LomoGuru of the Week: poepel

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Today’s LomoGuru is poepel, a fellow lomographer from Germany with a soft spot for the Sprocket Rocket, Bob Marley and reggae music, and taking snapshots at parties with a little booze flowing through his bloodstream. He gallantly answers a few questions for us and shares some of his favorite photos in this interview.

Credits: poepel

Full Name: Mario Poepel

Lomography Username: *poepel*
Location: Germany
Number of years as a Lomographer: 3
Number of years in the Community: 2 1/2

1) Tell us about yourself. What do you do for a living? What are your main interests?

My name is Mario Poepel and I am 29 years old. Besides my hobby as a photographer, I’m also a fan of reggae and dancehall; I’m collecting caps, reading comic books, playing yahtzee and enjoy drinking rum.

I work as a natural stone mechanic, which means I am kinda like a modern stonemason. I work in the natural stone industry on a CNC machine. Although my work is difficult and physically demanding, it’s a lot of fun. The love I have for my work is comparable with the love I have for photography. Every piece of work that I create is like a photo that I shoot. It becomes an original; its form and uniqueness existing but once in the world.

2) Tell us something about your LomoHome’s name. Why did you decide to have that username? Or if that’s your actual name, what would be a different LomoHome name you’d like to have?

I don’t have a special nickname. My last name is “Poepel”, it’s a rare surname in Germany. So usually all my friends just call me by my last name.

That developed in school and has never changed. And that’s the reason why my LomoHome name is “Poepel”. Simply “the Poepel”. I don’t wanna change my LomoHome name, because everybody knows me under that name.

3) Share with us your most memorable experience in the Lomographic Community.

I was the official lomograph photographer at my brother-in-law and his wife Amrit’s wedding. Amrit is also a lomographer and is known in the community as nikolina. .

To be the official photographer for such a special event was very heartwarming. I want to thank both of them for the confidence they have invested in me.

Click here to view the wedding album.

4) Have you actually met people in the Community that you now consider as close friends? If yes, name at least one of them.

Unfortunately I haven’t met other lomographers. But some of my friends started Lomography because of me. For example, my friend Michael @thejomi is now an active lomographer.

Nearly every day we talk about our experiences and often we do photo tours together. Daniel (@paule), Andreas (@loone1284), Flo (@lomoflo) and Thomas (’@o-zero":http://www.lomography.com/homes/o-zero) are more or less active/ inactive lomographers.

And of course Amrit (@nikolina). She isn’t only a friend, now she’s also a member of the family.

I have international Lomography friends and these include Graziella (@grazie). G has the biggest heart in this community.

Meanwhile she is a friend of the family, cause she also knows my wife Sarah and my cat Zewa :). Beyond lomography I have a lot of fun with Merry (@atria007) and Mario (@goonies).

Merry is always good for a laugh and with Mario, I’ve already delivered some private Fifa 13 matches. Our joint love of football unites us.

5) Do you think you’ll still be taking Lomographs in the next 5 years? Why?

Of course! Lomography has become a part of my life. I could never cut film photography out of my life, as I’d miss it too much.

6) What is your favorite Lomo camera and why? Do you have any memorable experiences using this camera?

Of course, I’m a fan of our lovely LC-A, like every other lomographer. But one of my favorite cameras is the Spinner360. I like the simple usage, as it’s very easy to use. And I don’t know of any other camera in the world that gives such unbelievable results.

7) Please share with us your favorite Lomographic shot and explain why you love that particular image.

I think it might be better to ask others to decide which of my photos is the best, but if I have to choose, then it would have to be this one:

Credits: poepel

I like the double exposure very much and it turned out exactly how I wanted. I am very proud that I was able to create and capture this picture with this effect.

8) Please share a Lomograph you wish you had taken and explain why.

I really like this picture from @grazie very much. Ever since I saw it, it’s been one of my favorites. I like the reflections of the sticks in the water and naturally also the colors of the Fuji Astia.

This captivates my vision of what Lomography is.

Credits: grazie

I like the picture so very much, that @grazie sent me a printed copy. It now has a place on the photo wall in my apartment. I see it every day.

9) What’s the best Lomographic or photography advice you think you have given?

I don’t have that much experience to be able to give other photographers advice, but I created my own rule, it’s called “Rule number 11 – Drink and Shoot”, just try it out.

All you gotta do is take your favorite camera with a flash function to a party or the disco, get drunk with your friends, take lots of photos and enjoy the evening.

Expose the negatives, put it back into the camera and expose it for a second time. That’s how my “Party Doubles” arise. You never know, what the result will look like in the end.

Every picture I captured, when I followed this rule, was a success. And every time, the pictures are completely different and interesting. Just try it out, and of course you also can do it without alcohol.

Credits: poepel

10) If there’s one song or movie that best describes your Lomo life, which one is it and why?

No movie that could describe my life as a Lomograph photographer comes to my mind. But I am a big fan of Bob Marley and Reggae/Dancehall.

When I go and take photos alone, I always listen to the lyrics “One good thing about music….. when it hits you, you feel no pain”. (Trench Town rock)

11) Is there any advice you can give to new analogue shooters?

Just feel free and do it – learning by shooting.

written by jillytanrad on 2014-01-19 #lifestyle #lomoguru

15 Comments

  1. vicuna
    vicuna ·

    congrats @poepel! :)

  2. bloomchen
    bloomchen ·

    @poepel congrats! Nice interview.

  3. wafflesaurus
    wafflesaurus ·

    Wahnsinn @poepel! Gratuliere! :-) Macht Spaß zu lesen! ;)

  4. zonderbar
    zonderbar ·

    Schön, dass es noch geklappt hat @poepel :)

  5. koduckgirl
    koduckgirl ·

    Great interview and congrats!!!

  6. lostlittlekid
    lostlittlekid ·

    Congrats man! :D @poepel

  7. grazie
    grazie ·

    Congratulations Mario @poepel !! very well deserved! You take wonderful photos and really inspire me too. Hope to really meet you and Sarah in the future.

  8. atria007
    atria007 ·

    XDDDD @poepel.. congrats…. but call me Merry!!!! its for kill u hahahahahah love u too but i love more Sarah =PPPPPPP kissesss babe!!!

  9. avola
    avola ·

    Gratuliere, wunderbar<3!!

  10. thejomi
    thejomi ·

    Glückwunsch @poepel. Hasche da vadiehnt

  11. masha_njam
    masha_njam ·

    @poepel congrats !!

  12. guanatos
    guanatos ·

    congrats @poepel :)

  13. goonies
    goonies ·

    @poepel lot of FIFA matches and I loose every bloody times!!!
    Anyways congratulations my gurubrother :)

  14. gepo1303
    gepo1303 ·

    Dawollnwermaljratulierenwa ! Welcome to the club...

  15. sobetion
    sobetion ·

    Wowww!! congrats & nice interview my friend! @poepel

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