World In Lo-Motion
It may be a bit of a stretch nowadays to recall a world when digital cameras didn’t exist; but it actually wasn’t that long ago. One would use film (remember the concept? Hahaha), and when one would bring the film to the processing shop, there would be a fair amount of trepidation involved. This would be on account of the fact that one was never sure how many photos would come out, and how many would actually be well taken. Whether we liked it or not, there was surprise, spontaneity and a fair amount of unpredictability. To a certain extent, all of this is something some people in the world of photography still hanker for –– and thus, we have the strong community of “lomographers.” Just as there’s a Lo-Fi movement in music (as opposed to Hi-Fidelity), lomographers eschew high technology and embrace the “fortunate” accidents and unpredictable nature of shooting with film.
Oh Shoot! at Murphy Center Building, 187 Boni Serrano, is the brainchild of its proprietor Jill Lejano, a lomography advocate. She started the business as a hobby, and to this day, retains that spirit –– the shop is open only from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. But thanks to her enthusiasm, it’s become a virtual haven for those interested in “accident-prone” photography. As she exclaims, “It’s really about creating a community. It’s old technology repackaged to be fresh, daring and inventive, with that element of surprise being it’s most attractive aspect.” Whether of Russian design, made in China or Japan, the cameras that are on display offer a wide variety and choices for the budding lomographer –– the start-up Holgas, the LC-A+ from Russia, the Blackbird from Japan, the Diana and Colorsplash (with an assortment of colored filters for the flash) –– they’re all available at Oh Shoot! with Jill ready to give instructions. In fact, the one difference with Oh Shoot! is that Jill also carries Superheadz –– the toy cameras that some Lomo purists look down on; but which she counters as being “fun, and so why not?” Besides the colorful Blackbird, these include functioning “spy” cameras that look like books, keychains and the likes.
And wouldn’t you know it, several personages from the Entertainment and Music world are lomo converts –– finding the grainy, color-saturated photos attractive and different. Tuesday Vargas, Francine Prieto, Jericho Rosales, Jolina Magdangal, Lougee of de Lara, and Gab of Parokya –– these are just some of the personalities who Jill would reveal have lomo cameras. They either add to their camera collections, or see the lomo photos as a fresh option to just sticking to digital photography. Jill does accept that to some lomography may just be a fad, but there are those who have made it persist as a movement, a reaction to the exacting nature of digital technology –– thus, keeping photography fun. As the motto goes, “Don’t Think, Just Shoot!”
The numbers game
These three novels comprise a little “numbers game” for me; as two of them have numbers in their titles, and the Spellmans novel is the third in the series of our favorite dysfunctional female private detective, Izzy Spellman. There’s sly humor in each of these novels, and they make for great. light summer reads.
2 Little Boys –– Duncan Sarkies (available at National Bookstore) Nige and Deano are your typical New Zealand slackers, and they’re involved with an accident-filled unintentional murder caper, that turns into part farce, part comedy and part mock tragedy. Welcome to the insane world of Kiwi writer Duncan Sarkies. The story starts when Nige, in an attempt to save petrol, coasts downhill in his car, running into a backpacker in the wee hours of the morning. Rather than turn to his current room-mate Gav, a responsible-type Maori, he inches his way back into his recent past, and goes to Deano, an unbalanced kind of guy, and sets off a procession of mishaps, and a “road trip” that has Disaster written all over it. Think Fargo or the Coen Brothers in New Zealand.
Revenge of the Spellmans –– Lisa Lutz (available at National Bookstore) The third and latest in the series, Revenge of the Spellmans is one enjoyable read. Having read the first two books is not a requirement (although it does help in terms of appreciating how the characters have evolved... or devolved! Starting off with a request to do some surveillance on a friend of bar owner Milo, our favorite dysfunctional private detective/bartender Izzy Spellman, once again proves that with family like hers, one doesn’t need enemies. Younger sister Rae is one of Lisa Lutz’s more inspired creations, and she’s back with a vengeance. If there was an extremely warped Nancy Drew, badly in need of psychiatric help, yet ready to make us laugh-a-minute, she’d be Izzy Spellman.
6 Sick Hipsters –– Rayo Casablanca (available at Fully Booked) If you’re looking for a novel that makes Pulp Fiction look old and tired, pick up this book. The premise is that Williamsburg, Brooklyn is the hip capital of the world, and there’s someone who has decided to kill off the über-hip one after another. Populated by characters with such names as Rad, T, and Cooper, this is a serial murder mystery that’s both grisly and bloody, while being hilarious and ridiculous. Like I said, it’s Pulp Fiction turned into a Keystone comedy –– with emphasis on the stone-d. When the explanations begin to rise –– that big business is exploiting non-conformity as a form of guerilla marketing –– our eyebrows may hit the ceiling, but getting there is what it’s all about, and it’s one fun ride.
