We’ve been exploring some different film options here at Colorcubic in search of new analog avenues in this growing digital age. Don’t get us wrong, we love our creative suites and 5-Ds as much as the next design agency. But, as subscribers to our blog and work will know, we’re also suckers for the classic in any form that we can find it.
The folks over at Lomography have been blowing our minds a little bit these days when it comes to new perspectives in the analog photography medium. Not long ago they released the world’s first pre-loaded red scale film, and we jumped on the opportunity to start experimenting. These are some of the highlights from my outing.
The process on Lomography’s end of things is surprisingly simple: load standard 35mm into the canister upside down and shoot through the back protective layer of the film rather than directly onto the emulsion layer. The result is similar to using a red filter but, as we’ve come to expect from Lomography products, much less predictable and far more interesting.
Some shots came out more muted and neutral while others really popped with reds, oranges, and yellows. Random blue light bleeds flash through for dramatic contrast. The monotone overlay gives the shoot a (very vibrant) sepia feel, which only adds to these photos’ classic beauty. I love how pronounced the film grain is too with this method of “backwards” loading; I can only attribute this to the light diffusing more as it passes through the semi-transparent backing of the negative. Another interesting outcome is that the photos turn out reversed, which I suppose shouldn’t have surprised me but it certainly did at first.
All in all, I think we’re in love. A roll of film that comes directly from the lab looking like it’s out of my grandmother’s attic and working great for both bright sunny days and midnight long-exposures? Yes, yes I believe so.
Camera: Canon AE-1
Film: Lomography RedScale Negative
Color: Color
Size: 35mm
ISO: 100
Exp: 36
