Christian Zajicek on Keeping Film Alive with the Diana F+ and Lomography 800 120 Film

Christian Zajicek is a self-taught artist and analogue photographer with over 15 years of experience. We sent them a Diana F+ ready to load with a roll of our Lomography Color Negative 120 ISO 800, knowing that with their knack for in-camera experimentation and well-versed understanding of medium format photography, they would create something astonishing.

For our collaboration, Christian decided to embrace our Ten Golden Rules by going full-on-Lomo and experimented with different lighting and exposure methods. They also shared an exciting Instagram reel featuring the results, which can be found here.

Hi Christian, welcome to Lomography Magazine! Can you please start off by telling us a bit about yourself and your work?

Hello, and thank you! My name is Christian Zajicek and I am a self-taught photographer based in Atlanta, GA. I love capturing all sorts of subjects and landscapes, and the main focus of my work is portraits.

I began shooting film in 2009 when I found my first film camera, a Nikon FE, at a thrift shop while traveling. I've been in love with it ever since, and still use that FE to this day. I love experimenting with new lighting techniques, long exposures and double exposures.

Can you tell us about your previous experience with medium format photography?

I began shooting medium format film in 2019 with a Mamiya C330 and fell in love. I now use the RB67 for the majority of my 120 work. The clarity you get from the larger film cell is simply unmatched— every frame feels like a movie still.

Can you tell about the concepts for this shoot with the Diana F+?

For my shoot with the Diana F+, I shot with my friend Chasielle and we wanted to recreate something that looked like it would be a 90s or 00s R&B CD insert. I've always been obsessed with music, and as a kid one of my favorite things was opening up a new CD to see what images lined the inserts as well as underneath the CD. We went to Atlanta's most famous viewpoint, Jackson Street Bridge, and captured some nighttime shots using LED lighting.

I also took the Diana F+ with me to a wedding recently and shot some Ilford Ortho Plus in it— currently waiting to get those scans back from the lab! Can't wait to see them.

Do you have a favorite shot taken with the Diana F+? Is there a story behind it?

My favorite shot so far taken with the Diana F+ is the double exposure I took with a long exposure of traffic passing the Atlanta highways and a backlit silhouette of Chat over it. There's not too much of a story behind it, I just love the image!

What was your favorite feature of the Diana F+ camera?

My favorite feature of the Diana F+ has to be its simplicity— choose the 1/60 shutter speed or Bulb it yourself. There's something thrilling about winging it and counting for several seconds, just praying you exposed the shot correctly.

Do you have any tips or tricks for those looking to make the jump from 35mm to 120 film?

My best advice would be to just go for it. Every shoot I have where I have both cameras with me, I save my favorite shots for medium format film. The feeling is unmatched.

If you could take the Diana F+ and some Lomography Color Negative 120 film anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I would absolutely hands down take it to Reykjavík. Capturing the Northern Lights on film has been a dream of mine for years, and I just know the images would look so cool on Lomography film. The Diana F+ bulb function would be perfect to capture the Aurora Borealis in all its glory.

Do you have any upcoming shoots or projects that you can share with our community?

Nothing I'm able to share specific details of at the moment, but I am working on an intensely emotional, personal project that I can't wait to share. Everyone will just have to stay tuned!

Anything else you'd like to share?

To anyone out there discouraged by shooting film: don't let anyone tell you how to create.

Great art is made through trial and error and some of my favorite works have been created as happy accidents. I've shot both digital and film over the years, and both have their pros, but to me, there is nothing like the feeling of film.

Film is tangible, it teaches patience and certainly taught me to only press the shutter when I mean it, when I know the shot will be cherished. With digital, people tend to get so shutter happy and take hundreds of photos, only to discard most of them. Take your time. Of the 36 photos in a roll, I usually end up keeping 33 or so. Just take your time with it.

Also, get to know your camera. We have the privilege of living in the information era! Everything you need to know about how your camera's shutter speed and aperture works and what film is best for what kind of lighting or skin tones is out there.

Never give up! Film will never die!

If you're interested in keeping up with Christian and their work, make sure to check out their Instagram and website.

written by eloffreno on 2023-12-12 #gear #people #medium-format #120 #portraiture #portrait-photography #120-is-forever #120-is-worth-it