Hello, friends. Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our popular instant film Q&A series. This week, we’re happy to bring you long-time Impossible supporter and wonderful photographer, Italy’s own Andrea Palei…
1) What kind of Polaroid camera(s) do you use?
I started shooting instant film with the “Polaroid 1000 red button” of my dad. I am passionate and I bought an original SX-70 (my favourite camera), from there I became insane, and I started collecting as many instant cameras as possible. I often use original SX-70 and SLR 680. And sometimes the Spectra and Colorpack II.
2) Why do you like instant photography?
It’s magical. The thing I love most about the instant photography is the unpredictability of the outcome, and the possibility to “touch” the photo and see it “born” slowly under my eyes. Those are things that fascinate me again like the first time.
3) What is your earliest memory of instant film?
The very first memory: I was a child and my father was taking polaroids at the beach and birthday parties.
4) What’s your favorite Impossible film type?
My favorites are PX 680, PX 70 and PX 100 UV+.
5) What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
With the instant film I like to photograph strange stuff, the geometries and abstract lines. But most of all I like to photograph people.
6) Tell us about a project you’re working on.
I’m going to start a series of portraits of my friends and my family using the last packs of Polaroid 600 that I have in my fridge. A sort of farewell to original Polaroid film.
7) Who are your favorite photographers, instant or otherwise?
Some of my favorites are masters such as Robert Frank, Louis Ghirri, Annie Leibovitz and Elliot Erwitt.
I really like the “instant” works of Lou O ‘Bedlam, Richard Ton, The Gentleman Amateur and Rommel Pecson.
8) If you could take a photo of anyone or anything what would it be?
I would go back to America and make the same trip of seven years ago but with polaroid cameras, because in 2005 I did not use instant film.
About Andrea
I am an Italian photographer, I am 34 years old and live in Tuscany. My dream is to live for a year in Australia.
To see more of Andrea’s work, please visit his Blog and his Flickr photostream. You can also follow him on Twitter at @amnesiak1978.
My sister has a polaroid 610 does your films fit into that camera? I’d like to know that and in case of a positive answer we would buy some…could you answer at my e-mail address? thank you.