Lomography Partners: Fotovramke Film Lab of Kyiv, Ukraine

Come one, come all. Lomography has partners all over the world to help serve your analogue needs. If you're from Ukraine then it's your lucky day. We're featuring our Kyiv-based stockist Dmytro But of Fotovramke Film Lab in today's installment of Lomography Partners.

Can you introduce yourself to the Lomography community?

My name is Dmytro But and I'm the co-owner of Fotovramke Film Lab and analogue photography store in Kyiv, Ukraine.

What does analogue mean to you?

Analogue is what you can touch and hold. For me, it's something that is true—a thing that can leave a mark in our world. I'm sure that in the nearest future, the profession of digital photographer will disappear. Digital cameras already can make lots of things (face and eyes detection, for example) without a man beside the camera. In this situation, the value of analogue photography increases. In fact, the analogue photographer is the only photographer that remains as a profession.

What does Lomography mean to you?

Lomography showed young generations what analogue photography means. You managed to arouse interest in analogue photography with the help of unusual and even crazy cameras which are really easy to use. This is the main value of Lomography for me.

Why do you choose to work with Lomography?

You have really great film. Our customers choose CN 400, Lomochrome, Metropolis, and various medium format film as some of the best films to shoot on.

What is your favorite Lomography product and why?

Besides films and cameras, I would like to say few words about the Lomography shopping bag. It's really great! It's huge and convenient. We use it every day when we go to the shipping department to send out our customers' orders and negatives. We all really love it.

Are you doing any creative projects right now in the store or personally? Please tell us more about them.

I'm not but you can look though our Instagram to see our creative projects. There are lots of them there.

What does the future of analogue photography look like to you? How will this impact your store in the next 10 years?

The future of analogue photography mainly depends on film production. If Kodak and Fujifilm will keep increasing film production, the market will keep growing. We all saw how Kodak's production difficulties influenced the whole market. I really hope that Kodak and Fujifilm management see the potential of the film market and won't leave us without film stock again.

What hardship did your shop/lab have to face during the lockdowns and what kept you going through these hard times?

There is no need to say that lockdowns influenced our sales and operations. I'm sure COVID-19 and its corresponding restrictions affected everyone. Our team is the key to moving forward regardless of the obstacles. These hard times showed us how we can find ways to operate, develop, scan, and provide our customers with films and cameras. We all do this together. #fotovramketeam <3

Quick Questions

What's the most annoying thing about running an analogue lab?

Communication with a lab helps one to get the results they strive for. And when we can’t find the common language with the customer and understand each other, this upsets us, of course. We spend lot of time trying to get the exact preferences of the customer, do lots of work, redo them a lot, and still can't make some of them happy.

What's your favorite memory from the lab so far?

We scanned really great images for a customer who shoots for Vogue.

What's the weirdest thing you have received when developing films?

Once, instead of film we've got pills in the film box from customer.

Vital Information

Official Name: Fotovramke Film Lab
Began Accepting Film for Developing: 2015
Address: Kiev, Ivana Franko, 20, Ukraine
Services offered: 35 mm, 120, 4x5, C-41, b&w, E6 developing, scanning and printing, camera and film sales
Film lab staff: 5

Want to see your favorite store featured in our magazine? Please send us an email at wholesaleinquiries@lomography.com and we will check them out!

written by cheeo on 2021-06-19 #people #places #partners #film #analogue #kiev #lab #ukraine #lomography-partners #fotovramke-film-lab