leeway that offers freedom one craves to have.

Somewhere in the middle

(The Myth of Neutrality)


After almost a year, I was finally able to attend an educational discussion which is all about contradictions. My gratitude to Leon for inviting me to join them yesterday. Admittedly, my ideological growth was stunted due to lack of EDs and partly I am to be blamed for this. The topic is timely and very appropriate (for me) because apparently I am having contradictions and problems on various matters. And tackling these issues needs a scrupulous understanding on the nature of the contradictions being experienced, which is what I gained knowledge of in the discussion. My blog entry, as you might have guessed, is about the notion of neutrality which, fortunately, was shortly discussed in the ED.



The concept of neutrality was already discredited and debunked for a very long time. Indeed, there is always a neutral ground in everything. But positioning yourself in either of the two extremes or somewhere in the middle ground is, and always a choice. Using a very sparse argument, one can always dispute that neutrality is simply not being biased for or against something and therefore will enable you to see the two sides of a coin. However, you can always consider the pros and cons while still taking sides. Who says that neutrality is evil? It is not. And it was never good either for it has always resulted to further disempowerment and marginalization of the oppressed while strengthening those who are in power. Neutrality favors the elites, the status quo. This phenomenon was best illustrated by the instructor using a seesaw. A seesaw has two extreme ends (diametrically opposed of course) and a middle point. Now put a plump kid on the other end while leaving the other end unoccupied. Try putting a book in the middle of the seesaw and imagine if it moves the bar. What’s the impact? Nothing actually. The bar did not move at all except that it contributed to maintaining the normal balance of the seesaw with the kid. In other words, it contributed to the continuance of the status quo.



I for one think that neutrality is being silent on issues. You tend to view the two sides of an issue and yet your analysis ends there because you remain neutral. Unresolved, perhaps?



At the end of the discussion, I approached the instructor to ask him about certain things that have been bugging me since last year. At one point, I felt like a devil’s advocate when I questioned the validity of a certain theory and argued about the criticisms being thrown at activists. I was relieved eventually when I gained understanding of things. Honestly, I find the discussion yesterday toxic and profound. Somehow it contributed to my ideological maturity.



Note: Again, I’m reminded of the great importance of EDs as ideological investment.