The Polaroid Land Camera adventure.
A couple of weeks ago I got a crazy idea. Why not see if any of the old Polaroid Land Cameras we have still work. Easier said than done.At the studio we have four that showed promise. I selected the one that looked least damaged and started to clean it up. The bad thing was the battery. It had completely corroded over so I used the old Coke trick and cleaned off the battery acid. The battery was an odd shaped thing and after a quick visit to Radio Shack they told me I could order it at radioshack.com. You will have to look in your camera compartment for the exact size you need.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2715649
The film came from Adorama.
On to the pics. I don't know why I think they are so cool but I do. Maybe it's the analog processing. The archaic focus and simple click. Pulling the film out and waiting for it to develop. Then the big peeling back to reveal what you shot. It's far removed from taking a quick pic with my iPhone. The image is usually too dark and most times (due to my lack of skills) slightly soft. The image has this roughness and old feel to them that I love. My favorite photo apps for my iPhone mimics this look. Shakeitphoto
The color is shot on the FP-100 and the BW with the FP-3000.
Mayor Jeff
Jeff,
These are beautiful! I have a Polaroid Land 420 and I absolutely love it. Your film looks more rich and contrasty than the film I ordered from Impossible. I'll have to check out Adorama's offerings for instant film next!
I also agree that the analog processing and the hands-on reveal of the image make it so special and unique. It goes back to a time when this one image on this stock won't exist ever again.
Thanks so much for sharing these images! What would be the best way to share some of my own in relation to your post?
Chris
Chris do you have them posted on flickr? Send me the URL to where you have them.
In the first shot, your lady looks like she's wondering "what am I doing on this side of the camera?!", or "dang, he found a new toy." Maybe it's just the soft image fooling me? ;)
I kinda miss the Polaroids. I was a kid when I last had one, and I felt like da bomb when using it. Always scrounging around for cash to buy more cartridges ("Mom, Mom!") The colors did have their own special look! May have to start poking around on eBay--I really like the B&Ws in your post...
Your assistant looks quite pretty in the lighting there by the window, and I love that shot. Is it strange, though, that what keeps coming to mind is, "Fingerprints, FINGERPRINTS!". Perhaps I need help...