Not My Precious Polaroids!!!
When I asked my mother what she wanted for Christmas this year, she answered: “The Best of Bread album.” Bread, if you’re wondering, was a pop-rock band in the late sixties and early seventies. Their major claim to fame was two hit singles entitled “It Don’t Matter to Me” and “Make It With You.” On Thanksgiving, she asked me to take a “few Polaroids” of the family with my Canon XSI. The point, if you’re still searching for one, is that the likelihood of my buying a Bread album is about the same as the likelihood of my taking a Polaroid with my XSI. In fact, the likelihood of taking a Polaroid with Polaroid film is diminishing exponentially as this month winds down, being that December marks the final month of the company’s last production year.
Of course my mother didn’t know that when she asked me to produce instant pictures on a moment’s whim. But can you blame her for using terms like “album” and “Polaroid” when she should have said “CD” or “photograph”? The only thing I blame my mother for is listening to Bread… As for her inaccurate colloquialisms; words like “album” and “Polaroid” are cultural touchstones. They’re part of a vernacular that will most likely outlive not only my mother’s Baby Boomer generation, but my own. We’ve already seen the Polaroid name lauded in the chorus of OutKast’s catchy tune “Hey Ya,” which instructs people to shake their bodies like Polaroid pictures. You don’t get any more infamous than that…
And no matter its cultural significance, Polaroids, like albums, will be a technology of the past come January 2009. Though the company’s white-bordered prints will be on sale through next year, it will stop making instant film by December 31, 2008. The impact of the company’s decision to end production, which was heard most volubly in the art world, beginning some months ago, was also echoed in the commercial blogosphere on message boards and in “Save Polaroid” campaigns on Facebook along with other social networking sites. The subject of many art projects and a staple in commercial photography, Polaroid film was a quick way—and often the only way—to test the shooting environment. And in creating an on-site demand, you could even argue that it initiated a digital market.
I thought that Polaroid deserved more than just a cameo in the movie “Memento” or a name dropping by my mother to eulogize its departure. It has influenced our businesses and our personal tastes, and we should recognize its legacy—our roots.
How did you use Polaroid film—did you create unique Polaroid or Emotion transfers? Do you have an altered SX-70 image or just a favorite print that marks a particular time in your life? Did you use the positive/negative type of Polaroid film and print from the negatives? Are you a 20×24, 8×10, or 4×5 shooter? Let me know by commenting to this blog, or emailing me at tara.propper@cygnuspub.com.
December 17th, 2008 at 6:20 am
I used Polaroid several different ways from the days of a light check on medium format backs to image & emulsion transfers & SX70 manipulations.
I used the 4×5 & 8×10. Unfortunatley, I’ve never used the 20×24.
I will sadly miss Polaroid & all its hands on processes. I will argue the fact the processes CANNOT be duplicated exactly in the computer till my dying day!
December 29th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I discovered, in the mid 50’s, that I could determine the exact exposure for chromes using my 4×5 B&W polaroid film. Even after getting various flash meters, this system still gave the perfect results for my celebrity portraits. Even now, after over 50 years and the demand has fallen off for the chromes (several years ago), I feel certin the system would prove as accurate today as it did then. I will miss it.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Yes, Polaroid will be (is) missed. Used as a test medium with my 500C, mainly used as an “instant” B&W negative, where I could present the proofs, then go into the darkroom and produce excellent prints from the negatives. Today’s digital replaced it why? You know the answer! Polaroid is missed, but as I enter my eigth decade, a lot of other things of greater importance are also missed.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:16 am
I edit the blog Koloist and came across this article. So many people are bummed about the death of Polaroid instant film, it’s a wonder it can’t somehow, somewhere, be resurrected. We can only hope. Meantime in honor of Polaroid instant film, at Koloist we’re posting images of Polaroid photo albums, for anyone who is interested in sharing theirs.
February 5th, 2009 at 1:59 am
the film is being “redeveloped” in (I think) Finland! Polaroid will ot release or well the exact formula so there is an effort to re-discover it. I used Polaroid as exposure tests, give aways and for event photography with a 4×5 and sepia film. (After several years of hand tinting roids with selenium on site).The results were truly one of a kind but for production and actually making a profit I don;t miss it. Still, my first camera was a Polaroid 360 and I still have some of the old 3000 spped images. Maybe I just miss the smell of the laquer. Still, Polaroid ecame an icon and will be remembered by my generation at least for awhile.
February 10th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
When I did Commercial Photography, I used 4X5 Polaroid for test shots before I took the actual picture to see how it looked. Mostly Painted with Light and they came out as good as the actual finished 8X10 Print. It’s a shame the Film will no longer be available.
Have to get the old Boxes out and take some pictures before I can’t do anymore Test Shots.
I guess I will have to send my Polaroid Holder to the Smithsonian for History, EH?
January 20th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Certainly got us thinking here are work, expect a few replies later.
January 20th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Thanks for posting this, lifted my day.
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