Guangzhou's Lomostar: Just Shoot

Lomostar is located on the third floor of the Lingnan Culture and Art Building, the big red one across from Martyr's Park on Zhongshansanlu. If I remember right it's subway Exit B2. (Photo by kou.)
__________

"You're like a kid in a candy store," I said to my friend, Michael Christopher Brown, a professional photographer (or "editorialist"; see his Web site), who was visiting Guangzhou after covering the Beijing Olympics for ESPN Magazine. I had taken him to Lomostar, a camera shop specializing in hard-to-find cameras like Lomos, Holgas (see this Wired photo contest), Polaroids--even Pearl Rivers (?).

"You can't find these in the States," Brown said, stacking a few must-haves on a table. The shop, however, is not just for professionals. As any member of the Lomographic Society will tell you, novices make some of the best photographers. The whole idea behind Lomo, is that one shouldn't be preocuppied with the technical aspects of photography. Hence the society's motto: "Don't Think, Just Shoot." Brown said that to relax sometimes, he leaves his state-of-the-art equipment at home, and takes a walk with his Holga.

That said, the cameras at Lomostar are almost so simple they're complicated. Not to worry, the owner is affable, patient, and passionate about his products, some of which--the T-shirts, bags, stickers, etc.--he's designed himself. See Lomostar's Web site for more information.