My Beautiful Affair with Diana F+ and Lomography

About two years ago I heard about Lomography, from that day on I just had to know more! There's just no better way than explaining this movement as VERY 'hipster'. Lomography is an analog camera movement and community that advocate experimental and creative film photography. Basically this is a very abstract art form where weird and senseless photos are appreciated. Imperfect photos are welcomed and there really are no rigid rules. Find out more about Lomography and their '10 Golden Rules' here.

This little lady here is my Diana F+. There are a lot of Lomo cameras out there, but this one is very popular. The best thing about the Diana is that you can buy the Deluxe Kit, it comes with all the bells and whistles - which I wanted! (Shame poor Mom had to, once again, bring me back this massive kit from the States. She bought it at B&H in New York - an amazing store especially if you are looking for techie-stuff and then had to drag it about 4 kilometers back to her hotel. Did I mention that she REALLY loves me?) 

I'm literally still in my Lomo-nappies and learning a lot. In SA there are currently only two main Lomography stores. The one is the Lomography Embassy Store - Johannesburg and the other is Exposure in Cape Town. Both of them are very helpful and friendly. 

Here are a few of my first photos. I'm very proud that something actually happened, I was convinced that the whole film would be either way under or over exposed! I used the 35mm back with the 35mm normal colour film with a 200 ISO and a 75mm lens. 

All of the photos were taken round and about Campsbay. These first three were taken on Glen Beach - it's a small family beach right next to Campsbay where families bring their dogs to have a run around and throw birthday parties for the kids. A definite favourite spot for locals (and me)!

As you can see the first three were accidentally double exposed and are overlapping each other at the beginning and end of each frame. This was 100% caused by my own ignorance of where the frames begin and end. You can actually make a very accurate guess if you know how! But I'm also excusing myself by calling it artistic freedom ;)  

If you look closely you will see that the above photo was exposed three times! Pure genius I say! ;)

I call this photo The Headless Man at Limoncello. If you live in Cape Town and you haven't eaten at  Limoncello, then you really need to make a plan. Luca usually parks his truck at Oudekraal (it's on your way to Houtbay via Campsbay) during the week and on a Saturday he's at The Old Biscuit Mill. The ingredients are always fresh and the view at Oudekraal is amazing. Definitely worth it if you want to take a meaningful lunch break and eat some good Italian food! O, and the drive to Oudekraal really is worth it.

This is one of my favourites so far. I double exposed this photo on purposed and somehow with some luck I got the framing just right! The first exposure was of the clouds and the second of Campsbay. So lets call it Campsbay in the Clouds. 

I just love this one because of the colours. Lomo film is known to make 'funny' colours. Why? I can't actually tell you, because I don't know! It's possible that it caught some 'flare' from the sun... or something like that!? 

I've already bought my second film and I'm halfway through - so hopefully I'll be able to post some more photos soon! I look forward to your questions and comments as always!

Lots of love Jana

xxx

My Beauty Affair...Top 5

Finally, my first post! So sorry for those who've visited my blog, only to find an empty page. So the pressure is on - what to write about first? Well this blog is about my love affair with all things beautiful (NOT PEOPLE - lets just get that straight from the start) like beauty, fashion and life in general. Beauty has kind of taken over my life, to be honest, and my affair with it has been kicked in to over drive this last two months!

So today I share with you my Top 5 beauty products!

Number 1: Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume

For some reason the eyelash-gods have blessed me with long and curly eyelashes, but that's about it! I've had numerous girls ask me why I go through the hassle of applying falsies on every morning. Then I really blush and have to fess up that these are actually for realzies! So I'm actually really picky with mascara - seeing as a huge beauty (and irrational) fear is that I would use something and all my lashes would spontaneously all fall out - very shallow of me I know! But I <3 this mascara! The application is super smooth and the many many bristles on the wand catch every lash. But what I love the most is that it doesn't feel like my poor lashes are cast in some kind of plaster. This is definitely a mascara I would buy again...if there weren't so many new ones I wanted to try!

Number 2: The Body Shop Body Butters

I have to confess - I only 'discovered' the wonders of The Body Shop very recently! Yes I know shame on me AND where've I been all these years!

The best thing is that The Body Shop almost always have amazing deals. I usually use the Strawberry Body Butter, but I just couldn't resist buying the Peach Limited Ed. (I think you can still find it at smaller stores.) This is a very moisturizing and VERY fragrant body butter. I apply it before going to bed and opt for something more neutral during the day. 

Number 3: blackUp Matifying Base 

The wonderful Margaux from rubybox first introduced me to this little miracle. After a bit of research I found that blackUp has now repackaged and renamed this product to their Perfect Matifying Primer. I suspect that the insides might've been tweaked here and there, but basically it's the same product, with new packaging and they replaced Base with the latest buzz-word, namely Primer. This product does exactly what it promises - 'it matifies shiny zones, helps oil control, reduces the appearance of pores' and it prepares ones face for a smooth foundation application. 

Number 4: Flora by Gucci in Glamorous Magnolia (EDT)

This smells like summer is throwing the most glamorous party and if you wear this people will think you are throwing this party! You will smell notes of Freesia, Green Leaves, Citrus Zest, Peony, Magnolia, Musk, Sandalwood and Warm Chocolate Accord. It's a glamorous, sensual and romantic scent - a must for long summer days or late summer nights. 

I'm not partial to and EDT as, I can only assume, that the acidity of my skin is very high and therefor I don't get the most out of and EDT. But I've learned to rather (actually always) spritz perfume on my clothes rather than on my skin. You really get more out of it and you avoid the nasty possibility of pigmentation. 

Number 5: NARS Blush in Orgasm

This makeup brand isn't available in South Africa YET, but this past year we've been lucky to welcome some of the most well-known international brands (in beauty and fashion) to South Africa. So definitely holding thumbs that this one is on its way! Luckily my Mama brought this blush back for me after her latest visit to the States. (Can I just say that this very conservative mom of mine ACTUALLY had to go to a counter and ask for NARS Orgasm - shame... LOLzies.) NARS Blush in Orgasm is a cult favourite for very obvious reasons. It suits almost every skin tone and it just gives your complexion the prettiest glow.

So that's it! My Top 5 Beauty Affair Products. I hope you've enjoyed my beauty banter! Feel free to leave a comment and share some of your thoughts. 

Lots of love Jana

xxx