@jmcedo's Sónar Festival Snaps with the LomoApparat

Music festivals are a great place to capture unique moments. The lighting can be challenging, people move quickly and the crowds are diverse, but every shot is sure to be unforgettable. Joan Manel Cedó, a seasoned Lomographer with the username @jmcedo, is a regular attendee of the Sónar festival in Barcelona. This festival is a celebration of technology, electronic music, and creativity, and is one of the most popular in the world. Joan has previously always used the Lomo LC-A+ camera to take photos at the festival, but now he is trying out Lomography's latest camera, the LomoApparat.

This year, Sónar celebrated its 30th anniversary with a bigger celebration than past events. The focus was on artificial intelligence and how it intersects with various industries and fields. They also created elaborate stages and immersive spaces for music, like "SónarComplex", an interactive installation that explores the relationship between music, technology, and the human body, and "Sónar360", an immersive 360-degree experience that uses advanced technology for a fully immersive audio-visual environment. The event featured big names in electronic music, such as Aphex Twin, Honey Dijon, KODE 9, Peggy Gou, and Richie Hawtin.

I only could go to Sónar by Day Friday afternoon. It was a fresh afternoon and it was the prelude of an incoming amazing weekend. But I enjoyed a lot with the music and the scenarios of every set especially during Ryoji Ikeda's audiovisual experience where I felt as if I ascended. People said that this year was better than the last one because it was the 30th anniversary and there were a lot of high-level musicians with amazing staging.

Joan's festival photos showcase the chaotic atmosphere on the dancefloor but also show the chance to experiment and capture unique shots. The LomoApparat's straightforward settings of fixed aperture, shutter speed, and ISO enable easy capture of special moments. Additionally, the wide-angle lens ensures that everything in the frame is photographed effortlessly. This album contains great examples that show how a music festival can be a photographer's playground.

I brought both the LC-A+ and the LomoApparat. In the LC-A+ I had a pre-shot film full of roses and I only reserved it to shoot backlights on the way. For the rest, I used the LomoApparat for its versatility and fast way to point and shoot. It was enjoyable to shoot people at the event. I didn’t have to worry about anything; I simply looked around, selected the flash color, and shot. I was impressed with the results and the good vibes I could feel in every shot because I was smiling in every snap and the people captured too. It was beautiful to document a nice afternoon where in every shot I received a smile. Followed from me with a “Thanks!” or “Your look is so elegant!!”. Good energy with the camera, the people, and the atmosphere around. I love you Sónar.

Shooting in this hectic and lively environment is a challenge but there is always something beautiful amid the chaos. Joan has been shooting this festival for many years and he has more or less mastered the art of low-light photography with the amazing results he has seen over the years. Whether you're heading to a big festival in the coming months or want to try low-light photography, Joan has many insights over the years that he can share with you to help you get that unforgettable shot.

Keep the camera and flash always on and dance with the LomoApparat in your hand. This makes you ready for every situation that appears in front of you. The camera doesn’t need any focus adjustment because it focuses everything, you just need to be quick to point and shoot. But the most important tip for this specific event, when everything occurs fast and with low light, is to keep the camera stable and static in your hand in the moment you press the shutter. You can dance, and you can move but when pressing the shutter button remind yourself to keep your hand rigid, your results will be sharp, clear and full of color and life. Don’t forget it!

We thank Joan for his wonderful photos! Make sure to follow him on his LomoHome to keep up with his photos. Have you used the LomoApparat at a concert or party? Tell us about it down below!

written by rocket_fries0036 on 2023-10-02 #gear #culture #people #places #party #barcelona #spain #techno #double-exposure #sonar #lomocolor800 #lomoapparat