Gabby surprised me with the Lomography Lomomod No1 for my birthday a few days ago. This camera takes two of my favorite hobbies and blends them perfectly. I love making photographs and I really enjoy building scale models. The best of both worlds in one Sustainable package.
To be fair, this isn't my first DIY camera. I've made a few pinhole cameras and I also own the Lomography Konstruktor, which is a 35mm plastic camera that you also build yourself.
The camera build is straight forward and can be built in a hour or two, depending on your building skills. The camera is made of laser cut double sided cardboard. It feels strong once it's built but I can't help baby it as I hold it, for fear of damaging it. Most likely that fear will fade with a few outings.
So far, I have only shot one roll of film but, I made my fair share of mistake with that first roll. There are some technical aspects of shooting this camera that need to be kept in mind. The aperture is inserted into the lens and must be firmly pressed into its slot, I failed to to so on a few shots. There is a bulb and Normal tab that needs to be in the right position before shooting, and the winder doesn't wind very well. With all that, this is still a great and fun camera. Lomography cameras are not about seeking the perfect image or perfect exposure. They are about fun, freedom, and exploration. Don't get me wrong, a basic understanding of the fundamentals of photography are useful but they are definitely not a requirement.
Below are my favorite photographs from the first roll through my Lomomod No1. Some of them are clearly mistakes but that's how it goes when you shoot from the hip.
-Victor
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