LomoGuru of the Week: Cryboy

In this international Lomography Community we live in, it is no surprise to find good friendship. But finding sweet love, well that sure is something else!

This week’s LomoGuru has had his own ups and downs in the world of Lomography. It’s crazy and it’s fun and it’s something that keeps him going on! And how amazing that he has found someone special in this shutter-loving world of ours. Coming from the romantic country of Italy, give a round of applause for LomoGuru cryboy!

Name: Giuseppe Zappalà
Lomography Username: cryboy
Location: Palermo, Italy
Number of years as a Lomographer: Two years and seven months
Number of years in the Community: Two years and four months

Tell us something about yourself… What do you do for a living? What are your interests?

As a good Sicilian, I love the sea, the boats, the food, and the smiling people! I studied in the Academy of Fine Arts in Palermo and then in Milan. I’m a restorer of paintings and also a painter but unfortunately, the Italian work situation is not so good for now. Sometimes, I can work in restoration or artistic jobs but other times, I can’t find a job in that (like now!) My main interests are art, painting, reading, cooking, and taking of analogue photos, of course!

Tell us something about your LomoHome’s name.

My username is from an intimate and personal story. I can’t explain more of this because it is important for me not for the people. I can say that it is about a love story that I had in 2010. For this reason and for an interest in the movie “Cry Baby” with Johnny Depp, I had a tattoo too in the arm.

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

The most memorable experience is about my girlfriend, sizer77. Without Lomography we would never meet! We are members of a Lomography community in Facebook where we discuss and exchange views about analogue photography and even more. I met her there, we started to speak and so on, then we met in real life.. and, and… Hahaha!

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

Yeah, of course! This is another beautiful experience I have had in Lomography. I’ve met new international friends in here whom I speak to regularly about life and so on. And the very interesting thing is that sometimes, I get to meet them in real life. For example, two months ago, the great atria007 visited me in Turin! A very funny experience that I will not forget! Friends like weidong and goonies have visited me, too!

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

What a question. are you kidding me?! The answer can be only one: YES! Because taking analogue photographs for me is like a drug, I want more and more. And because the analogue world will never die!

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

My favourite Lomography camera for now is the Lubitel 166U. I love it because it allows to me to have the best control when it comes to composing an image. This is typical with TLR cameras and helps me a lot. If a particular isn’t in the right position, I can know immediately and adjust it. About memorable experiences with my Lubitel, I have great memories of shooting with sizer77, atria007, and other friends like Serena. I think this camera is very suitable for shooting situations that require concentration and thought.

What is your most favourite Lomographic photo that you took. Why?

I have several! This one because it is one of my first double exposures. I really love the result!

This one because I love the natural light. The sun is like a symbol of my earth and last but not least, because sizer77 is so sweet here! She’s lovely!

This one because I had a lot of fun with Mery while having this session with her and “with Goya!"

This one because it still remains a mystery to me! It ’a tribute to the metaphysical art!

This one because I thought of this one a lot and it turned out how I wanted.

This because I love 70’s Italian police movies. In one of those movies, police used this model of Alfa Romeo for a spectacular car pursuit! This photo came out with a really nostalgic atmosphere.

Please share a Lomograph you wish you took and explain why.

This one by elelostdog! I love the colors of this shot, seems like a dreamscape. I think she has a very good eye when it comes to composing images!

What’s the best Lomographic or photography advice you think you have given?

When some friends ask me about tips and tricks, I usually reply that it needs to give the viewer a new point of perspective. The viewer wants to be astonished. There isn’t only one way to do this, everyone must search for the best.

If there’s one song or movie that best describes your Lomo life, what is that and why?

There is a movie by the master Alejandro Jodorowsky that I really really love and I recommend everyone to watch. The movie is titled “The Holy Mountain.” I can’t speak more about this because it’s very visionary, totally crazy, and also related to alchemy. This movie teaches about finding new meanings, watching the world with different eyes, and probably adapting the world to ourselves. But to watch this and other movies of Jodorowsky, you must not have bias. You must be deep and have a predisposition to read allegorical meanings.

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

Find your point of view when you are in front of your subject and remove all that you don’t need. Synthesize and be careful when it comes to light and shadows, they are very important!

Do you think you’re qualified as a LomoGuru? Got something to share in our Community? Then drop me a line at mayee.gonzales@lomography.com and you might become the next LomoGuru!

written by mayeemayee on 2013-07-21 #videos #lifestyle #interview #lomoguru #cryboy