Softboifilms on Capturing Winter Light with Lomography Color Negative 120 Film

Nat, also known as softboifilms, is a Brooklyn, New York-based analogue photographer with a distinct aesthetic leaning toward warm tones and the beauty of natural light. In honor of our mission to save the future of medium format film, we sent them a roll of Lomography Color Negative 800 120 film to test out. They're here with us today to share their results of the roll as well as to review how the film met their stylistic expectations.

Hi Nat, welcome to Lomography Magazine! Can you please start off by telling us about yourself and work in general?

Thanks for having me! I'm Nat, and I'm a photographer living in Brooklyn, New York. My work has grown and changed a lot since I started shooting in 2018. But my original interest in photography, from the day I picked up a camera and shot my first roll, is rooted in the same things: the way light and color come together, the constant study of place, and how life looks from right where you are.

How did you get into shooting medium format film as opposed to 35 mm?

The first time I shot a medium format camera, it was an RB67. I'm pretty small and really value portability with cameras, so it wasn't something I continued working with, but I was blown away by the detail and richness of the negatives.

35 mm is my first love (and to be clear, my usual go-to) but medium format is special. The usual moments I'd see out in the world that I'd want to photograph seem to go a few layers deeper to me when shot on medium format (maybe because there are only 16 shots to a roll on my cameras and I have to consider the outcome more). It's not an everyday practice for me, but it is one that I reach for when I really want to slow down and focus on composition.

What was your first impression when seeing the results from your roll of Lomo 800 film?

I was genuinely really surprised because I loved them! They were shot as the sun was already starting to set in Manhattan, and my friend Kameron and I were following the light as the shadows started to creep in. I wasn't really sure how many of them would come out the way I wanted them to.

How would you compare Lomo 800 to other color negative film stocks that you've shot?

I'm very used to anything I've shot on Lomo indexing towards the cool side of the color spectrum — blue and green tints — whereas I normally go for reds, pinks, and golds. Maybe it was a combination of the winter light, which is very different in New York, and the time of day, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much the color still popped in these and how they still somehow felt pretty warm. I've shot Portra 800 a handful of times on medium format, and I really like that stock, but I'm a lot more interested in trying more Lomo 800 in more scenarios after how I feel about this roll.

Do you have a favorite shot from the roll?

I have two favorites! The first one is an image with steam rolling in over some old brick buildings, caught right in the glow of the setting afternoon sun. It feels so reflective of how I've seen New York for as long as I've lived here. The first day I saw one of those steam vents, I stood around for like 10 minutes just watching it and snapping photos and videos on my phone. I've always felt really romantic about the way steam moves through this city, especially in the winter; I feel the same about fire escapes and windows in the summer.

The second one is a shot with flowers through a red door. I love how soft they look through it. It almost looks like a suggestion of flowers instead of actual ones because of how soft they look. I actually really love to photograph the flower stands in New York, but this was a different kind of perspective for me since I usually just photograph the bulbs up close (a shot like that that's also in this roll, but was a little overexposed for my taste.)

Do you have any tips or tricks for those interested in taking the leap from 35 mm to 120 format?

Don't compare yourself to how anyone else shoots it, on Instagram or elsewhere. Mess around with what feels best for you, and make more of what makes you say "ah, there it is" when you see the scans!

If you could take a roll of Lomography medium format film to shoot anywhere in the world, where would it be and with which film stock?

I'm going to Portugal later this year, and while I'll mostly be taking Gold 200 with me, this has seriously made me think about throwing a few Lomo 800s in there, especially for lower light situations.

What are your hopes for the future of analogue photography?

That it stays beloved and accessible to anyone who wants to give it a try, whether you've been shooting for years or today is the first day you picked up a camera.

Do you have any upcoming projects or shoots that you can share with our community?

This spring and summer, I'll be working on a longer series focused around windows and fire escapes. That's all I feel comfortable saying about it for now, but I have a good gut feeling about how it'll come out!

Anything else you'd like to share?

If you're reading this, this is your sign to get your camera, throw your headphones in, and shoot.

If you're interested in keeping up with Nat and their work, make sure to check out their Instagram page.

written by eloffreno on 2024-03-09 #gear #people #places #medium-format #120-is-forever #saving-120 #a-future-for-120