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January 2012

2
No. 254

Impossible's Analog Travelog - Azuree Wiitala in Minneapolis

Patrick Tobin, | 508 days ago

Welcome back to the newest addition to the Impossible Blog: Analog Travelog. We’ll be sharing with you fantastic instant photos taken on voyages the world over. This entry focuses on our good friend Azuree Wiitala and her recent visit to Minneapolis…

My Mom had come to visit from Puerto Rico for my birthday. I only had a few days off in a row while she was in town and being the spontaneous person that she is, she saw those days as plenty of time for a short, sweet little adventure. Minneapolis is only about an hour long plane ride away from Chicago (where we live) so she booked tickets for us and off we went! Once we landed in Minneapolis we became a little weary of our decision, seeing as one of the magazines we read once there cited “going to Target to see the cart escalator” as one of the attractions, we wondered what exactly we had gotten ourselves into!

Seeing as it was my birthday week and I was raised in the suburbs it was only appropriate that we head over to The Mall of America for some shopping and for the sake of nostalgia. That place is a child’s dream come true. A theme park inside of a mall. I loved the carousel there, I have an affinity for them! We also visited a little town called Edina that was really cute and The Minneapolis Institute of Art. I L O V E museums. There’s something so surreal about seeing famous works of art in the flesh. I get especially thrilled about seeing my favorite photographs printed large and hung on a bare wall. It was at the MIA that I saw the famous Dorothea Lange print and my very favorite of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s prints. I couldn’t help myself, I shot a picture of it to take home with me when no one was looking!

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No. 255

Oskar Landi – Also in India

Jon Campolo, | 508 days ago

January 12 - February 9, 2012
6–9pm
The Impossible Project Space NYC
425 Broadway
5th Floor
New York NY 10013
map

Amassing four separate worldwide journeys over the past decade, Oskar Landi translates multiple communities of India with a unique visual language, when discovery through spoken word was insufficient. Landi was born and raised in Italy and has lived and worked in New York since 1998. His personal projects have been recognized by the International Photo Awards and Prix de la Photographie Paris as well as numerous publications worldwide.

On Thursday, January 12th, Oskar Landi’s “Also in India” opens on the south wall at The Impossible Project Space NYC. With “Also in India,” Landi portrays the country through dry image transfers of original Type 679 Polaroid film, revealing imperfections and faint colors reminiscent of early photographic processes and hand coloring techniques. Conditions such as uncontrollable humidity, heat, dust and expired photographic chemicals caused unexpected but enchanting consequences even for the artist. The resulting exhibition is a visual introduction to the rich cultures of India dependent on Landi’s astounded curiosity.

Oskar Landi – Also in India
At The Impossible Project Space NYC
January 12, 2012 – February 9, 2012

More after the jump…

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3
No. 256

Fixing a 'Super' Sticky Pack

Marlene Kelnreiter, | 507 days ago

Did this ever happen to you? You take 1-2 pictures out of a pack and then – nothing. The pictures just won’t exit the camera anymore.

The reason for this so-called “Frame Feed Failure” (aka Sticky Film Pack) is that, during storage, frames in the pack tend to bend downwards, and the camera’s roller system can no longer reach them.

In our other Sticky Pack video here we offer a quick solution that works for some packs and is faster, but for the more stubborn packs here is one to try straight from the experts in the factory. According to them, this is a sure way to get your pack back to working.

4
No. 257

The Polaroid Classic Line

Marlene Kelnreiter | 506 days ago

We are deeply in love with the inventions of Dr. Edwin H. Land, the inventor of instant photography and founder of Polaroid, and have always believed in the magic and importance of analog instant photography. That’s why we teamed up with Polaroid to bring you a new product line that incorporates some of the most memorable products and designs in Polaroid history – the Polaroid Classic line.

Impossible and Polaroid are carefully selecting, producing, presenting and globally distributing an expanding selection of iconic Polaroid Classic branded products. Each year Polaroid and Impossible will introduce 6 to 10 meticulously chosen items – for everyone who believes in the magic of analog instant photography and wants an item that both celebrates the past and supports the future!

We are kicking things off with two Polaroid Classic products that represent the essence of analog instant photography: film and cameras.

6
No. 258

8 Exposures...with Ben Shuster.

Patrick Tobin | 504 days ago

Hello again, instanteers, and welcome back to 8 Exposures! This week, we spoke with Washington, DC-based Ben Shuster…

1) Q: What kind of Polaroid camera(s) do you use?

A: I have a couple SX-70s – the Original and the Sonar Onestep – and a Spectra for the current and past integral packs. For packfilm I go with either the Model 340 Land Camera or my Kiev 88 fitted with the Polaroid magazine. I also still have a fair amount of Type 80 series packfilm, and those go straight into my Holgaroid.

2) Q: Why do you like instant photography?

A: Like so many other people, I love its vintage coolness, nostalgia-soaked colors and analog unpredictability. It sets your shots apart from everything else out there. It can take a perfectly normal snapshot and make it perfectly unique. The variety of manipulation and lift techniques really make creative possibilities endless. AND! Name someone you know who doesn’t have a “make my photos look like instant film” app on their phone – you can’t do it. WE know what’s up. WE have the prints to prove it.

(More after the jump!)

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9
No. 259

Brandon Long Exhibited @ Photobooth SF

Jon Campolo, | 501 days ago

Photobooth, the world’s only Tintype and Polaroid portrait studio, exhibited our good friend and fellow Impossible photographer Brandon Long last Friday, January 6th, and Brandon has been kind enough to share a sneak peek of his SX-70 shots with those of us that couldn’t be in San Francisco!

See more of Brandon Long’s dreamy portraits on his flickr!

10
No. 260

Dr. Love's Tips – To Maintain or Not To Maintain

Jon Campolo | 500 days ago

The good doctor.

We put out the question to you all about what kinds of tips you all would like to hear. One topic we heard several times was about cleaning and maintenance of your folding SX-70 and SLR 680 cameras.

There are a few simple things you can do to help keep your cameras running well and looking good. Now not to sound like a broken record, but I again cannot stress keeping your rollers clean. You can refer back to our Door swapping post about how to get the door off your camera to make cleaning easier and safer. Then you can go back to our first video with Dave about cleaning rollers for how to do this.

After that you can keep the inside of your camera clean with a can of compressed air or an air blower some of you may have for keeping lenses clean which can help keep dust out of the film compartment of the camera (more after the jump!).

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No. 261

Dr. Love's Film Tips - Cold Weather

Patrick Tobin, | 500 days ago
The good doctor.

We’re proud to introduce a new feature on the Impossible Blog: Dr. Love’s Film Tips. Each week, Frank Love, Impossible USA’s Camera Resources Manager, will provide guidance on how to get the best from your Impossible images. This episode concerns shooting Impossible film in cold weather…

With the temperatures dropping, there are some things to keep in mind when shooting instant film in cold weather. Since instant film is a film lab in each frame, the temperature you’re shooting in can greatly affect each frame you shoot, for good or bad. Something to keep in mind is any instant film needs to be at at least 50ºF/10ºC for processing…

(More after the jump!)

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11
No. 262

Dr. Love's Film Tips - The Undeveloped Patch

Patrick Tobin, | 499 days ago

The good doctor.

This week, Impossible USA’s Camera Resource Manager Frank Love speaks about the dreaded divots!…

Something all of you have most likely seen by now, either in your shots or in shots we’ve posted, is that little patch that can occasionally show up on the top of our films. Depending on who you talk to, this can be called a ‘divot’, ‘undeveloped patch’, or even a ‘mushroom’ or ‘snowflake’ depending on its appearance.

Now, this phenomena is certainly not new with Impossible films, it’s simply that most people have either never used or forgotten about Polaroid’s earlier films that would have experienced coverage issues, or are only used to seeing it in expired film, that it’s gotten a little more attention of late…

(More after the jump!)

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No. 263

Viewfinder: Portroids

Jon Campolo | 499 days ago

Jimmy Pardo

You’ll find Rick DeMint, founder of Portroids and his Spectra camera behind every red rope and at every press conference worth photographing. For this installment of our “Viewfinder” series, we take a look at only a few of the thousand (!) instant images he’s shot of inspiring personalities over the past decade.

“My name is Rick DeMint and for over 8 years I have been documenting my life and the people I’ve met by taking Polaroid portraits of them and having the photos autographed. I call them portroids and have collected almost 1,400 so far. From my home in Fort Collins, Colorado, I’ve been lucky enough to be able to travel to many places and I always make sure to have my Polaroid Spectra camera with me, plenty of film, and a Sharpie. I enjoy attending film festivals, comedy events, theater, and just seeing who I may meet by exploring various cities.

In association with the comedy podcast Never Not Funny, for the past two years I have taken portroids (Polaroid portraits) backstage at their 12 hour marathon podcast Pardcast-A-Thon. For this year’s event I exclusively used the Impossible Project PZ600 UV+ Silver Shade Black Frame film to take portraits of each of the guests, the hosts, and associated crew.

More after the jump…

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13
No. 264

8 Exposures...with Jessica Hibbard Elenstar.

Patrick Tobin | 497 days ago

Hello again from 8 Exposures! This week, we’re highlighting Maryland Event Planner and photo genius Jessica Hibbard Elenstar!

1) Q: What kind of Polaroid camera(s) do you use?

A: My collection is always expanding, but my favorites are SX-70s, Spectra ProCams, and Super Shooters. I always have at least two of each in case one breaks, and multiple cameras also come in handy for shooting different film types at the same time.

2) Q: Why do you like instant photography?

A: I’m drawn to the beauty of vintage cameras, the warmth of film, and the uniquely imperfect nature of each image. Even “bad” polaroids are good, and a nice reminder for a control freak like myself to be open to surprises.

3) Q: What is your earliest memory of instant film?

A: My grandmother’s Spectra camera. I still remember her opening the crinkly silver package of film. She insisted on taking a picture of the entire family at the dinner table when we were all together, so there are many vintage shots of me as a kid with food in my mouth.

(More after the jump!)

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14
No. 265

Oskar Landi – Also in India Recap!

Jon Campolo, | 496 days ago

This past Thursday, we were so grateful to celebrate the opening of Oskar Landi’s Also in India exhibition at the NYC Space! With his debut show at Impossible, Landi portrays the country through dry image transfers of original Type 679 Polaroid film, revealing imperfections and faint colors reminiscent of early photographic processes and hand coloring techniques. Attendees took in the many textures of India as portrayed by the artist and enjoyed delicious artisan chocolate from FINE & RAW!

Those wishing to see the exhibition may visit the Impossible NYC Space any time during store hours: Monday through Friday 11am–7pm and on Weekends 12pm–5pm until February 9th. Thanks so much (and congratulations!) to Oskar and everyone who attended!

15
No. 266

Shield images in Spectra/Image cameras

Marlene Kelnreiter | 495 days ago

Impossible images are super sensitive to light after exposure, pictures have to get shielded from light IMMEDIATELY as they get ejected from the camera – the first few seconds are crucial!!

Insufficient shielding will typically result in very light, low contrast images – learn how to shield your PZ images in Spectra/Image cameras.

No. 267

Shield images with folding type cameras

Marlene Kelnreiter | 495 days ago

Even though the development of our film’s post-exposure-light sensitivity is getting better and better, you are still well advised to shield your current Impossible images from light as soon as they are ejected from the camera. There are several ways to do this easily, but here is our most recently developed and beloved trick to easily enhance the performance of the Impossile films.

Note that this technique only works with folding SLR cameras. For shielding techniques with box type 600 cameras please see the separate tutorial video.

No. 268

Viewfinder: Jorge Valle

Jon Campolo | 495 days ago

Analog instant film has been an integral part of the fashion world for decades. For this installment of our “Viewfinder” series, our featured photographer Jorge Valle sheds light on how Impossible films can not only refresh a photographer’s attitude, but also help communicate a unique style in an industry so dominated by digital photography.

“I’m 29 and I live in Madrid, Spain, but I’m moving to London in a few months. I work as a graphic designer, but my big passion is photography. That’s the reason why I left my job in Madrid and moved to New York City, where I spent the last three months of 2011 taking some courses and workshops at the International Center of Photography. While I was in the Fashion Photography course I noticed that almost every picture was taken with digital cameras, and at that time I was a little bit tired of digital. I needed to make something different. So inspired by my teacher Andrea Blanch, who always wanted us to go further, I created for my last assignment a fashion editorial with pictures taken with Impossible Film. And the result was exactly what I wanted, something fresh, natural and with attitude. It’s funny how instant film is considered something refreshing now, when it was so common in the fashion industry not so long ago!

More after the jump…

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No. 270

Shield images with box type cameras

Marlene Kelnreiter | 495 days ago

Impossible images are super sensitive to light after exposure, pictures have to get shielded from light IMMEDIATELY as they get ejected from the camera – the first few seconds are crucial!! There are several tricks how to shield the image from light upon its ejection from the camera – see all tricks when using a box type camera here.

Insufficient shielding will typically result in very light, low contrast images. With the PX 70 PUSH and PX 680 film, poor shielding will also result in a strong pink or orange haze over the picture.

17
No. 270

Dr. Love's Tips – Mirror Mirror In My Camera...

Jon Campolo | 493 days ago

The good doctor.

Another topic we got requests for was when the mirror in the camera gets stuck up out of place or mid cycle for one reason or another. This can often be recognized by a black VF and a camera that won’t close all the way.

There’s actually a couple tricks to getting your mirror back in place. If your camera is empty and you have an empty pack, you can try to put that in the camera and fire it a few times, or put the pack in, pull it out, back in, out a couple of times letting it cycle each time you close the door. This may get the camera back into the proper rhythm of things so that when you put a full pack in, everything is where it should be for proper operation to take pictures.

More after the jump…

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18
No. 271

(Lengua)ge by Ana Marva Fernandez

Patrick Tobin, | 492 days ago

(Lengua)ge is a participatory piece by NYC artist Ana Marva Fernandez on display for Unhappy Readymade, a group show about instructions curated by Jessica Hamlin and Sarah MacWright.

(Lengua)ge involves viewer participation, asking visitors to the gallery to rearrange five objects in a provocative manner, then take an instant snapshot and pin it on the wall. The idea is for participants to enact a transformation of meaning by arranging the objects. The process mirrors the shift in meaning that words undergo when they are arranged in a sentence, especially when more than one language is at play.

Ana will be using Impossible PX 680 Color Shade film during the exhibition’s opening reception, which will be held on January 25th from 5-7 PM…

(More after the jump!)

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19
No. 272

Impossible No More…An Instant Workshop at Aperture!

Jon Campolo | 491 days ago

Feb 4th, 2012
1-3:30pm
Aperture Tremont
2541 Scranton Rd.
Cleveland
OH 44113
map

As one of the few and privileged Impossible “Partner Store Plus” spaces in the USA, our friends at Aperture Tremont are hosting their first workshop ever, offering you an exclusive perspective on new Impossible films, tricks and tips.

During this hands-on workshop they’ll be covering techniques of working with Impossible film and vintage Polaroid cameras. The workshop will be ran by Aperture owner and photographer, Scott Meivogel, plus Cleveland Polaroid expert, Tim Logan. Tim shot for our One Hundred Impossible Portraits event last year, with fantastic results!

Finally, 1/3 of the workshop will be spent photographing two live models dressed in perfect vintage attire. Participants are guaranteed to leave with photographs that’ll knock their socks off, taken with the latest Impossible film! If you have your own Polaroid camera, please feel free to bring it. If not, they’ll have loaner cameras for you to use while you’re there.

Registration is $39.99 and includes a pack of Impossible film as well as refreshments. Registration can be completed by calling 216-574-8977, or purchasing on Aperture’s website HERE.

20
No. 273

8 Exposures...with Kristen Perman.

Patrick Tobin | 490 days ago

Hello, friends! We hereby present you with another entry in our instant film Q & A series, 8 Exposures. This week, we profiled California photographer Kristen Perman…

1) Q: What kind of Polaroid camera(s) do you use?

A: My favorite camera is my SLR 680. I actually have two of them, both in a delicate state from being dropped. I also love my Spectra camera, gifted to me by a good friend, who found it by her apartment dumpster in Philly. It’s clear, so you can see all the inner workings and it has proven to be a great conversation starter.

2) Q: Why do you like instant photography?

A: Instant photography taught me how to frame a photo and of course, to slow down. I’ve learned that the first shot is always the best, even if that first shot is not the best or your favorite.

3) Q: What is your earliest memory of instant film?

A: We always had a Polaroid camera around. There are random family photos throughout my childhood proving its existence even though I don’t remember it much.

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No. 274

INSTANT LOVE IS ALL AROUND US!

Marlene Kelnreiter | 490 days ago

prism Photography Magazine dedicated its first special issue entirely to the instant photography phenomenon. We at Impossible heartily recommend this inspiring reading, featuring carefully selected works from over 30 instant photography users from all around the world.

READ HERE

Beyond that, we recommend you visiting the show INSTANT LOVE – the result of collaborative effort of prism Magazine and MadArt Gallery. This unique, inspirational and international exhibition is on display until February 2 at MadArt Gallery in Dublin, Ireland.

22
No. 275

Viewfinder: Christopher Robleski

Patrick Tobin | 488 days ago

Welcome back to Viewfinder. Our current entry focuses on an ongoing series of instant images of old Route 66 by Christopher Robleski, co-founder of the website Fading Nostalgia. Christopher has recently compiled his images into a book entitled, “Polaroid Photos from Route 66”…

“My passion for photography is matched only by my love of road trips, with traveling Route 66 at the top of that list. While heading out of my current hometown of Milwaukee, WI, to explore America’s roads, I’ve been troubled by how quickly our nostalgic past is fading from the landscape. It is my personal mission to travel this country and capture what still remains, and I have joined the ranks of many who seek to preserve these memories. I see Route 66—a 2448 mile stretch of meandering road from Chicago to Los Angeles—from a completely different perspective through the lens of a Polaroid camera.

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24
No. 276

Bi-annual Sample Sale @ The Impossible Project NYC Space!

Jon Campolo, | 486 days ago

January 28th & 29th, 2012
12-5PM
The Impossible Project Space NYC
425 Broadway
5th Floor
New York NY 10013
map

The Impossible Project NYC Space will host it’s Bi-annual Sample Sale on January 28th and 29th, featuring all day bargains only available in store. On this very special weekend, analog enthusiasts are invited to dig through our boxes of seriously discounted Impossible stock! This includes 600 Cameras from $15, Spectra system cameras from $25, discounted film, rare accessories, limited edition prints, art books, and our famous Impossible Bruch film bags, including matured film mix 5 & 10 packs for 600, Image/Spectra and SX-70 cameras!

5 Pack (for $55!) & 10 Pack (for only $99!) Film Bundles of everyone’s favorite Impossible film types, including:

PX 600 ’06 TWIN PACKS
PX 600 UV+ (Japan edition)
PX 680 (manufactured 08/11)
PX70 PUSH! (manufactured 08/11)
PX 70 Triple Packs

If you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to visit the NYC Space now is the perfect time!

25
No. 277

Adam Goldberg's Ana-log

Patrick Tobin, | 485 days ago

Our favorite actor/musician/photographer Adam Goldberg recently took to the road with his lovely muse – illustrator/designer Roxanne Daner, heading for their home on the west coast after spending several months in NYC. He must have been a boy scout, because Adam was photographically well-equipped when he and his lady fair set out across America. What follows is a record of his travels, which he refers to as his Ana-log…

“The trip began in earnest and trepidation in the afternoon of December 29, 2011 in Brooklyn, NY and concluded in Los Angeles, CA on 5 January, 2012. We obviously crossed some sort of space-time continuum. Or some sort of New Year transition took place. We travelled in a Prius stuffed to the gills but somehow still functional as a road vehicle with:
myself;
my ladyfriend Roxanne Daner;
a suitcase filled with far more over-the-counter pharmaceutical items and toiletries (largely mine on both counts) than with clothes;
a Toyo 45a (200mm lens);
Mamiya Universal Press (100/2.8 + 50mm lenses, 2 Pola backs);
Mamiya 7ii (43mm and 150 mm lenses);
Bessa III;
Leica M6;
2 Spectras;
1 SLR 680;
1 SX-70;
a huge bag of 120 film, Polaroid film, Impossible film;
an Olympus Pen 3 that I impulsively purchased on the way out of town, my ambivalence regarding documented extensively on our travel blog;
2 Brinno time lapse cameras mounted on the dash, one facing in, one facing out;
a baby Martin guitar;
and...Read All

27
No. 278

8 Exposures...with Andrew Millar.

Patrick Tobin, | 483 days ago

Hello again, 8 Exposures fanatics! We’re back with another splendid entry in our instant film interview series. This week, we spoke with Andrew Millar…

1) Q: What kind of Polaroid camera(s) do you use?

A: I have quite a few SX-70 cameras; some work better than others but I mostly tend to use my trusty old brown SX-70 Land Camera 2.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

A: It can be unpredictable and love it when you try to control or play with the outcome and end up with something unexpected and unique.

3) Q: What is your earliest memory of instant film?

No one in my family owned an instant camera so my earliest memory would be going to get my passport photos done when I was a child in an old-fashioned photo booth.

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31
No. 279

Dr. Love's Tips - Hold Onto It!

Patrick Tobin, | 479 days ago

The good doctor.

Two simple tips to help you whenever you experience trouble with your camera or film are…

1. Hold on to dark slides
2. Carry an empty film pack

When ever you run into trouble with your camera, having these tools with you can be invaluable to trouble shoot your camera without wasting precious, valuable film.

Upon the moment of realizing something isn’t quite right with your camera, you can simply grab a dark slide from your camera bag or pocket, and slide it into the camera over…

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No. 116

IMPOSSIBLE ND FILM PACK FILTER

Marlene Kelnreiter | 680 days ago

The new Impossible ND Film Pack filter was developed to use 600 ASA Impossible Film in Polaroid SX 70 cameras. Inserting this filter on top of the Impossible film cartridge will adjust all PX 600 and PX 680 films to approximately 100 ASA and make them compatible with your SX 70 camera. It will also work with the new PX 70 film, as an alternative to the adjustment of the lighten/ darken wheel. This filter is easy to attach, detach and use and does not require any changes to the camera itself.

BUY HERE