Photographing a Dream World: Brett Stephens Shoots with LomoChrome Turquoise

The magic of LomoChrome Turquoise lies in its ability to transform any environment into something out of a science fiction or fantasy movie. Film shutterbug Brett Stephens took the roll and captured Wichita in Kansas just as the sun set, blending some curiosity into the city's streets and architecture.

We talked with the artist about his experience with the film stock and other color-shifting films such as the LomoChrome Purple. Brett also shared his experience of developing and scanning film for the first time with the help of the DigitaLIZA Max, making film photography his latest creative outlet, and more.

Hi, Brett! Welcome to the magazine. Can you start by telling us about yourself? How and when did you start shooting on film?

My name is Brett Stephens, I am 30 years old and from a small town in Oklahoma. I work in the gaming industry and I am an avid Jeeper. I have always been passionate about arts. Film photography has been my latest creative outlet.

I ran around with a Polaroid in my hand for a lot of my childhood, and in 2022 I decided to invest in a 35 mm and a Polaroid, and try and bring that passionate child back. I especially have an affinity for experimental films whether it be the LomoChrome series, Polaroid duochrome, or aerochrome. Having colors that shouldn’t exist in real life on an analogue medium is such a surreal thing to me. I feel like I am still finding my style and place in photography world.

What's your favorite aspect of film photography?

My favorite aspect of film photography is just being able to fully submerse myself in such a grounding experience you have to slow down and really put yourself in the moment, paying attention to the details light, composition, settings.

Film photography taught me photography. It stopped being just point and shoot and became art. The whole process is tactile and physical from the winding of the film, to the sound of your shutter, down to holding your negatives. It just feels more real. That’s the best way I can explain it.

Can you talk a bit about your LomoChrome Turquoise photos? In which locations did you take the photo and what was your creative process like? Did you have a theme in mind when using the color-shifting film?

I decided to go to Wichita Kansas to take these photos just because it was the closest big city near me. When I initially got there I had no plan for the roll, I was just hoping to get all the shots off. Because I wanted it be the first roll I developed myself I had almost zero expectations.

But as I got downtown the sun started setting. The atmosphere felt perfect. I had less than 12 shots so I kept telling myself only photograph lines, light, and architecture. That’s how I finished the roll and they are some of my favorite photos I have ever taken.

Was it your first time using LomoChrome Turquoise?

It was my first time shooting the LomoChrome Turquoise. But before this roll I had shot the LomoChrome Purple and LomoChrome Metropolis. I’m definitely drawn to film that makes you feel like you are photographing a dream world.

What was your impression of the film stock? Is there something about it that you like or don't like?

My favorite part about the film was the orange skies. And when I get around to shooting my next roll of LomoChrome Turquoise, I want to experiment more with the deep blues that I was getting in the photos of signage I took.

You also developed and scanned the whole roll by yourself. How was your experience developing film for the first time?

This experience couldn’t have gone better for a first timer. Or maybe it was because I told myself "no expectations." But keeping the water the right temperature and hand-mixing the chemicals and juggling the timers – this was the first I felt like photos weren’t possible without me.

Before, it was always that they weren’t possible without the camera. But this roll I was involved with the photos every step of the way, making me the one to make sure they come to life. Scanning the photos wouldn’t have been at all possible without the DigataLIZA Max. It made scanning my photos accessible at home, with just my cellphone. And the quality of it was more than enough to post on socials.

Do you have any advice for other people who would like to shoot with the LomoChrome Turquoise?

Absolutely. My advice when it comes to color-shifting film overall is, just take the shot!

There are so many photos I took with these film stocks and thought, “I probably wasted that shot” or “that won’t look how I want” and they have came out so much better than expected. These films for me are always so full of surprises and bring life to shots you might not have thought had any chance. Just have fun and don’t regret it.

We'd like to thank Brett for sharing his images and ideas with us! To view more of his work, visit his Instagram Page.

written by sylvann on 2024-07-15 #people #places #kansas #wichita #lomochrome-turquoise #brett-stephens