Community Spotlight: Barbora (@barudrevik) and Gustavo (@whoisloi)

Being one of the largest analogue photography communities on the web, we are proud of the creativity and diversity of our members. For this month's Community Spotlight, we are pleased to introduce to you Lomographers Barbora (@barudrevik) and Gustavo (@whoisloi) and their unique way of seeing the world.

Name: Barbora Dřevíkovská
LomoHome: @barudrevik
Location: Prague, Czech Republic

Hi, Barbora! What do you do and what got you started with photography?

On a daily basis, I’m a QA engineer at a software company and in my free time, I’m an amateur analogue photographer. I got into photography somewhat unusually; I started as a photo model because I wanted some nice photos for myself and I didn’t really realize that it would spark my curiosity and I would start shooting film. It all started with me asking my dad if we have any film cameras at home. He dug up an old point-and-shoot (Ricoh R1) and I haven't stopped since. I’ve been shooting film for almost four years now.

How did you discover Lomography and what made you join our analogue Community? Who are your favorite photographers here?

I discovered Lomography through my friends. One of them is Anna Forsterling, whom I admire a lot as a person and friend. I met her in Germany for a photoshoot. I’ve been following her work on Instagram for a while and when I met her, she was one of the nicest and most humble people I have been lucky enough to encounter. I joined your analogue Community thanks to my coworker and friend Liam who showed me his own work through Lomography.

My favorite photographers here are:

@aeslics
@liamwhybrow
@cuonglq
@roblec

What is your favorite subject to photograph? What do you usually look for in a scene before you hit the shutter?

I don’t think I have a favorite subject to photograph. I am very fond of self-portraits. I find that’s it’s my own kind of sanctuary for pouring out my own feelings that I am sometimes unable to get across in my daily life. For me, (analogue) photography is tightly connected to emotions and music. It doesn’t matter if I’m shooting myself, another person or the outside world, I’m looking for a connection all the time, I can’t shoot someone or something when I don’t feel anything. My emotions have to be stirred and if that is achieved, I’m hitting the shutter.

In this day and age, why choose film?

For me photography is art. I’m not interested in the technical aspects or speed. Film makes me think and feel. It makes me wonder why I wanna take this shot or where to go to achieve my dreams. There are certain images running in my mind that I’d like to capture in a picture like I’m painting my own life. I think film makes this very real.

What does a perfect day look like for you?

My perfect day is slow, it’s filled with the smell of coffee in the morning, sun, an amazing breakfast, laughter, and music. I like to go on photo walks when I have time, sit around and soak up atmospheres and the feelings of other people until it gets almost unbearable. In the evenings I like to go out with friends for a glass of red wine or a good beer and have fun. In the end, the perfect day is the one where I experience intense feelings that inspire me to click the shutter.

Name: Gustavo
LomoHome: @whoisloi
Location: Faro, Portugal

Hi, Gustavo! What do you do and what got you started with photography?

I'm currently studying languages at university and on the side, I work in a mall while I get through uni. I always loved photography as a way to show my perspective of the world, but I never owned an actual camera. I started simply to photograph scenes with my cellphone and created a small album of photos entitled "The Art Beyond Words" which I shared through my Instagram. My first actual camera was a Polaroid.

How did you discover Lomography and what made you join our analogue Community? Who are your favorite photographers here?

I discovered Lomography a few years ago through my ex-girlfriend, she wasn't part of the Community but she was familiar with the brand, and knowing how I was fond of vintage photography, she introduced me to the website. It was only a few years later that I would actually buy my first film cameras, my babies Kiev 19M and my Fed 5B which I got in a trip to Ukraine. After developing my first photos, I decided to join the Community and share what I got with anyone who might stumble upon it, I wasn't really thinking that many people would see it and that I would receive so many likes, that was a very happy surprise which made me want to go out and shoot more and more. It was really inspiring.

I've met many, many great photographers here with such unique takes and perspectives of the world and that was simply amazing. To see the photos shared in this Community was a huge inspiration for me. Some of my favorite photographers here, which stun and inspire me with their captures are: @svar , @boxerclaus , @zezia , @gheinz , @klawe , @bullet0529 , @kunishi , @c-fischer , @tugcesaydin , @johnnymao , @rik041. There are so many more which I admire and many more that appear every day and it's just lovely and stunning how this Community welcomes people and is so kind to each other.

What is your favorite subject to photograph? What do you usually look for in a scene before you hit the shutter?

I mostly love and look forward to capturing the decay and loneliness of things. I visit a lot of abandoned places, houses, farms, factories, etc. There is something unique about these places to me, almost like an echo, an atmosphere of quiet despair. Besides that, I always try to find the melancholy of everyday life in a scene - how everything seems so lonely and detached, but so intensely stuck to the world.

In this day and age, why choose film?

Digital photography can create amazing photos, no doubt about that, but to me, they sometimes feel a bit too artificial, a bit lifeless, and they don't give me the chills or emotion as film photography does. Maybe it's a bit for the nostalgic quality which takes me back to my childhood. Besides that, the joy and fun of shooting with film are just unique, the whole manual processes, the uncertainty of it, the wait for the developed film. All these steps are really amazing.

What does a perfect day look like for you?

I would have to say... a cloudy and cold day of autumn walking around the city with some friends, looking for good places to shoot new photographs, have a warm cup of coffee and just wander around town with no special plan or goal in mind. Getting home afterwards, making dinner, watching movies with them. That's a perfect day for me.

Stay tuned for our monthly Community Spotlight to discover the work of some of the most talented Lomographers!

écrit par cheeo le 2020-05-10 dans #news #Gens #community-spotlight #barbora-drevikovska #barudrevik