Throwback Thursday: Polaroid Manipulations

I dug out some of my old Polaroid Manipulations on Time Zero film and scanned them. You could use different instruments to push and bend the photo as it was developing. In the top photo, you can notice it best in some of the leaves at the bottom of the frame. The bottom photo is far less subtle.

I never spent enough time playing with this medium before Milford Camera Shop closed; I only shot one box of film. Polaroid stopped producing instant film at the end of 2008, so I packed up all four of my cameras. I figured one day, I'd make a cool display out of them.

Along comes The Impossible Project. "In October 2008 The Impossible Project saved the last Polaroid production plant for integral instant film in Enschede (NL) and started to invent and produce totally new instant film materials for traditional Polaroid cameras. In 2010 Impossible saved analog instant photography from extinction by releasing various, brand new and unique instant films. Impossible prevents more than 300,000,000 perfectly functioning Polaroid cameras from becoming obsolete, changes the world of photography and keeps variety, tangibility and analogue creativity and possibilites alive."

It's not as easy as it used to be. My particular favorite camera, the SX-70, takes 100 speed film. The Impossible Project makes 600 speed film. You really have to out think the camera here. I've been experimenting with my first pack of film with mixed results. Every shot I'm learning what the camera is doing, which is great. The downside is that you get 8 pictures per pack and each pack goes for $23.

I know, I like expensive photo projects.

There aren't any of my new shots in this post. I'm going to scan some of my test shots for you to take a look at, but the actual project I'm working on will take a few months. Let's just say this: I'm making the Impossible Project even more Impossible. As if fiddling with this film wasn't hard enough, I've chosen a challenging subject matter. I'm still tinkering, but it's a lot of fun.

I'll close out this Throwback Thursday post with an old Polaroid Transfer. It was shot with the passport photo camera we had. (Sorry, I have no idea on the model.) I'll be including some of these in my tests as well.

Believe in film! Keep instant alive!

Throwback Thursday

This week's Throwback Thursday post is from Milford Camera Shop's Christmas Party. It has to be from at least 2001 because I'm drinking a beer at a restaurant. There's some nice ghosting and light trails going on, compliments to Trainer Steve who took the picture. Left to right are: Dave, myself and Spooner.

My days as a specialty lab print technician and sales associate at the camera shop were some of the most formative in my life. I learned so much from all the photographers there and formed friendships that are lasting till this day.

I had the opportunity to meet up with Dave over the weekend. He moved to Texas several years ago, so we don't get to see each other all that much anymore. What made this visit extra special was that we got to talking about our goals and what we want to be doing with our lives. As much as I share on this blog, I don't open up to many people in conversation. For some reason, I always thought there would be this clear path in life. This is what I want to be when I grow up, so this is how I go about doing it. It's not easy admitting that you actually have no clue in life.

Dave's been going through the same struggles with what he's passionate about: films. He listened to the successes I've had up to this point, praised what I've done, listened to my plan of action then said something that meant more to me than he probably knew: You're doing exactly what you should be, Aud.

That's some powerful stuff. Thanks for that, Dave!