I took pictures of North Korea with a Lomo Purple!
Discovering the Beauty of Korean Parks
We are right next to North Korea, but that was not the main purpose of the hike today even if that was a good occasion to take pictures of this mysterious country! I'm a guest of my friend Romain, who invited me to explore one of Korea's most beautiful parks. This place is perfect for its vividly colorful and unique trees, all beautifully, creating a perfect setting for photography. Today, our mission is to capture these stunning colors with an interesting film.
Trying Out the Lomography Purple Film
As you might have seen from the title, I'm experimenting with the Lomography Purple film, which I've never used before. My girlfriend, Gloria, recently gifted me a 135 roll because she wanted me to try something new. I thought it was a smart idea, especially since we would be seeing purple flowers. So, why not give Lomography Purple a shot?
Lomography Purple acts like a monochrome film, so I need to approach it with a mindset similar to black and white photography, focusing mainly on contrasts. Gloria got me a 35mm roll for my Nikon FE2, and I also bought a 120mm roll for my Hasselblad 503cx, which I plan to use later when the lighting is more favorable.
First, let's see what the 35mm gave me!
The Journey Begins
As we walk through the park, heading towards the end of our hike, I notice that the landscape becomes less interesting. The best scenes were definitely at the beginning of the main area, so we made sure to arrive very early. This allowed us to scout the area and plan our shots for when the sun is lower, optimizing the film usage and capturing the beauty of this place to its fullest.
And just a reminder, North Korea is right across the river. I managed to get some shots on the way back, which could have made for an interesting composition, but it's always a bit of a challenge.
Lens Choices and Macro Photography
I brought along my 60mm lens, which I usually use for scanning my films. I got it in Hong Kong, and I really like it. It feels much better than the 50mm 1.8D from Nikon that I've had for years. Having a macro lens has changed the way I think about photography. It allows me to get much closer to subjects, composing shots in a completely new way. Macro photography immerses you into the scene, making it feel like you're part of the picture.
I've seen some great shots with this lens, like those where the foreground flowers are highlighted by backlighting, creating a nice contrast with the shadows. It's a beautiful effect, and I'm excited to see how it translates into film.
Let's see what the 120 had to offer with the Hasselblad 503cx!
Capturing the Perfect Shot
One particularly stunning scene involved playing with the foreground and background. I divided the shot diagonally with a square frame, with purple-pink flowers on one side and green trees on the other. I aimed to create a contrast between the dark and bright areas. With medium format photography, it's important to remember that you need to halve your aperture for the depth of field. So, while I set up at f8, the final result will feel like an f4 depth of field.
Final Adjustments and Reflections
At one point, I realized I needed to step back a bit to let the composition breathe. Small adjustments, like lowering the tripod, can make a significant difference. It's a reminder that even with high-end equipment, sometimes simpler solutions work best.
The Anticipation of Results
As the sun sets, pollution increases, adding a new challenge. I'm very curious about how these pictures will turn out, especially with the unique Lomography Purple film. This place is so beautiful, and I hope the film will capture its essence.
Conclusion
This adventure has been an exciting experiment with Lomography Purple, and I can't wait to see the results. A big thanks to Romain for showing me around, and I look forward to sharing these photos with you all. If you're interested, be sure to check out Romain's channel for more content. Thank you for watching and see you next time!
Ciao!
