Lomography Newcomers: Dreaming and Wandering on 35 mm film with @nishanaashref

Nishana (@nishanaashref) strongly believes in the importance of self-expression through one’s chosen creative outlet. Having recently honed in on the analogue medium, she describes how in some ways, it has allowed her to stay true and in tune with her inner self; where there has been an impactful shift in the way she approaches her life and artistic pursuits.

“After my graduation in Civil Engineering, I realized I wanted to explore and learn more about the human experience, which led me to the field of liberal arts. Photography has played a big part in this journey. I'm especially curious about ways in which creativity, culture, and critical thought come together to shape the world, and I'm driven by a desire to contribute meaningfully through research and artistic practice.”

She joined the Lomography community in March 2024, seeking an outlet beyond social media to share her beginnings in film photography and document her journey as it grows. And now currently residing in her hometown of Trivandrum, a small city in the southern part of India known for its beautiful beaches—each with its own unique personality—she shares her thoughts with us at Lomography about all things film, local photography communities in India, and more.

“There is a growing community of analogue enthusiasts, and people are ready to help you learn even if you don't have access to labs or whatever. It’s great that a lot more women are learning to shoot on film now.”

Nishana began her journey into film photography in July 2023 after a friend invited her to participate in a 35 mm film photography workshop organized by the Chennai Photo Biennale. Reflecting on her experiences in the workshop, she shared that at the time, she did not own a film camera and had to rent one instead. It was her first time shooting on film, and she described it as a “life-altering” experience. This was “life-altering” in the sense that, prior to the workshop, she had no idea that there was still a community of people dedicated to keeping the analogue discipline alive and eager to shoot on film. This reflects the growing community of analogue enthusiasts, where individuals from various backgrounds and levels of interest are still excited to learn of this medium.

“Young people who are just picking up the analogue camera are meeting the older veterans who never put theirs down. The scene is curious. There is a lot of renewed interest in the field, and the enthusiasm is really inspiring.”

The rising prices of film present a challenging reality for both novice and experienced film photographers. This concern is particularly relevant and still very alive as Nishana adds much emphasis on this: especially being particularly mindful of the impact of location and access to materials on her photography journey.

“India being a lower-middle income country, investing in the medium is not an option for most people, in the current scenario. I’m thankful to those involved in fostering an environment to learn even in this situation. There is still a long way to go.”

However, this setback doesn’t fully inhibit Nishana’s eagerness and curiosity for the analogue medium. She explains how her initial interest in shooting on film stems from her intentional approach to understanding the world around her. She enjoys distilling and analyzing the elements of film photography in and of itself, breaking them down to their bare bones to better understand and appreciate their origins and purposes, with her overall interest in film photography being linked to the timeless nature and specific craftsmanship of these film cameras.

“I guess what hooked me was how much the medium took me closer to the process. The science is much more apparent. I was much more interested in the functioning of the camera as a machine. I was awed at how something so old could have sat somewhere for decades and then still be working perfectly.”

“This picture (above) is special because it's from the first roll I shot. As I was framing this shot I knew that I had something good. I took this behind a church in Chennai while Sunday mass was ongoing. It wasn't planned and happened very fast. It was shot on a Yashica FX-3 on CPB’s ReSpool K400 black and white film. I developed this myself, with some help.”

Another reality is that film has inherent limitations compared to the boundless possibilities offered by digital media and technologies. However, when you peel back the layers and work within these constraints, you can truly flourish creatively. By challenging yourself with these limitations, you may be surprised by the larger-than-life results that emerge. Sometimes, the lack of total control and the uncertainties involved in the process make it all the more exhilarating, as Nishana describes even further.

“Another reason why I took up film photography was that it took away a lot of choices and options that I would have had with the digital – and it was relieving because I guess the need for complete control was making the process less enjoyable. Film in this sense felt like letting go.”

Currently, she describes her film photography practice as being in a more "experimental" phase. She is exploring new techniques and approaches, treating her LomoHome as a photo dairy and a visual form of documentation. All in all, serving as a way to document her journey.

“Photography for me is deeply personal. I am interested in the subjectivities. I see it as an artistic process and practice. I stay with those images that make me feel something for whatever reason.”

On her existing camera collection and continued search for vintage film cameras, Nishana admits that from where she is currently based, there are only a few options available, which is why she likes to stroll around the camera markets in bigger cities since they are usually filled with surprises such as expired film or film stocks she thought were obsolete but could still be given another chance by loading it into a camera and being surprised with the results.

Her local go-to film labs and shops are the Panchrome Project, Zhenwei Film Lab, and Chennai Photo Biennale.

For anyone interested in shooting on film, Nishana’s final piece of advice is to simply explore and photograph whatever resonates with you. Test your limits, and always remember that there is a supportive community of creatives and photographers ready to help you ease into the new analogue world.

“I love the work of so many people in the Lomography community, especially from developing countries. I wish the costs would go down. I would love to do collaboration, and would like to say that if anyone’s interested please feel free to get in touch.”

Before the year ends, Nishana expressed her hope that this would still be the year she ventures into the 120 film format. She aims to explore infrared stocks and LomoChrome film while also engaging in printing processes, starting with cyanotype printing. In terms of gear and equipment, she is interested in more action-centric and action-friendly Lomography cameras, such as the LomoApparat, the ActionSampler, the Simple Use Camera, and the Fisheye No.2

We welcome @nishanaashref to the Lomography community and we’re so excited to see where her film journey takes her!

Thank you to @nishanaashref for speaking with us and sharing her film journey with us! See more of Nishana's photos over at her LomoHome.

Looking to join a global community of creatives and artists who all share a love for film? Join Lomography and create your own LomoHome here.

written by macasaett on 2024-12-27 #gear #people #places #color-negative #black-and-white-film #35-mm #lomography-newcomers