Welcome to another episode of 8 Exposures, our new feature consisting of 8 photography and instant film-related questions, accompanied by 8 Impossible images from the featured artist. This week, we interviewed Chicago-based photographer, rabbit-lover and life-liver Azuree Wiitala
1) Q: What kind of Polaroid Cameras do you use?
A: My favorite Polaroid camera to use is the SLR 680. Sadly that camera died while my husband and I were visiting my family in Puerto Rico last year. Since then I’ve been shooting with three Sonar One Step SX-70 cameras. Yes, three. They each have different film in them although I have to admit that I can never remember which has what film, which turns out to be a fun surprise, for the most part.
2) Q: Why do you like instant photography?
A: I am drawn to instant photography because it is…instant. I do not prefer to shoot digitally and find that I drag my feet to develop 35mm (which I also love to shoot) so instant film just makes sense to me. I also love the perfect imperfections that come along with shooting instant film. I also love the community that is built up around instant film. I have made some great friends that I’ve met through the instant film community online.
3) Q: What is your earliest memory of instant film?
A: My mom has a pretty cute album of Polaroids of my brother and I when we were little but my first memory of using instant film was taking our Spectra camera to my first day of high school and taking pictures of what high school was like to show my mom and brother. Those pictures will remain trapped in a vault as, in my early years of high school I wanted to be Billy Corgan (yes, metallic blue pleather pants and all) but it was probably my first hands on experience with instant film. A few years later my mom gave me an i-zone camera (remember those?!) that was also a very low resolution digital camera! Then probably my senior year of high school I went thrifting for cool looking cameras and came across some folded up mess of a camera that I didn’t understand. It spat a Polaroid out at me and came home for a whopping $12! That was my first SX-70 which I still have today!
4) Q: What is your favorite Impossible Film?
A:This is a really tough question. I love them all. I really do. I think the PX 600 UV + was the first TIP film that really swept me off of my feet though. I love the tones that film has and think it makes such a beautiful portrait film. It just seems timeless and I really like that.
5) Q: What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
A: I love taking pictures of anything that draws my eye. I definitely don’t have a specialty or any kind of consistency in the photographs I take, just slice of life I suppose. I do love to take pictures of pretty little things that I always want to remember. I’m trying to be brave and take more portraits because I think the TIP films lend themselves so well to portraiture.
6) Q: Tell us about a project you’re working on.
A:I am in the middle of making 3 simple blog posts explaining instant photography, a few of the different films and cameras and how to use them. A lot of my friends who see my photographs are interested in using instant films themselves but don’t know where to start, so I thought I’d make some informative posts to lend a hand. Another ongoing project is to take portraits of my friends and family with instant film. Life is so fragile and I’ve already lost a few people close to me so I’m challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone and photograph those I love for posterity! Lastly, an ongoing project of mine is to document life on the road while I go out on tour with my husband’s band.
7) Q: Who are your favorite photographers, instant or otherwise?
A: I am inspired by so many photographers but I guess if I have to whittle it down my favorite instant film photographers are probably Jen Gotch, whose photos are beautiful, girly, and fun, Emilie Le Fellic who is probably the first instant film photographer I came across on Flickr about 6 years ago and I love the instant photos that Adam Goldberg takes. They all seem to tell a story, like scenes from a movie. I also love the work of those timeless classic photographers – Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Vivian Maier and Jeff Bridges.
8) Q: If you could take a photo of anyone or anything what would it be?
A: Anyone or anything?! ANYTHING?! I would love to photograph Central Park filled to the brim with bunny rabbits. No, seriously. Okay maybe bunny rabbits floating in space too.
Special thanks to Azuree for participating. Be sure to visit her site for more instant imagery. Tune in next week for more 8 Exposures!
Commenting is closed for this article.
No comments available
