HISTORY ~timeline on lomography~

+// THE STORY ::..

•

[1982] : Birth of the Lomo Kompakt]

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. R

ealizing 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 b

egan mass-production this year, with 1200 people working on the camera. Starting at 1100 units per month for the Russian market, its popularity soonspread 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 ca

mera 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!

•[1992-93] : The Lomographic Society .

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.

[1994-95] : Spread the Word .

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 Optic

s factory in Russia and successfully

convinced the factory honchos and then-Vice Mayor Mr. Vladimir Putin to continue with the LC-A production!

•[1997] : Lomography Online & The World

Congress .

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!

•[1998-99] : Photo-Photo-Photo-Photo .

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] : God Save the Queen & LomOlymPics

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!

•[2000-01] : Publication .

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.

[2001] : Shopping fantasies & Fashion

Dreams .

[2001] : Lomographic Sampling Games .

[2002] : The Pop 9 & "Just Shoot" .

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!

Lomo Onto Tomorrow .

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