95 Theses of Lomography organized into 7 categories

The Lomography World Congress London 2007
95 Theses of Lomography organized into 7 categories
A. FUNDAMENTALS 1. Lomography is always ironic. 2. A good way of drawing people’s attention to you is to lomograph them. 3. Always lomograph. Never grow weary. 4. If you don’t achieve mastery of lomography through self-education then technical literature won’t help you either. For lomographers it is always important not to get out of practice. 5. Point your Lomo at yourself. This works like a spiritual purgative. 6. A lomographer lomographs everything, even corpses. 7. Lomography always signifies contact. 8. Morals are a misconception. Lomography is a virtue. 9. The eyes of the lomographer are his assets. 10. The shutter release of the lomographer is his detonator. 11. Live as far as possible with a Lomo. 12. Always love. Always lomograph. 13. Inspiration is everything for the lomographer though a little training doesn’t hurt. 14. The lomographer is inquisitive. Surprise is his elixir. 15. To get to know a lomographer you need only get to know yourself. 16. Don’t hit others with your Lomo, you could damage it. 17. Give your friends and enemies lomographs as gifts. 18. Be tactful when lomographing during sex. 19. Be suspicious if someone recommends you a relaxing massage or calming tablets in anxious situations. It is better to lomograph instead.
B. LIFE 20. Make lots of lomographs. No one will be able to hate you that much and it will slightly influence those who don’t love you. 21. If someone asks you, what kind of passion causes you to lead such an enjoyable life, answer: „my Lomo“. 22. Don’t go overboard with paradoxes if you want to lomograph someone. 23. A lomographer can also be an exhibitionist. But that’s irrelevant. 24. Never think of sleeping. You can sleep later. It is better to lomograph. 25. Never flatter. Be harsh and lomograph. 26. Your slogan reads: „Exclusive“. Think however of your friends, the lomographers. 27. Don’t let your voice or your complexion let on that its late at night but always allow your lomographs to do so. 28. Keep all physical exertions to a minimum. It is better to lomograph. 29. Don’t live with other people. That will hinder you from lomographing. 30. If in doubt always decide against seeing a doctor. Should you however need to consult a doctor then wait for the results of the examination first before lomographing him. 31. Hide your own opinion wherever possible. Lomograph instead.
C. GIRLS AND BOYS: 32. There are people who may approach you in order to be lomographed. 33. If you should forget your Lomo and a woman / man returns it to you, lomograph him / her. 34. Only undress the person opposite you if you at least intend to lomograph her or him. 35. Learn to hypnotize with your Lomo. 36. If a man / woman ask you how he/she can look best in the picture don’t trouble yourself with your Lomo. He / she is either unattractive or impudent. 37. If a man / woman keep out of your way, throw yourself at his / her feet, kiss the floor and your Lomo and surrender your fate to him / her. 38. If a man / woman kisses you impulsively after you have taken a lomograph of him / her then bestow your Lomo with a new film. 39. If you want to remain the object of affection of a man / or woman for as long as possible, lomograph him / her in a way that is most flattering to him/ her. 40. A lomographer rarely greets people, but always lomographs. Occasionally, he even enjoys kissing. 41. When trying to win over a man / woman it is often effective to lomograph later on. 42. Appreciate the suggestion of lomography, lomography always wins. 43. From time to time excess is necessary. Attack and lomograph. The results will later become the narrative of your life. 44. Observe the reactions of those you’re with, if you talk about lomography. Laugh.
D. STYLE 45. Occasionally lomograph shouting loudly „Hurra". 46. Don’t keep company with imbeciles, it’s better to lomograph. 47. Have you suddenly no more strength to take lomographs, then from now on be miserable. 48. Lomography isn’t a dog and doesn’t need to go out regularly. 49. When lomographing always give yourself the impression of being dangerous. That will make more pictures possible. 50. In Salons it is better to stand. You could be lomographed. 51. Greet people with your Lomo and never your tongue. 52. Only kneel while taking photographs as an act of adoration. Otherwise shoot from the hip. 53. Never sweat; if you have to, lomograph immediately to distract the other person. 54. When at the opera, resist the temptation to throw your Lomo. Use eggs or tomatoes instead. 55. Never lomograph a mobile phone. Never!
E. ANALOGUE / DIGITAL 56. Never trust a digital camera. 57. Never enter a photo shop that doesn’t have Lomos. 58. Never excuse a digital photographer because you will come across as arrogant. 59. Be wary of digital photographers, their lack of imagination is contagious. 60. Now and again suddenly close your eyes when taking lomographs, the result of your excitement will surprise you. 61. Always judge according to the external appearance of the picture. The secret of the world is visible not hidden. Think of Oscar Wilde. Lomograph. 62. Only criticize someone else’s camera a) if it’s a digital camera or b) if he or she hits you over the head with it. 63. What is important in lomography is simply to shoot from the hip. 64. Avoid any association with digital photographers. Each one is bad luck personified. Digital photographers have no imagination or passion. 65. Always assume that digital photographers mean mischief. 66. Consecrate analogue cameras. Digital cameras are of the devil. 67. Every rule has an exception. The exception is the rule. A lomographer may do anything. So never forget and secretly repeat: „digital or analogue, whichever, Lomo is everything. “
F. JOURNEY 68. If there’s no way out, lomograph. 69. Wherever you lomograph, never forget: „Everything that you see around you may be put on. 70. The journey never ends for the lomographer. 71. Only take your Lomo home if you aren’t in a hurry. 72. Always live together with your Lomo. You will definitely need it at some point. 73. Lomograph at dawn, on land, on water, in the air, wherever. 74. There are so many things you can do if it’s sunny. However, you can lomograph whatever the weather is like. 75. Take care when drunk that your Lomo gets home safely. 76. It is possible to lomograph on aeroplanes, though you run the risk of appearing clumsy if you do. Better to travel by train, particularly the Orient-Express. 77. Take care at unpleasant border crossings that your Lomo survives the inspection procedures regardless. 78. Should you be obliged to bury your Lomo in a wood, remember where you buried it. 79. Lomograph in the Alps giving preference to the Austrian Alps before the Swiss or French Alps. However, bear in mind that the Taiga, Pampa and Tatra are also pretty. 80. You can lomograph everywhere but it’s always better abroad.
G. EXTRA 81. If the conversation turns to an awkward point, just lomograph the other person. 82. Never carry a gun; it will tempt you to use it. Always carry a Lomo instead and use that. 83. Should your Lomo fall from a window or balcony onto the street below due to carelessness or drunkenness, if a loud scream rings in your ear, take to your heels. 84. Don’t steal lomographs from Lomographers. 85. If it’s hard for you to take the right shot, then force yourself to keep trying so that even if you don’t succeed you will at least get into a Lomoflow that will stop you from getting bored. 86. Don’t concern yourself with psychoanalysis, politics, literature or science. It steals your time and strength, without even challenging you. Lomograph the whole world. That will do you more good. 87. Go to the cinema frequently. Pictures create pictures. The lomographer loves the cinema. 88. You will also achieve peak performance if you take more and more lomographs. 89. Never forget the quote by Dr. Walter Serner: „Ideologies are nothing more than an assortment of words”, and always feel completely free to decide what to lomograph and what not. So bear in mind that you will get more rest lying in a hammock than on a Gauguin. 90. Suggest a lot, dont keep to your promises, convince with your Lomographs. 91. Don’t speak of projects. One day someone will shoot you or subsidize you. Take lomographs without asking. 92. Lomograph high clerical dignitaries, especially the Pope. 93. If you lomograph an animal, choose cats or snakes first. Take care with birds or fighting dogs. 94. Be wary of journalists and politicians and consider the risk you run if you lomograph them. 95. At worst, after a day of lomography in inescapable loneliness, recite the 95 Lomo theses and then be strengthened with a glass of champagne before going to bed. Or at best, if you meet an attractive person of the othersex (or - in case - of the same sex), leave the reciting out and enjoy the glass of champagne and a night in company.