In what has been dubbed 'lomography' and trademarked by the Austrian photographic equipment company Lomografische AG, there is a cult following in the practice of using cheap, mass-produced, point and shoot cameras especially from the 1980’s, 1970's and 1960's because of the low-tech and often artistic results that can be produced.

tree by ~supermilk on deviantART

Although the term lomography was inspired by the former state-run camera and optics manufacturer LOMO PLC from St. Petersburg, Russia and their 35mm LOMO cameras, the term has grown to encompass the practice of using many types of cameras that produce these effects which can vary, not only from brand to brand and camera type, but actually from camera to camera. Even homemade pinhole cameras can be used to produce these artistic images. Sometimes the images can produce effects such vignetting, blur, graininess, can have over or under-saturated color, even halo effects caused by small amounts of light leaking into the camera. Double or multiple exposures are easy to produce and is sometimes referred to as a Holga effect which is borrowed from the medium format Holga cameras which use 120 film and are very popular among those practicing 'lomography.'

lomography. 6 by ~marissa-rae on deviantART

Some people include photos taken from some of the early model, low-resolution digital cameras or even photos taken with the latest model digital SLRs set on slow shutter speeds or otherwise manipulated to achieve the same effect. Can these types of effects be achieved through the retouching of digital photo? Sure, but that takes the fun out of creating an effect that you had neither planned for nor expected. Sometimes the results can be amazing.

bamboo bridge by ~123sajeepney on deviantART

For those that remember pre-digital age, there is something to be said about the nostalgic look of those instamatic shots from your childhood or the grainy 'album cover' feel that can be recaptured by going low-tech. So, go dig out and dust off that old point and shoot camera in your attic or pick up that little snapper at a garage sale or flea market for a buck or two, pop in some film and see what you can create.

NOTE: In case you dig out an old Kodak Instamatic camera 126 cartridge film is very difficult to acquire these days. 110 film which would fit the pocket instamatic is still fairly easy to find.

Lomo FishEye Point-n-Shoot 35mm Camera, Silver.