Twenty-two days and fourteen rolls after, I’m still high on Lomo.

As with all passions, I came into it head-on, devouring everything I could read about it, joining it’s premiere local community - lomomanila, savoring the pictures graciously shared online and learning as much as possible from the pioneers (thanks Jill).

The attraction for Lomo stemmed perhaps from how lomographs looked - super saturated, vignetted, off-kilter colors and blurs. The exact characteristics of the videos that we make. The coincidence was uncanny yet not surprising.

But reading more about lomography, you learn that it’s not all “style”. It’s not even strictly the cameras.

You realize it’s more of a lifestyle, an attitude. To shoot without boundaries, without being constrained with the traditional rules of photography (though no question, lomography IS photography), to be spontaneous in shooting, to not think at all.

BS? Maybe. Fun. No doubt.

Here’s a wedding entirely shot with a Lomo Kompakt Automat+. Chris and Cho.

The point being there is no point. Why? Because I wanted to and I could.

Further reading:
lomomanila (the shiznit Pinoy Lomo Forum)
lomography (official site)
a dissident’s point of view

resellers:
ro
jennie
dek

1. Write your own vows. No please don’t see this as another “task” to add to your never ending list of things to do. I always say - If not on your wedding day, when?

2. Secure all necessary permits where the photographers and videographers will shoot. Be it the choir loft of Manila Cathedral or San Agustin, or the formals shoot around Intramuros.

3. Clear out everybody behind the Bride when she enters the church, no coordinators, couturiers, security guards, chaffeurs, kids etc.

4. Walk slowly. Very slowly down the aisle.

5. Ask the music ensemble at the church NOT to play anything during the vows and rings exchange. Not only will this make the rites more solemn but it will also lend us greater flexibility in editing the footage (ie. no violin music annoyingly mixing with your choice of bg music later on). I honestly believe that this is an offshoot of Pinoy’s love for melodramas, where every dramatic moment is punctuated with on cue dramatic instrumenatal (ie. Lovingly Yours, Mara Clara).

Make them cry because of the moment, not becasue Love Affair is playing in the background.

6. Allow us to lightthe reception venue. A compromise can always be arrived to preserve the ambience and to adequately see whoever’s on stage.

7. Have a first/last dance. It looks great on pictures and video. Don’t be too conscious if you’re not much of a dancer, just concentrate on your spouse and nothing else.

8. If you have a presentation during your reception, please RENT an lcd projector from a professional. It really doesn’t cost that much more. And you are saved from the hassle of setting up the equipment, figuring which cable end goes where, getting disappointed because the resolution and projection quality is poor. Rent, rent rent! Don’t borrow from the office nor bring your personal one. You never know when those expensive bulbs will blow out.

Have more tips? Add more by leaving a comment.

Pardon the lack of a better term, but this is exactly how I approached the shooting and editing of this Onsite Video.

(image courtesy of DinoLara)

Music by the Goo Goo Dolls from the Transformers soundtrack.

It’s almost illegal to have this much fun on your Birthday (on a Friday the thirteenth no less).

Here’s the Onsite Video.

photo by Erron Ocampo for ImagineNation

This is the stuff movies are made of.

Monique Lhuillier gown…
dramatic rainpour before the ceremony
truly truly romantic love story (will post the video later)
gorgeous lead characters
AND … a beautiful soundtrack to accompany the movie (JP wrote and sang the song - I Love You too Much, used in the SDE)

(photo courtesy of Mangored)

Here’s the Onsite Video.

Download and watch Jack (the girl - short for Jacqueline) and Steph’s (the guy - short for Stephan) Onsite Video.

Jacqueline Sy and Stephen Alba
Christ the King
Rockwell Tent

Thanks to the wonderfully helpful people at lomomanila, I was good to go in no time snapping lomo-style.

A view of Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club…

A surprisingly docile Jakob in Makati Med…

Candle offerings in the Parish church of Sto. Tomas, Batangas…

More about this fascinating way of taking pictures later.

They didn’t let me wear a thong. That’s something to be thankful for.

But pick up the July 2007 issue and get ready for a pleasant surprise.

It’s easy to read - more pictures than words.

Read the rest of this entry »