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Polaroid: Cause for change?

This article is written by a member of our expert community. It expresses that member’s views only. We welcome other perspectives. Here’s how to contribute to MM EDU.

The role of the Polaroid has been one of importance for decades, whether for light tests, quick family snaps or stand alone shoots. But these days, with the rapid decrease of availability of traditional Polaroid format variety, many have given up hope.  Although I wasn’t shooting during the heyday of Polaroid usage in professional photography, I know that the integration of Polaroids is still a beautiful thing regardless of how hard it is to come by.

Like many of you, I’ve gone through many creative ruts (most of which occur during the Winter); I needed change.  What really set things in motion was stumbling onto Transform, the Scott Kelby video post put together by Zack Arias of Atlanta.  I stewed on that video for weeks before I could really identify what was going on with my creative flow.

My conclusion? TOO MUCH CLUTTER, TOO MUCH OVER THINKING, AND NOT ENOUGH OF THE BASICS.

While I had a vision in my head, my finished product was never a cohesive match. I was so preoccupied by lighting ratios, model cooperation, locations, etc; it really killed the spontaneity and the natural flow of beautiful images for me.

Fast forward 2 months.  I’ve been following the work of Austin, TX-based Julian Humphries for 5 years. He is a master of various Polaroid formats. This guy is the reason I picked up a Polaroid camera at one of the local thrift stores. After scouring his Dr Polaroid Model Mayhem page, his blog, his website and his Facebook, I picked up enough knowledge to start selecting films for upcoming projects.  First film purchase was Polaroid TZ Artistic and Impossible Project PX100 First Flush. I traveled up to Washington, DC with a bag full of Polaroid film and slam dunked some killer images with half a dozen models in the Highlander Motel in Arlington, VA.

What did I learn? I’ve come to the realization that the day I started shooting integral films (instant films like Polaroids, etc), I morphed into a completely different photographer. The utter simplicity of instant films allows me to get back to the roots of my love for photography. No longer am I consumed entirely by the thoughts of gear and the necessity of assistants while shooting. Bags of lights, lenses, extra cameras, etc. became my security blanket. My mind was clouded with the things that didn’t matter. 30 years from now when I look at images I’ve shot, I won’t care what camera I used or what shutter speed it was or how I did my post processing in Adobe.

I can’t imagine where I’ll be in the next 5 years. I’m not turning my back on the past; I’m just enjoying the present a lot more now. I haven’t given up digital photography; I’ve allowed analog to become a more important creative tool in my bag. If you’re going through a creative rut, start thinking outside the box. Maybe Polaroid is for you, maybe not. With the introduction of The Impossible Project and the continued efforts of Fuji, you have the opportunity to give instant films a try. Between a $5 thrift store Polaroid and a few $20 boxes of film, you might be pleasantly surprised at what happens inside you.

UrbanDecayChris

UrbanDecayChris is an East Coast USA based fashion, lifestyle and erotica photographer who utilizes digital and analog photography to capture moods and memories. He is an internationally published photographer and is tied to many top tier agencies. His work can be viewed at www.Polarotica.com & www.UrbanDecayChris.com.

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  • Noel Grigalunus

    As a veteran photographer like yourself, because I shot Polaroids extensively for well over ten years, and after looking at your work on your MM page, I would offer to say that you’ve made a great first start. There is more to Polaroids than just processing and manipulating them post production, on the computer. You should really take a look at the Polaroid Collection book that came out last year, that showcaes Polaroid’s massive collection of images they either acquired through purchase or received from pro-shooters over the decades. I have it in my library and still find it useful in conceiving of self-initiated projects, as well as a few commercial assignments when there is time, or when a client is open to it.

    • Torreblanca Carlos

      I do not post process Polaroid of any type including 100 or 600 expired film series. Scanned without correction and done. Unpredictable results are what I thrive on.

  • UrbanDecayChris

    I don’t manipulate Polaroids in post production.

  • UrbanDecayChris

    Its also important to note that the purpose of this article is not for people to critique my work. Stay on topic people.

    • Noel Grigalunus

      Speaking only for myself, no insult or disrespect was intended with my comment. But the moderators of this column have stated clearly that “…We welcome other perspectives.” And one of real purposes of any good photography site is, or should be, to encourage and welcome feedback, whether you expected it or not. It makes you a better photographer, and hopefully, it raises the level of quality of your work,

      • http://richburroughs.tumblr.com richburroughs

        I saw Todd Hido speak last summer. He’s an extremely successful fine art photographer and also an MM member. He mentioned that he thinks random feedback can be a bad thing — everyone has an opinion, and if you listen to them all you can get lost. He recommended picking a few people to get serious feedback about your work from and ignoring the rest.

        I think there’s something to be said for that. And I certainly don’t think someone talking about the music on Chris’s web site has anything to do with the topic even.

      • UrbanDecayChris

        I don’t have an issue receiving critics from my peers but its generally preferred in an appropriate avenue. Without observing those proper channels, it allows the original message to be lost in a barrage of unrelated and often conflicting opinions; that hurts the purpose of the original point. The premise of this article is to look inside ourselves and discover something new; NOT nit pick others. All of this constant opinion serving has a negative effect and it can detract you on your own path of personal discovery.

  • Dirttydogg

    people take ages in photoshop just to produce this type of look, and like you say 20 quid and an interrest. its there?

  • AndrewS

    Good on you for finding a new way to move forward for yourself.

    However, have you thought about trying to get the same looks via lightroom/photoshop? Ultimately digital is less expensive — I think polaroid is over $1/frame in the US, maybe more. And of course the megapixel issue — polaroids are small. And perhaps that’s how you want them displayed, but even with a large format camera you can display the images small.

    Just a thought, since ultimately those looks can be achieved digitally in lightroom/photoshop — and with presets, they can be done in a snap without much work. Then you’d have the ability to shoot as many as you’d like, and you could make larger prints if you’d like as well.

    • http://richburroughs.tumblr.com richburroughs

      The thing about presets is that you just don’t get the kind of unexpected results you do with Polaroids. As for size, I’m scanning my current Polaroid series and I expect to make pretty large prints from the scans, like 24″ or even 30″ on the long edge.

      Of course digital is cheaper, and if you can’t afford film then you need to use what you can.

    • UrbanDecayChris

      One of the big things I’ve noticed is the STRONG positive reaction with models when you pull out the Polaroid. Unless they are used to shooting Polaroids, its a big excitement for many of them. You can’t recreate that in photoshop/lightroom.

      • http://richburroughs.tumblr.com richburroughs

        That’s a great point. Also it’s nice to have a finished print to look at and know you nailed the shot. Even with digital I’m fooled sometimes when I see something on the LCD that ends up not being sharp enough. It really helps loosen people up I think when they see they’ve done well.

  • http://richburroughs.tumblr.com richburroughs

    It’s funny that you mention Julian, he inspired me as well. I found his work several years ago on Flickr. I was already shooting Polaroids but not working with models yet. His work was one of the things that pushed me in that direction.

    I keep running across your work, it’s great.

    Also I’d mention that for people on a budget, the Fuji pack film may be a better alternative. The FP-100C is less than $1 per exposure. The Impossible Project films are more like $3 a shot.

    • http://www.barrafotos.com Barra

      Fp 100c is also good for reclaiming negs and emulsion lifts, satisfaction guaranteed

  • Carlofivehands

    Since I was a kid I’ve always had a Polaroid, and although Polaroid film is gone I still have some film packs in the fridge. The color of the film is unique and the Fuji instant films cannot reproduce the pallet. Many have claimed they feel the Fuji is better but I disagree as it is very contrasty and often is too strong in magenta and unable to produce the blues of the Polaroid.

    I am not a digital photographer but I have played with it and even then the Polaroid cannot be imitated. I plan on trying the Impossible film but right now I still have some Polaroid.

    A great former Polaroid film was their instant 35mm slide film which you processed after shooting with a Polaroid slide film processor which took about 5 minutes. The results were amazing.

    Lots of great products are gone forever but I have shoe boxes full of prints from all the years gone by.

    • Michael

      ‘A great former Polaroid film was their instant 35mm slide film’

      YES! I loved that film. Didn’t realize (at the time) just how unique the film was. Damn-it!

  • Baddog

    I have Photoshopped some Polaroids from really old film. It was the only way to extract the image with mixed results

    http://www.modelmayhem.com/729705

  • http://www.barrafotos.com Barra

    Great to read this, my sentiments exactly, I’ve moved back to film photography using my Rb67 with my digital camera for exposure checks much like I’ve used Polaroids in the past.
    I’m remembering now those great Polaroids that Simon Larbalestier did for The Pixies Surfer Rosa album artwork, just mention Polaroids and the word opens a memory bank of artful images.
    I also have a Polaroid back for the Rb67 and you’ve just reminded me to get some Fuji film packs for it, I must experiment some more with Fuji instant.
    The creative process of film is so different and important to me with respect to enjoying photography.
    I’ll admit digital offers so much and medium format digital in particular, but coming from a film background… if I had to choose now I’d choose film for the satisfaction factor.

  • Sexypolaroid

    i use lots of instant cameras like fuji or polaroid and i have to say : models loved it , i didnt have even one who didnt like it …..polaroid should be back with new hardware , as getting very popular again !!!i love it !!!

  • Anonymous

    Polaroid transfers. Anyone remember that?

    I did shoot some Type 55 PN for a little while. It was a good instant film, but the negatives were always so extra delicate. A regular sheet of film could take a little more pounding. I gave up on popping roids shortly thereafter.

  • Bravecape Productions

    For as long as I can remember, photographers, and the digital tech non-photographers have been trying to “better and better” products for shooting, processing, and printing. Make the image sharper, make the colors more vibrant. Now, not only can real pros, who are real artists, do pretty much anything they want to(HDR), but everybody else can “kind-of” have good quality images. My point being, going “old-school”, going Polaroid or just making your images look old-school is was and always will be better. The new look today is good for many things, which yes I do like doing, but Polaroid and something that looks like it has depth will always be a stronger image.

  • John

    From 1988 to around 1999 or so, I shot tens of thousands of Polaroids using an ancient Graflex camera and Polaroid B&W 2-part pack film. I was shooting for an NFL team from the press level of the stadium, we could actually see the steamy breath coming out of the players’ helmets. It was a great format, though with lots of issues; the cold weather would prevent the shots from ever developing. I used to have a system where I would tear the photo from the camera and stuff it into my jacket on a complex rotating basis (armpit, belly, side shoulder etc). All the while shooting, I had to remember which spot under my clothes held the next image which had finished developing. The whole process was a mess, I would leave covered in chemicals, cold and exhausted.

    When the NFL teams switched away from Polaroids, they started using B&W thermal video printers. That gave them an image that was more than double in size yet a mere fraction of the Polaroid’s resolution. No longer could they actually read the numbers on the jerseys or even quite make out which team a player was on.

    Progress eh?

    • UrbanDecayChris

      I’d like to see some of those NFL Polaroids. Can’t seem to find anything like that via Google. Care to share? message me if you are!

      • UrbanDecayChris

        urbandecaychris here on MM

  • Fathearn

    I used to use 4×5 Polaroid P/N film for set ups and lighting checks. I was really sad to see Polaroid bite the dust. I don’t know where you can even get Polaroid film anymore, let alone fresh film. Sad day when Polaroid went bye bye.

    • urbandecaychris

      There are several companies producing instant films now. Impossible project and fuji.

  • Bruce2

    I appreciate that you are finding some new insights and ways of shooting, via the Polaroid process…. but i think you could have found just as many new ways of seeing things by really cutting back on technology, and using a pinhole camera and available light!

    So ultimately it all really depends on your thinking processes and much less on the actual equipment you are using… An unpublished work by Minor White, and some of Wynn Bullocks long time exposures inspired me to work in an entirely different way, seeing the world in an entirely different light, and i didn’t change one bit of equipment.

    For a real change up, you might want to try Lady Gaga’s new polaroid cam, and maybe using its USB output to display your work in entirely new ways!

  • http://orcatek.com/ Orcatek

    Polaroid is back with a new instant camera. Digital version that prints right away.

    http://store.polaroid.com/product/9/356223/Z340/_/Instant_Digital_Camera

    • Anonymous

      Polaroid went out of business; Some investors bought the name, then sold it again.

      The current Polaroid stuff is just a technology company capitalizing on the name :(

  • Peterbrucephotography

    good stuff miss type 55
    peter bruce photo

  • Anonymous

    Polaroids are overrated ;-)

  • Fred

    I always loved shooting 8×10 Polaroid.

    [img]http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5002/5314715799_8d6df3f326_b.jpg[/img]

  • Mike M

    The last remaining true Polaroid film, costs significantly more than $20 Chris….

    You’re very lucky that you happened to find some cartridges for that cheap of a price ;P.

    @ the new Polaroid “digital” camera.

    Yes, I’d just love a Polaroid camera that can print 25 images before it runs out on me.

    • urbandecaychris

      You can easily get Spectra film for 10 bucks a pack on Ebay. 600 and SX70 can run 15-40 depending on age and who’s selling it. Buying in bulk helps as well.

  • jacko

    damn hipsters.

  • http://www.gorgeouskillers.tumblr.com/ JAYCINISTA

    I have some expired[but tested] 669 film that I am willing to trade[or sell] to anyone that is interested. I would keep it and shoot but my polacam sucks.

    jcinista@gmail.com

  • http://www.facebook.com/katlyn.lacoste Katlyn Lacoste

    I absolutely love Polaroid. Its a little hobby of mine. That no one really see’s unless they saw the drawer I hide them all in.

    The instant gratification gets me.

    I really dislike memory cards. Just for personal art and all.

  • http://www.modelmayhem.com/missjessicaelaine J Elaine 93

    I have a polariod but film is just so expensive. Anyone know where to get a good deal?

  • Robin Fox

    I love Polaroid and always have. These photos are wonderful