LomoGuru of the Week: Wil6ka

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With his army of ‘International Analogue League of Lomographic Acquaintances’ which he also considers his true friends in life – the ones who actually make his existence more meaningful. We have Willie or better known as wil6ka here this time as he talks about the importance of being sociably Lomo-snappy!

Credits: wil6ka

Name: Willie Schumann
LomoHome: http://www.lomography.com/homes/wil6ka
Location: Hamburg
Number of years as a Lomographer: 9
Number of years in the community: 8

Credits: wil6ka

Share to us your most memorable experience in the Lomographic community.

Life is happening and stories unfold all of the time but sure there are some events that made their mark in my Lomographic endeavour. I have been to a Lomographic wedding long before the Lomo-spermius went on the viewfinder cover of the LC-A “Russia Day”. I knew Bruna (bruna_me) and Andi (magicbus) for quite some years online and separately from each other. Then they fell in love in Brazil. When they announced that they will marry and leave for Germany I literally booked the flight to Sao Paulo within minutes which was a great online moment already. Hence the date of their wedding wasn’t announced yet and I had some other appointments coming up,my itineary was rather a guess into the blue. After I was picked up from the airport by Andi, he told me that the ceremony will be after my departure, which was surely sad. After one great week with them, Bruna asked me if I wanted to come to the wedding anyway. They would cover the ticket and I would be filming the event. This humbled me to the floor. The gesture as such was pure love and I will never forget it. So within a month I went twice to Brazil and I enjoyed every bit of it. By now Andi and Bruna live in Germany and they have a baby. They are my good friends. They are even patient with the editing of the film. I have started it, but current business keeps me running and running. But I swear next free time is blocked for the edit!

Have you actually met people in the Community that you now consider as close friends?

The real potential of Lomography lies in its Community. There are so many talented people out there and they all have a little twist to the unusual them. And I love that. It is astonishing to get to know someone in the interweb by looking at pictures made and stories told. You get so familiar that meeting in real life is just the next logical step. Every time I am on the road I try to meet Lomographers on the way and so far my expectations have never been disappointed. I love Satomi and I have just been the second time in California where we had great moments. Her work and personality is outstanding. Maria (masha_njam) from St.Petersbug is just plain fun, I enjoy being with her to the fullest. I also got a Lubitel II from her which is my latest camera passion. Topaz (topazy) is my dear friend from Hong Kong. If I would be king, she would be my royal portraitist as she captures something I cannot grasp about myself. Holly in Bangkok (hburgess) probably doesn’t know what she does, but she does it beautifully. Great energy, bright future! I am also in love with Mandi, and I would definitely make out with his twisted brain! There are many others like Daria (japsix), Dream or Takezzo, just to name a few, that I have met on the way and who are great.
In the future I hope to continue to see the world through the eyes of awfully talented Lomographers. Stouf, Tania (warning) and the Malaysian lomographers are definitely on the list. Right now I collect the pennies to get myself a ride to Stepháne (vicuna) and his cannibalistic island in French Polynesia soon…

Do you think you’ll still be taking lomographs in the next 5 years? Why?

Oh yes! I have decided and there is much energy to such a decision. Analogue Photography demands conviction. It takes lot of effort, time, and money to follow this trail. You will not be rewarded instantly, but with every next film, a little more. And as awkward as it may seem, there is still so much to discover. I was socialized as a photographer by the Lomographic society. I build my confidence and my knowledge by the people in this world and I hope they will stay with me. This roadmovie just started and I stacked up a huge canister of bio-fuel and a backpack full of films!

What is your favorite Lomo camera and why? Do you have any memorable experiences while using this camera?

That’s a tough one. It’s like ‘Which of you concubines is the most beloved one?’ And you know that would be unfair. But I have to state that my greatest passion still goes for Panoramic photography. I like the narrative of a very wide picture and I love to experiment with different exposure times and the effect of a rotary lens. A Horizon is a sturdy Russian comrade that will stand by your side even during a nuclear blast, and that is quite something!

Is there any advice you can give to new analogue shooters?

Love what you do and try to do everything with your heart. I think everything else follows. Sometimes, an idea is larger than life and a picture is better than reality. Stick with analogue photography because it has soul in a time that is losing grip. Go places and make things happen – the world is waiting for you!

They are the ones whose passion transcends not only by what they do and say, but also with what they see and capture with their film cameras. And with such attributes aforementioned, they are what we call LomoGurus! Every week, we get to ask questions and reveal some insights with the most talented and productive of all Lomographers from the community!

geschrieben von fookshit am 2011-12-02 in #lifestyle #interview #community #feature #q-a #lomoguru

21 Kommentare

  1. stouf
    stouf ·

    Herr Willie... A true Horizon guru, not only for the last week : ). And you know my house is open to you whenever you're around, I'd really like to meet you too !

  2. vicuna
    vicuna ·

    ha ha, my "cannibalistic" island... beware of locals so they don't catch you during your stay! :)))) Really very happy that you'll come to visit us soon! :)))
    And yes, Herr Willie deserrves this title of Lomo-Guru so well, I discovered and admired his work immediately when I joined the community 7 years ago! :)

  3. adi_totp
    adi_totp ·

    my horizon guru :D

  4. disdis
    disdis ·

    yes! The horizon hero!

  5. welland
    welland ·

    Awesome read, its really nice to hear others on the same wavelength as you. A beer is waiting for you in Sunny Brighton (UK) if you ever fancy it

  6. bruna_me
    bruna_me ·

    WE LOVE YOU INDEED! your presence was (and always is) a huge honour... now Sami is anxious to meet you too! (but we are in Brazil right now - wanna drop by?)

  7. jeabzz
    jeabzz ·

    a great guru ! :D

  8. cc-in-paris
    cc-in-paris ·

    great interview! @wil6ka thanks for all the great pics!

  9. magicbus
    magicbus ·

    you are always welcome. but unfortunately it's harder to visit willie than get visited by him. but one day we will come!

  10. gepo1303
    gepo1303 ·

    Gratuliere mein Freund & Horizon-Master!

  11. ashdinosaur
    ashdinosaur ·

    haha, aw, I want some Lomo friends ;)

  12. takezzo
    takezzo ·

    great interview, and thanks for mentioning me. you're one of the few talented photographers that i ever met...

  13. masha_njam
    masha_njam ·

    see you soon in Germany dear wilochka!

  14. wil6ka
    wil6ka ·

    :)

  15. wil6ka
    wil6ka ·

    @stouf Hobart it is! :) try to make it next summer...

  16. stouf
    stouf ·

    @wil6ka YIPEEEEH ! : )

  17. warning
    warning ·

    My favorite blode one!. <3 @wil6ka

  18. wil6ka
    wil6ka ·

    my beloved feverous latina <3 @warning

  19. guinastrapazi
    guinastrapazi ·

    sehr sympatisch @wil6ka :)

  20. captain_mary
    captain_mary ·

    Gratuliere! (: @wil6ka

  21. satomi
    satomi ·

    I just saw this ;)

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