First Impressions : @lafilledeer with the HydroChrome Sutton's Panoramic Belair Camera

Member of our Community since 2012, Cécile aka @lafilledeer had the opportunity to discover the new Lomography camera HydroChrome Sutton's Panoramic Belair! Have a look at her first impressions and her quick tips on using the camera and its liquid-filled lens.

Hi Cécile, how are you doing?

Hello Lomography, good and you?

Us too! Could you tell us a bit about your recent projects?

I'm still working on Polysème Magazine. I'm the editor of this magazine and I'm also taking pictures for this project. I have been working on an essay called "Retrieve our bodies", it's about gynecological, obstetrical, and systemic violence. To illustrate this essay, I gather testimonials and photograph people who have things to say about this topic. It's a very demanding project and it doesn't leave me much time for other photography works, except some shootings from time to time.

© Photos were taken by @lafilledeer with HydroChrome Sutton’s Panoramic Belair Camera, Lomography Color Negative 400 film and the Sutton lens filled with water.

You recently had the opportunity to test the brand new HydroChrome Sutton's Panoramic Belair Camera, how would you describe this camera in a few words?

You have to enjoy experimentation and know-how to let yourself go in terms of settings with this camera. In a few words: few possibilities of adjustments, a viewfinder a little approximative, and a lens filled with liquid.

What kind of liquid did you use with the camera?

I only used water and methylene blue (my favorite liquid for making film soups). Like with La Sardina Camera or the Diana Camera, I think you need to take time to get used to this camera or to test a film, a liquid... that's why I didn't test many of them.

Can you tell us a little bit about the pictures you took? Do you have a favorite one?

Considering the panoramic format, the lens opening, and the focusing distance, I preferred to test it outdoors. I took some panoramas of downtown Villeurbanne near Lyon and others in Arles and its surrounding countryside. I find that nature always lends itself well to the Lomochrome Purple film: the green becomes purple and the landscapes take on a dreamlike aspect.

© Photos were taken by @lafilledeer with HydroChrome Sutton's Panoramic Belair Camera, on the left LomoChrome Purple film and Sutton lens filled with water.

The couple embracing is my favorite one (thanks Ariane & Medhi!), which is perfectly aligned with the flare caused by the sunset. These pictures were not planned and it was really magical to be able to capture a moment of love like this in the countryside with the sunset. The rendering with the flare was a nice surprise.

What did you think of HydroChrome Sutton's Panoramic Belair camera?

I find that, unlike DSLRs, cameras with few adjustment possibilities require more thought and it is challenging. The result is all the tastier when the shot is successful or really unexpected, like the one I describe above. Being already a fan of experiments like film soups, I quite like the possibility to totally change the color of the shots by using chemistry this time at the lens level. This is unheard of for me. I like to do panoramas from time to time and I'm always a fan of the ability to do double exposures.

© Photos were taken by @lafilledeer with the HydroChrome Sutton's Panoramic Belair. On the left, a LomoChrome Purple film and Sutton lens filled with diluted methylene blue & on the right a Lomography Color Negative 400 film and Sutton lens filled with methylene blue.

Any tips or tricks on using this camera?

As I said, this type of camera requires some thought for each image: you have to keep in mind the settings and the light conditions. For example, using it indoors without a flash may give disappointing results. But I know it's against Lomography's rules, which rely on spontaneity, and surely other photographers will have an opposite practice!


We would like to thank the photographer @lafilledeer, for sharing with us her opinion and tips, as well as her nice shots. Find Cécile on her LomoHome @lafilledeer, her Instagram account and on Polysème Magazine.

2021-04-24 #gear #people

HydroChrome Sutton's Panoramic Belair Camera

A 35 mm camera and liquid-filled lens that crafts extraordinary perforated panoramics. Go loopy with liquids, wild for the wet look, and crazy with colors!

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