I've been following with interest. I took the rules for Lomography that were posted, thought about it, and then decided that this topic would be dangerous for my career and marriage.
To wit (and in complete jest):
Rule 1: Take your LOMO with you wherever you go
Meaning my camera? Or is this a kind of attitude like "mojo?" If the former, I will be sure and attach the largest lens and extender I have to the biggest dSLR body I can find. People should know I mean business. If LOMO is an attitude then how do I know I have it? What if it is really a condition and not an attitude? Perhaps I should consult the DSMV IV and self diagnose...
Rule 2: Use it all the time, at any time - day & night
How many shots do you think I could get away with during a business meeting before I get kicked out or fired? Shooting from the hip in this situation is going to be difficult...pulling the camera out from underneath the table and shooting it at my subjects using a flourish-to-thrusting motion would be more appropriate (they shouldn't see the shot coming). Some of these meetings are in darkened conference rooms which is going to necessitate mounting an sb-900; same thing with popping random shots off at night while my wife is lying asleep next to me. How many strobe pops would it take before she wakes up? How many before I get grumpily banned to a different room? What will happen when she finds out she was random midnight subject of a random shot which not so randomly gets me sent to another room? Do I fear for my life when she finds out I posted these pictures online in response to a photo challenge?
Rule 3: Lomography does not interfere with your life, it's a part of it
As you can see, I am having great difficulty reconciling integrating this as part of my life without interfering with it. What is the cop going to do when I randomly take his picture (read: flourished, thrusting motion with camera) after being pulled over for doing the exact same thing to other drivers while going down the road? On that note, I think I will tape two sb-900s together and hold them out my sunroof with one hand while triggering them with my random camera shot with the other hand; all while driving with my knee. People text and drive all the time--I'm confident I can pull this off. This should help reduce strobe glare off of car windows.
Edit: Bonus points for me if people in front of me pull over because they think I'm a cop. I'll be sure to snap their pictures while I am passing them.
Rule 4: Get as close as possible to the objects of your lomographic desire
Zoom + teleconverter. Done.
BTW--"lomographic desire" sounds dirty.
Rule 5: Don't think (William Firebrace)
Oooops. Please ignore this post so you don't break this rule like I did. Or, simply refer to rule #10 and continue with the career and marital planning like I have. Be sure and have the DSMV IV handy for quick reference.
Rule 6: Be fast
This entails a degree of sneakiness. If possible, the camera should be hidden from your subject, produced with grand flourish, and then thrust at the subject while depressing the shutter release button. Re-hide the camera as quickly as you produced it. Style points count as picture points are apparently de-emphisized.
Rule 7: There is no 7th rule. Lomography openly and explicitly discriminates against the number seven.
Rule 8: You don't have to know what's on the film afterwards either
Set camera to full auto mode: check
Set camera to highest FPS (ie "Spray n Pray): check
Completely zoomed-in per rule #4 (no peeking to see what you have): check
No chimping: check
Decide on a strategy that will statistically satisfy "random." I have decided to shoot every five minutes at whatever I am facing. Additionally, each time I hear or read the word "the" I will fire off a shot. Strategy: check
Rule 9: Shoot from the hip
Remember, style points count. Wear good running shoes and bring a taser along just in case anyone misconstrues what you are doing as offensive. Should the situation become aggressive in any way, shoot the taser at the aggressor and run away while randomly capturing photos of the convulsing scene behind you.
Rule 10: Don't worry about rules
Whew! Good thing this rule is here. I will be sure to convey to my boss/wife/cop/enraged person chasing me.
Levity aside--if Lomography is selected; as a person who will be viewing the photos I would ask that only truly interesting shots be posted. The risk here, is that the challenge will quickly become incredibly disinteresting. However, if any of you end up getting chased I will be keenly interested in the story and most particularly, what happened to you after you got caught. I will happily provide C&C to the hospital photos that detail any bruises / cuts you receive. If you have ever seen such photos, you know they are in dire need of some good C&C. Bonus points for you if you can manage to photograph the entire event as it unfolds. Extra bonus points to you if you can manage to use the word "scrumptious" while successfully explaining your way out of any trouble you might have clicked yourself into.
My vote?
Beauty in the Ugly
