When I hear people say that they like the “Lomo Effect” more often than not they are referring to bright and saturated photographs. No matter how some will say that they can get this by digital manipulation, nothing beats color-tripping by making chemicals react like they’re high and wild. I mean, you’re targeting the effect and see it right away with digital, and that just kills the excitement, really.

Welcome to cross-processing!

Cross-processing (also known as ‘x-pro’) is the procedure of deliberately processing one type of film in a chemical solution intended for another type of film. If you do this, the results are going to be unexpected and unpredictable. If you like to experiment with film and colors, you may want to try this one out.

This is not a new practice I believe as filmmakers and photographers have been doing this for a while now.

I love cross-processing if not for the price. When I was in Manila the cost is almost the same as processing a colored negative film whereas in Canada this as treated as a “special order”, so I usually end up paying more. Because of that I reserve my cross-processing desire when I need to do some special projects, or if I’m traveling elsewhere.

Here are some of the cross-processed shots I’ve made since going back to film (I’ve been a film child since I was born in the 80s!) that I loved. I’m going on holidays this summer so I’m hoping to stock again on slides (I don’t have a lot) and immerse myself to this process’ element of surprise.

Links you may want to check out:
http://www.crossprocessing.info/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/crossprocessing/

My almost a dozen used rolls of films were finally processed. I just realized that I shouldn’t be shooting with expired colored negatives unless I want to achieve a certain effect. Will be waiting for my new film stash ordered online though.

Used a lot of cameras, but stuck with film for the past few months. I want to be profound most of the time.

I have managed to use the university’s dark room a week or so and had some slides from last year (they have scratches already, sad) and a freshly-processed black & white roll of film scanned. Yes the org has a scanner now!

Anyway these are some photos I took when I took Aris & Cielo’s photos.

It’s been a while since I was able to process my own film. Good thing I got some help.

I haven’t been shooting much. That’s probably a lie. I took a huge amount of photos for the university orientation on behalf of Marylin abandoning her volunteer work in the university because she was out of the country. I took so much photos I have decided not to touch my D40 for a while. I had some rolls processed (two of them were from the beach trip, one was a test roll for my Canonet 28 taken after I got back from Edmonton), and I can’t wait to scan them hopefully tomorrow. One of the rolls I used happened to be one of the Ferrania Solaris I bought, so I’m pretty excited to see the results.

As I have been spending time on Downtown Winnipeg (my classes are being held there), I’ve decided to start shooting on film. I bought my Olympus Trip 35 yesterday and hopefully I’ll be able to finish the roll by the end of the month. And again, hopefully it won’t be disastrous as the first one (my first roll for that camera was a mess; I don’t know if it has something to do with the missing screw on the top metal plate of the camera which allowed lightleaks, or I made a mistake during the developing process).

I’m ranting now. Anyway, good night.

For technical purposes:
Lucky SHD 100 Black & White Film (36 exp)
Nikon F55 (with 28-70mm AF lens)
I think I used Ilford brand chemicals + Kodak Photo-Flo

I was going over some of my scanned photos when I did street photography last September-November in Manila, and all I can say is that I miss the chaotic atmosphere of my birth country.

There is something about the streets in the Philippines that makes me really excited and happy taking pictures, despite of the looming danger it brings (i.e. pickpockets). Here in Canada, I am reluctant to take street photos with the thought that I’ll be confronted by people and be accused of invading their privacy. I guess that’s the downside of street photography, huh?