BACOLOD, PHILIPPINES — There’s a certain romance to film cameras. Our parents, who once captured memories in grainy frames, might have thought the days of these analog devices were behind us. Yet here we are, witnessing a resurgence in the medium — a growing community of enthusiasts who find joy in the tactile art of film photography.
To explore this renewed interest, adobo Magazine lent the LomoApparat Neubau 35mm film camera — encased in exclusive real Italian leather and featuring a 21mm wide-angle lens — to three talented illustrators and designers from Negros Occidental: Andie Gamboa, Bencent Gohing, and Daryl Feril. Over the course of 24 hours, these creatives captured candid moments from their daily lives. Through their intimate snapshots, they reflect on how film photography weaves into their artistic practices and personal experiences.
For Andie Gamboa, who grew up in the golden era of Lomography’s digital replication on platforms like Instagram and Tumblr, the LomoApparat Neubau was a welcome throwback. In fact, she even posted a Diana Lomo camera photo on her Instagram around 2012.
These days, Andie’s body of work explores girlhood and inner-child healing, and the LomoApparat Neubau provided an opportunity for her to delve into these themes on a more personal level. “I think my paintings and the nature of my illustrative work are very kid-centered because that’s the audience I want to appeal to,” Andie began. “However, when it came down to taking these pictures, I knew I just wanted to make myself happy.”
Handling the camera felt like a full-circle moment, allowing her to explore a beloved aesthetic in a deeply personal way. “I loved taking pictures of my friends. We met up for coffee, and it felt like we were little girls again — having our own photoshoot, posing for the camera, and just having fun being unabashedly ourselves.”
Among her favorite shots were candid photos of her father, who is usually camera-shy. “He always says he’s allergic to the camera, so being able to capture him on film just being himself was such a special moment. I’m so glad I have these pictures to keep forever,” she shared.
Though the LomoApparat Neubau’s interface seemed fairly simple, Andie admitted that there was a learning curve for her, especially with the multiple exposure feature. “As a non-film user, it was a bit daunting. But like anything, it’s always trial and error,” she said.
Upon receiving the developed photos, Andie told adobo Magazine, “I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t ruin every photo! Jokes aside, I loved how the pictures that turned out well were imbued with this feeling of familiarity. Like I know these subjects and these places, but I’m seeing them for the first time in this light! Not all of my shots came out the way I expected them to, but it was still really interesting.”
Andie also appreciated the camera’s portability, describing it as light and easy to carry. “It didn’t feel like I had this giant machine in my bag. It was something I could just throw in and have handy.”
Meanwhile, Bencent’s day with the LomoApparat Neubau revealed a fresh take on an old passion. As someone with a background in film photography, the illustrator and motion designer found shooting with the LomoApparat Neubau to be delightfully engaging. “Having a limited number of shots means you have to really think about your shot,” he expressed. “But at the same time, it’s also fun to just point it at a subject and not feel the need to recompose your image multiple times like on digital cameras.”
The camera’s limitations, such as its fixed exposures and lack of instant feedback, encouraged Bencent to be more mindful with each photo he took. “Being so used to having a screen to compose shots, I started overthinking them. But as I shot more, the simplicity of the LomoApparat Neubau made me focus less on the technicalities and more on what I was shooting,” he revealed. He also talked about some challenges from a technical standpoint, saying, “Getting your compositions and exposures right can be tricky. Some film cameras offer more control than others, but with the LomoApparat Neubau, I had to guess which lighting conditions had just the right exposure for my shots.” However, this shift allowed him to embrace the spontaneity and unpredictability of the craft.
According to Bencent, his bright and striking illustration style widely influenced his photography, which drew him to subjects with pops of color. He particularly enjoyed capturing street scenes and mundane spots around his city, choosing to preserve these moments before they inevitably change. “The challenge of getting good shots while experimenting with the various lenses the LomoApparat Neubau had to offer made everything way more fun,” Bencent shared. “It was pretty refreshing. The pressure of getting the perfect shot right there and then was gone since I didn’t have the privilege of constantly correcting my shots through a screen.”
Looking back at his photos, Bencent was pleasantly surprised. “When I saw the images turning out better than expected, it was pretty exhilarating,” he said.
“The colors and imperfections of film give scenes a more dreamy and romanticized look compared to the true-to-life colors of digital cameras. The delayed gratification you get from film is addictive and makes you want to shoot more,” he added.
This appreciation for film’s unique qualities extended to Daryl’s experience with the LomoApparat Neubau. Known for his detailed and maximalist style as an artist, he naturally gravitated towards plants and colorful subjects, drawing inspiration from his surroundings — a preference clearly reflected in his work.
Inspired by his father, a dedicated photographer who introduced him to film at a young age, Daryl gladly took the chance to reconnect with this medium. “It took me back to my childhood days when my father would teach me and let me use film cameras. I never really practiced it, so it’s a nice way to reacquaint myself with it,” he said.
Documenting his daily life at his newly opened store, Werever Projects, Art & Design Co., which he co-owns with business partner Faye Abantao, Daryl found the camera’s ability to render light and shadow with nuance particularly rewarding. “The limited number of exposures encourages careful composition and consideration with each frame,” he elaborated. “Without the ability to review photos instantly, you become more deliberate with each shot you take. This means taking extra care with the composition, lighting, framing, and subject. It also allows you to embrace imperfections and unexpected results.”
Despite the initial challenges of winding the film and managing low light conditions, Daryl valued being able to capture his surroundings more intuitively. He was gratified by the results, as he documented his surroundings without overthinking each shot. “Film photography often has a timeless, classic look that is hard to achieve with digital photography. This can evoke a sense of nostalgia and permanence,” he noted.
Through their time with the LomoApparat Neubau, Andie, Bencent, and Daryl discovered first-hand the famed virtues of film photography — patience, acceptance of imperfections, and the quiet joy of waiting. In a world that often rushes forward, their 24 hours with the camera proved that, indeed, some things are still worth slowing down for.
