1982 Birth of the LOMO LC-A - the camera that started it all!
General Igor Petrowitsch Kornitzky, right-hand man to the USSR Minister of Defense and Industry, slammed a little Japanese compact camera onto the desk of his comrade Michail Panfilowitsch Panfiloff, the Director of the powerful LOMO Russian Arms and Optical factory. Panfiloff carefully examined the item, observing its sharp glass lens, extremely high light sensitivity and robust casing. Realizing its potential, the two gentlemen gave orders to the LOMO PLC factory in St. Petersburg, Russia to create an improved version of the Cosina CX-1 – and the first working sample of the LOMO LC-A was born!
1984 Launch of the LC-A
The LOMO LC-A began mass-production this year, with 1200 people working on the camera. Starting at 1100 units per month for the Russian market, its popularity soon spread to then –Communist countries such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Cuba.
1991 Discovery!
While touring Prague, a group of Viennese students stumbled upon the LOMO LC-A in a quirky, old-school camera shop, and started shooting from the hip. Upon returning to Vienna, they had their film rolls developed, resulting in strangely beautiful images. Soon the questions started coming from friends, family and strangers, they wanted their own LC-A cameras!
1992-1993 The birth of the Lomographic Society International
Astounded by the strangely beautiful photographs that the LOMO LC-A could create, the demand for this Russian gem quickly rose, which led to the formation of the Lomographic Society International (LSI). Along with the 10 Golden Rules, the non-profit movement aimed to spread the message of Lomography throughout the world by hosting exhibitions, parties, tours, and workshops.
1994 Lomo goes online, NYC vs Moscow exhibition, first embassy in Berlin
Lomo invades the world wide web at this time (www.lomo.com). It was also this year when the very first Lomographic exhibition was simultaneously held in New York City and Moscow, with massive LomoWalls gracing each city, showcasing colourful Lomographs from the other; months later, the first Lomo Embassy was established in Berlin.
1996 Provide for the future
With the LC-A’s popularity rise comes the biggest challenge – the Russian manufacturers decided to stop its production. Our “Wieners” bravely scooted to the LOMO Optics factory in Russia and successfully convinced the factory honchos and then-Vice Mayor Mr. Vladimir Putin to continue with the LC-A production!
1997 First World Congress in Madrid
Relaunching lomo.com as lomography.com, the new website introduces a product shop, community interaction, special projects, activities and services, plus the WorldArchive – displaying a collection of amazing Lomographs from different places. The first Lomographic World Congress in Madrid boasted a LomoWall of over 120 metres - consisting of over 35,000 Lomographs!
1998 Photokina
The Lomographic Society International launches the 4-lensed Actionsampler at the Photokina – the largest photography convention in the world. The strange-looking plastic camera takes four sequential images in one 35mm Lomograph and was an instant hit!
2000 First in-house camera, the Supersampler, community functions launched
Designed, manufactured, and patented by Lomography, the Supersampler emerges as the “Queen of all Multi-lens Cameras” – taking four panoramic panels of sequential images in one photograph. At lomography.com, new community functions were launched, one of which was the LomoHomes – a space for users to store all their photos and make their own LomoWalls, at the time, probably the most modern web site where you could host photos!
2001 First Lomography shop in Vienna
The very first Lomography shop in the world graced the Kunsthalle (Contemporary Art Hall) in the Vienna MuseumsQuartier in the summer of this year, featuring walls decked with Lomographs (LomoWalls), a wide range of innovative products from all over the world and the full line of Lomographic items. It also hosted workshops and other activities that cater to Lomography.
2003 First Sidekick TPE bag - Lomography fashion makes its entrance.
In addition to photographic products, Lomography introduces the first Sidekick TPE bag – designed to hold cameras, films, and even a small laptop. This jumpstarts the Lomography line of fashion items – t-shirts, bags, camera bags, and accessories have since been added to the fashion segment.
2004 World Congress in China, biggest ever LomoWall!
The biggest LomoWall to date was installed during the World Congress in China. For one whole week, Beijing was bursting with shiny Lomographs and exciting activities!
2005 The Fisheye camera
Lomography introduces a breakthrough in photography with the world’s first compact Fisheye camera – the Fisheye. Yielding nearly 180-degrees of circular Fisheye distortion in a 35mm photograph, it offered the easiest and most convenient way to try Fisheye!
2006 LC-A+
Lomography introduces the LC-A+ - a faithful reproduction of the Russian LC-A camera. Manufactured in China with an option to get the lens from Russia, it offered the same endearing qualities as the original – sharp contrast, deep saturation, and the trademark vignetting - while adding more exciting features such as a multiple-exposure switch and the option to use exclusively-for-LC-A+ accessories!
2007 Diana+, Hong Kong, Seoul and Paris Gallery Store openings, White Stripes collaboration and World Congress, London.
A faithful reproduction of the’60s medium-format classic Diana camera was introduced by the LSI – the Diana+, enhanced with features to promote more creative options. The year 2007 also saw the opening of Lomography Gallery Stores in Hong Kong, Paris, and Seoul, the World Congress in London, and Lomography’s collaboration with the White Stripes for the limited edition “Jack” Holga and “Meg” Diana+ cameras.
2008 Lubitel+ launch, “The Future is Analogue” exhibition at the Photokina, Cologne, Redscale film, Lomo X-Pro film & the LC-A Big Book.
Lomography strikes again with another exciting reproduction, the Lubitel+, our pimped-up version of the twin-lensed classic Lubitel camera. The year 2008 was a busy one as Lomography proudly declared that “The Future is Analogue” at the Photokina convention in Cologne, Germany, with a massive LomoWall covering both the walls and the floor – making it THE attraction to see. A survey was conducted prior to the event, evaluating the future of Lomography based on thoughts and opinions by the community, and gathering ideas and preferences, digital vs analogue-style. The massive LC-A book, which documented the entire story of the LC-A, accompanied by a compilation of the best Lomographs from around the world, was also launched at the convention. Two photographic techniques – cross processing and redscaling – were made easier to create with the introduction of the first Lomography films - the Lomography X-Pro film, and the Lomography Redscale film.
2009 New site launch , NYC Gallery Store, Diana Instant Back+, Colette, the year so far
The lomography.com website was given a complete relaunch, with a fresh new look and more sections for community interaction, contests, articles, and other crucial info related to Lomography and analogue photography – closing the gap between digital and analogue. This year also saw the opening of the Lomography shop in New York City! The Diana+ also reigned supreme with the unique collaboration between Lomography and Paris-based boutique colette for the "Dianalogues: Through A Woman’s Lens" Book & special edition camera. Plus the Diana Instant Back+ was launched, an accessory that turns the Diana+ camera into an instant camera!
All info and images from Lomography.com
