Welcome back to our newest addition to the Impossible Blog: Impossible’s Analog Travelog! In this series, we’ll be showcasing fantastic Impossible photos taken on voyages the world over. This entry comes from Abe Bingham, who just visited Morocco and brought along some Impossible film…
In October, my partner and I spent a couple weeks in Morocco, traveling from Tangier to Casablanca and Marrakech by train. We didn’t know a lot about the country except for what we’d read: but we were interested in the dry, hypnotic beauty of the desert, and the feeling of being in a completely new place. In Tangier, we visited the sites of beat and literary history, staying in the same, surprisingly unfussy room that Jack Kerouac did when he visited fifty years prior. Casablanca was full of friendly locals and pickpockets and beautiful architecture. And Marrakech? Well, let’s say it was a little too touristy for our taste, but we did see some remarkable and beautiful sites.
In my previous trip abroad, I hadn’t brought my SX-70, and this time I decided that I wanted to. The camera itself travels remarkably well. I found a snap-locking tupperware that fit my camera perfectly to protect it from bumps and water. The film took up more room in my bag than the camera, and took some explaining at customs in Tangier! Beyond practical logistics, though, the SX-70 is a wonderful camera to travel with. I found myself taking fewer “tourist” shots with it (smiling head in front of whatever famous or beautiful landmark) and more “souvenir” shots. By that I mean close-up photos of small details that can really transport me back there.
And what a relief to no longer have to shield every photo from the sun as it comes out! PX 70 Color Protection film makes traveling with my SX-70 much easier since it makes shooting so much easier. Morocco’s hot weather sometimes over-warmed the color in my photos, but that’s just a part of having a print made on the spot. Now that I’m home I can hold one of these Impossible images in my hand and think of the distance it has traveled. It’s not a copy— it was actually there with me.
To see more of Abe’s photography, visit his Flickr photo stream.
If you’ve recently taken a trip on which you shot some Impossible photos or plan on taking one soon, please shoot us an email at usa@theimpossibleproject.com
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