The Beauty in Simplicity: Lomography Toy Cameras

Why the Artistic Qualitiy of the Diana F+ Camera is a Force to Be Reckoned with Against the Digital Camera

After having stumbled upon my father's baby pictures from the 60's and having watched Sofia Coppola's film The Virgin Suicides, never before has the beauty of the nostalgic and anachronistic style of photography been so acute. And while there certainly is reason to celebrate the rapid advancement of the digital camera, there stands a slight paradox to photography; where the luxury of instant gratification in viewing your images as well as the convenience of easy dismissal replaces the intricate thought behind the lens that was once rudimentary to the art... where the advancement plays as a setback.

And while the lomography cameras are a far cry from the sharp and sophisticated images achievable by the current technology, these little toy cameras have a quality that stand as grandiose contenders for the attention of photographers of all levels everywhere. Just as their photos represent the dreamy and soft images of decades past, these cameras make the photographing experience as simple and unadulterated as they were years ago. All the while it remains accessible to many in price, weight, and the creative versatility it offers.

There are many ways to describe the aesthetics of the Diana camera. While being an individual keen on the Impressionism era of art history myself, I could not help be drawn to the muted hues and the blurred, indefinite lines heavily akin to the masters like Claude Monet and Edgar Degas. It can also be described as dreamy and nostalgic, both adjectives of which are highly appealing to my ears. But on a more analytical note, the texture and tone of the photographs bring forth the life of "vignettes" otherwise noted as the lomographer's acclaimed style of small yet poignant scenes captured on camera that make it highly emotional and tangible.