MAKATI, PHILIPPINES — Newtro, or as more would commonly known as New Retro, is alive and well in Manila. Antique and vintage objects have been making their way into people’s hearts (and houses), and the field of film photography has certainly been seeing a resurgence of interest.
Last March 7, 2020, film enthusiasts gathered at Warehouse Eight for their first ever analog photography fair, Overexposed: An Analog Film Photography Fair. Organized by Lillie Mamuyac together with Kamera Club and Warehouse Eight, the fair gathered 24 vendors who brought in various treats for shutterbugs: from analog cameras, film, leather accessories, original film prints,and artworks. There was also a free black & white film developing and visual storytelling workshop hosted by BORN IN FILM.
The event was a spectacular success, with the venue being packed as early as 11am. As soon as you enter, Sunny16 Lab was there to pick up rolls for developing. Brands and collectives such as Kuero Krafts and Fotobaryo was also there. Individual talents such as @carrotcakefilm, @curiouslemonpie, @michaelorenzana and @fran_35mm also had the opportunity to showcase some of their works and sell some prints. The venue also had food, live music, and craft beer, making the environment perfect to buy and connect with fellow vendors and enthusiasts.
Overexposed: Analog Film Photography Fair is the brainchild of Lillie Mamuyac, worked on together with the Kamera Club’s Mil Donila, and Warehouse Eight’s Kayla Dionisio. The two first met in a previous fair by Warehouse called Istorya. adobo magazine sat down with the girls to discuss the events leading up to the fair.
On how Overexposed came about
Kayla: It was about two years ago when Warehouse 8 organized a vintage and antiques fair here at the warehouse. We had everything – from typewriters, to cameras, money, coins, everything. Luckily at that time, Kamera Club was one of our first vendor applicatons and we met them. It was really successful ,and from then on we would always invite Kamera Club [tour events]. Then Lillie approached me towards the end of last year for Overexposed.
Lillie: So that was around October, I approached her with that idea because in the first place, there hasn’t been any recent large scale fairs on film photography like what had happened for Overexposed. There’s always small fairs going on and there are separate small communities for things like film. We don’t see collectives or larger events, communities usually have their own circle of friends. So nobody really has the chance to meet other circles. I wanted to have a fair or an avenue for other people to meet each other.
On the New Retro trend
Lillie: For analog photography, it’s a very slow process. But with digital, it’s instantaneous. You just shoot and look at it, and then there’s no more excitement.
Kayla: It could be next to perfect because you can edit the settings. For film though, there’s always that mystery whether or not your shot is overexposed or even if it will develop at all. Actually, my first roll, and first camera actually, was a gift from Kamera Club. I was like, I’m going to Sagada, I want to bring a film camera. And then my first roll, I didn’t know that I was taking photos because shutter was very subtle, so I took 10 or 12 shots of one dog, because I kept clicking! Did it go through? Did it go through? So that was my first experience. I think there’s always that charm. Like that one moment, you can’t capture that same moment and have the same output.
Lillie: Even digital photographers right now, they’re mimicking film. Like you know the filters that they use. But why not just shoot films?
Audience’s reaction towards Overexposed
Kayla: Yeah, it was crazy.
Lillie: Well, actually, we knew a lot of people would come just because of Facebook insights because we had a page. We didn’t know a lot of people would actually come, especially with what’s happening in the world right now.
Kayla: There were a lot of people who were super new [in the analog community] and just found the event online or through articles, or a friend shared it to them. So we expected a lot, but we didn’t expect a lot at the same. It’s like that middle ground. A lot of people were saying, you should have made it two days! So we were actually thinking whether or not to make it two days.
Lillie: Initially we planned on having a two-day event.
On the kinds of events Warehouse hosts and creates
Kayla: I guess Warehouse is more of a platform to get [niche hobbies] out to a bigger audience. I think there’s a lot of interest out there; it’s more of they just don’t know where to start, who to talk to, where to go so it can seem intimidating. The events are more for passionate communities that have pretty niche interests, and then just bringing it to a larger audience. So usually that’s the thread–for people to meet, to mingle, somewhere they feel safe and open.
Can we expect another Overexposed Fair?
Kayla: I think we have to because of what happened.
Lillie: Yeah, people are really expecting [another one]. Aftermath of the event, people are already asking when’s the next one.
Kayla: I don’t know if we’re going to hold something bigger in a bigger space, I’m not sure, somewhere more accessible also. I think there’s a charm in making it a destination and not like really big. It’s up for discussion. I guess we’ll wait it out, what will happen. Maybe end of this year or early next year, a bi-annual thing.
This transcript has been slightly edited to make it easier for reading.
For more Warehouse Eight events, you can check out their Facebook page. Interested in Kamera Club? You can check them out here too.
Photographs by Pierre Zipagan & Sam Macaisa
