Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our popular instant film Q&A series. This week, we are happy to bring you DC-based photographer Rachel Carrier…
1) What kind of Polaroid camera(s) do you use?
Almost always I am using an original model SX-70 that I picked up years ago at a thrift store. I also use an SX-70 model 2 from time to time and the Impulse camera for indoor/party shots where I’m not as worried about composing. I also have worked a lot on double exposures with my Spectra camera.
2) Why do you like instant photography?
I fell in love with Time Zero film a few years before it went out of production. I love the color contrast and saturation of the film and the fact that it often gave me unexpected results. I love Impossible film for the same reason. The colors are gorgeous and I actually love the light sensitivity of the film, it gives each shot its own aura.
3) What is your earliest memory of instant film?
Probably looking at photos in our family albums when I was a kid, so many of them were instant photos.
4) What’s your favorite Impossible film type?
I really loved the way the NIGO edition batch came out. Amazing, intense colors in the film and the colorful frames were also great.
5) What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
I love to bring my camera when I am traveling somewhere new. I get most of my inspiration from visiting a place for the first time. I also really love it when I can convince my friends to pose and getting a truly natural shot.
6) Tell us about a project you’re working on.
I’d really love to work more on taking photos of people and strangers. Sometimes I get too shy and miss out on a great shot – I’ve begun to compile a Polaroid Portrait Project for that reason.
7) Who are your favorite photographers, instant or otherwise?
When I first started digging around on Flickr for other Polaroid fanatics years ago I found and started following the work of Grant Hamilton, Whitney Johnson, Ritchard Ton, and Jon Madison, among others. I still love their work and am excited to see what new things they are doing with TIP film. Recently I’ve found Andrea aka Flickr user “girlhula” and I am loving her shots! Also, I have been following the Vivian Maier discovery – how exciting to find such a large body of amazing work from this woman! Philip-Lorca diCorcia is another amazing photographer that inspires me.
8) If you could take a photo of anyone or anything what would it be?
It would probably be the beautiful landscapes in New Zealand or Greece. Two places I’ve always wanted to go. Hawaii would be great too.
About Rachel
I currently live in Washington, D.C. but I have also lived in Boston and I grew up in Maryland. I work for the Alternative Weekly paper there and I spend a lot of my free time taking photos and thrifting!
Thanks to Rachel for taking part in 8 Exposures! You can follow her on Twitter at @racarrier.
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