European Men - photo post.

Haha... I knew that would get your attention.

Munich man peeling vegetables. 

Prague man playing Beatles songs at John Lennon Wall.

Barcelona man reading the newspaper.

(All photos taken by myself in Europe 2009, rendered in Instagram)

My Grandfather's Camera.

My parents came down to visit me for a couple of days this week before going to spend Easter with my brother's family in South Australia. With them they brought my Mother's Father's Camera, which I had been told about in a myth like fashion on a few occasions but had never seen. My Grandfather adored his camera & took photos with it every chance he could, he died when I was only 4 years old, so I never got to know him. I can't wait to shoot with his camera & look though the same viewfinder he did all those years ago.

One of the amazing things about my Mum giving me this camera is that it still has a film in it! I can't wait to take it to the photo lab, take it out of the camera & get it developed (if possible)... just imagine that there could be unseen photos from over 26 years ago on that film.

Having this camera means to the world to me. I feel so lucky that my Mum has kept it all these years & trusts me with something that meant so much to my Grandfather. 

Pop, this post is for you. I hope I can shoot some photographs with your camera to make you proud. 

♥ Mel

Diana Mini Workshop with Ian Tatton - Part 2.

As promised, the second and final part of Diana Mini tips and tricks from Ian Tatton's Diana Mini Workshop. Thanks to Lomography Australia/NZ.

Diana Mini - Tips and Tricks! 

Half-frame and Square frame settings. Only switch formats after you have operated the shutter and before you have advanced to the next frame. Don’t force the switch. You will break it. 

Long exposures. The lens stays open for as long as you hold the cable release or exposure button down when set on ’B’. Use a tripod or find something to rest your Diana Mini on or against... table, TV, brick wall. 

Double and multiple exposure photography double the film’s exposure with every shot. Build your shot with this in mind. Half wind forward, then shoot again for endless panoramas. 

The burnt edge is an added extra if you don’t over wind your film on. You can get 26 or 27 exposures out of a 24 exposure roll, and 40 or 41 out of a 36 exposure roll. And who doesn’t love extra frames. 

The Diana Flash can also be used while detached from the camera body! You can hold it up higher, aim it from the side, from underneath or let your subject hold it! Fire at will to get some funky lighting effects. And not to forget - in long exposures, you can fire it again and again and again (for use only in a darker setting). You’ll need to separate your flash from your Diana Mini, and give the flash to your photo subject (who, in this circumstance, really should be a person!) Turn your Diana Mini setting to long exposure (‘B’ setting), get your subject in shot and press the shutter switch down, holding for at least ten seconds before releasing. During this time, have your subject move to a few different positions with the camera’s view, firing the flash at intervals in every new position. 

Masks have been around since day one in photography. A mask is an area of film which is covered, blocked out or ‘masked’! 

Once you start your experiments it gets so addictive. So, here's how to do masks. 

1. Create an imagine for a mask. The size of the mask should match (or be slightly bigger to give it enough space when taping it your camera) the size of the frame of the camera you are using. 

2. Print it out on transparency. 

3. Cut it out. 

4. Turn it 180 degrees counter-clockwise or the image will come out upside down! Tape the mask on the frame inside your camera. 

5. Load the film over your mask. 

6. SHOOT! 

With film you will see every mistake you make! It’s all a part of learning how to use your camera. Be patient, and learn from your mistakes. If you aren’t sure of what you did wrong, just ask. 

(Text credit to Ian Tatton) 

You can find, Diana Mini Workshop with Ian Tatton - Part 1, here. If you have any questions, then you can leave a comment, email me or contact the Lomography.com.au team.

✦ Mel

Goodbye Summer

As we Melbournites bid farewell to sunny summer days & welcome in the new days of autumn, I thought it would be an apt moment to share some glimpses of the last days of summer at Melbourne's own Brighton Beach from my Lomo LC-A.

Life has been been super speedy & hectic over the past couple if weeks, so I promise to get to everyone's Diana Mini questions with more tips & tricks posts very soon.

x Mel