May 6 2011
The Next Movement is a unique collaborative project between The Impossible Project and Sol Exposure.
Read allMay 2011
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- Saturday, May 7 :: 12noon - 5pm
Visit The Impossible Project Space NYC this Saturday to celebrate the release of the brand new Impossible PX 680 Color Shade First Flush film and – as if that’s not enough – Edwin Land’s 102nd Birthday!
To mark these two incredibly momentous occasions, we have a crazy awesome offer for our NYC friends. With your purchase of at least 2 packs of PX 680 film, you can grab a FREE Polaroid 600 rental camera to use for the entire weekend!! Actually, since the cameras are due back by 7pm on Monday, it’s really almost 3 entire days! (Of course we have a limited stock of available cameras, so it’s first-come, first-served and while supplies last.)
For those who would rather buy than rent, we understand, so we’re also offering our entire stock of 600 cameras at 10% off. And as a final bonus, we will have our Edwin Land books and prints at great sale prices. There will be some other on-the-spot surprises, but you’ll have to come by the shop to find out.
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Around 100 people attended the Open Day at the Impossible Factory in Enschede (NL) on May 9 – and enjoyed in-depth tours through the factory, a Question & Anwer session with André Bosman, Florian Kaps and Marwan Saba, Dutch snacks as well as special offers at the Factory Outlet.
It was such a pleasure to have you all here and we are already thinking of holding another Open Day this fall – stay tuned for details!
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WATCH VIDEO of The Ceremony of Instant from May 6 at Galerie L’Oeil du Prince
The Ceremony of the Instant is visual and audible.
The Ceremony of the Instant is an experience or event.
The Ceremony of the Instant is not an artisticaly isolated.
The Ceremony Instant is actualized at each meeting.
The Ceremony of the Instant is doomed to repeat itself.
The ceremony of the Instant is a thinking machine.A work in progress / ephemeral installation by Raul Diaz and Thibault Tourmente.
- Wednesday May 25th, 7 to 11 pm
We are pleased to announce another exciting exhibition opening!
Our friends at Thou Art are showcasing another fantastic instant film extravaganza at The Artful Dodger.
On display will be works from artists: Aaron Johnston, Paul Somers, Rachel Herr, Sam Nowak, Ben Shirkey, Bradey Schwendeman, Brent Finnegan, Daniel Suter, Loring Gibson & Leslie Segui.
If you are in the Virginia area stop by and check out this lovely showcase of instant film.
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The Transparencies Technique frees your Impossible images from their background and allows creation of sensational transparent instant artworks, lets the sunshine in and converts your Impossible instant images into lucent pieces of precious art.
Please proceed carefully as follows:
› Take a pair of scissors and precisely cut off the outermost edges of your freshly developed image. This works best if the image is no older than 24 hours.
› Take a hairdryer, carefully and moderately heat the picture (not too close and not too hot!), don’t get too close and slowly peel off the transparent positive (upper) sheet with the frame.
› Enjoy the new transparent dimension of your Impossible instant pictures.
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- Every Weekend in May
We have decided to extend our FREE Weekend 600 Camera rentals!!!
Every Saturday in the New York Space, if you purchase at least 2 packs of PX 680 film, you can grab a FREE Polaroid 600 rental camera to use for the entire weekend!! Actually, since the cameras are due back by 7pm on Monday, it’s really almost 3 entire days! (Of course we have a limited stock of available cameras, so it’s first-come, first-served and while supplies last.)
Bring along a few friends this weekend and get them involved in our Instant Love!
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The Impossible Project is looking for a few good stores!
Would you like to see Impossible film for sale in your favorite local store? Help us find these stores and as a gesture of thanks we’ll randomly select a store submission and award the sender an awesome prize package containing an SX-70 Model 2 (with snazzy new burgundy leather), 2 packs of PX680 film and an ND filter!
We’re looking for stores you love, stores committed to all things analog, stores not afraid to sell film!
To enter send the following information to this address: nycspace@theimpossibleproject.com
- Store name
- Store address
- Store phone number
- Website link
- Contact person (purchase manager or store manager)
- Photo of the store (cell phone images are fine)
Each store entered is worth one chance to win the prize package, submit 10 stores – have 10 chances to win! We will randomly select a winner on Wednesday, May 25th.
Please note we are only looking for stores in the United States and Canada. We are also not interested in big-box camera stores, digital emporiums or chain stores. Suggested stores don’t just have to be camera stores, we’re open to all sorts of shops – as long as our film will be a good fit. Questions? Please don’t hesitate to ask!
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The drop-dead gorgeous portraits in this video were shot with our PX 680 Beta film by the entirely amazing photographer EJ Camp. Prints of these images were used to make an impressive and (we think) stunning full-wall display in the newly revamped Co-Op Food & Drink restaurant in the Hotel on Rivington here in New York City.
Take a deep breath and behold:
The remodeling at the Hotel Rivington is nearly complete and you will be able to view the massive wall of 40-inch prints very soon. Keep your ear to the ground for further updates from us Impossibles!
- Wednesday May 25th, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
“Photographing dogs is all about the perfect magical moment, celebrating the unknown, and controlling the unexpected. Which is what The Impossible Project’s new instant films are all about, as well.”
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Impossible and the revival of analog instant photography are finally facing Switzerland!
On May 22 we are opening “Facing the Impossible” at ewz.selection Zurich with a Polalovers’ Night – feat. an instant speech by the Impossible founder Florian Kaps aka “doc”, drinks, music and images – taken on latest Impossible Instant Films by a selection of the finest Swiss photographers:
Adrian Ehrat, Andrea Rist, Anne Gabriel Jürgens & Marvin Zilm, Bernhard Stoller, Chris Mettraux, Esther Michael, Lena Amuat & Zoë Meyer, Oliver Bartenschlager & Carla Kiefer, Ornella Cacace, Peter Fuchs and Play Hunter.
Watch Interview with Florian Kaps
Bernhard Stoller / Rocket Design, Circus Monti, 2011, PX 680 Color Shade FF
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- Thursday June 9th, 6:00 pm
Impossible and Italian photographer Maurizio Galimberti are very much looking forward to present the PZ 600 Silver Shade UV+ Galimberti Film Edition to the Italian audience on June 9.
A tribute to this very precious collaboration with one of the most important artists of instant photography, a celebration of the moment, meet & greet the artist.
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- June 17 - August 21, 2011
We can’t wait for the opening of POLAROID [IM]POSSIBLE” – THE WESTLICHT COLLECTION on June 17!
Alongside instant works by photographers such as Ansel Adams or Andy Warhol originating from the legendary, recently saved European part of the Polaroid Collection, fresh photographs taken on new Impossible film by artists such as Nobuyoshi Araki or Stefanie Schneider will be on display – what an analog cocktail!
A companion book „From Polaroid to Impossible / Masterpieces of Instant Photography – The Westlicht Collection“ will be published by Hatje Cantz.
Photo: Stefanie Schneider, Untitled; From the series: the girl behind the white picket fence, 2011, PX 680 Color Shade FF
Vinyl and Analog Instant Photography – our beloved dream team in digital times.
Analog Love In Digital Times is a carefully produced and very limited Vinyl Box by Cloudshill. Every song in the vinyl box set was produced in the Clouds Hill studio and exclusively recorded for this compilation. Artists are Faust, Stella, The Ape, Michaela Meise, Stadtfischflex, Scams,Wyatt Derbyngton und Scheerer with exclusive remixes.
Beyond, every package includes an original portrait of one of the artists shot on Impossible film + a specially sleeved pack of the PX 600 Silver Shade UV+ film
With its rigid white and black plastic body and its iconic rainbow stripe, the classic SX-70 OneStep is one of the most recognizable cameras Polaroid ever produced. It was first released in 1977 as a more affordable alternative to the folding SX-70s and has been a fan favorite ever since.
The SX-70 OneStep has a single-element plastic lens with fixed aperture (103mm, f14.6), 4 ft minimum focus distance, an exposure dial and a socket for flashbars. The OneStep can be used with the Impossible Flashbar by Mint or disposable flash bars, and works with any of our film for SX-70s, which can be found HERE.
Just in time for the holidays, we have a very limited quantity of SX-70 OneSteps available in our special White Christmas Rainbow SX-70 Kit. Act now and make your holiday merry and bright!
The Polaroid Business Edition camera was first released in the early 1990s. It was similar in body style to Polaroid’s Sun 600 series but has a more advanced flash system with automatic charging, and a built-in sliding close-up lens.
It was a sister camera to the Polaroid Job Pro camera, but aimed toward a different market, “Designed for extra durability and ruggedness.”
The Business Edition has a single-element 116mm plastic lens, fixed focus with a standard minimum focal length of 4 feet (2 feet when close-up lens is in place), electronic shutter, programmed auto-exposure system and a built-in flash.
The Business Edition works with all of Impossible’s 600 film, which can be found HERE
To purchase your own Business Edition Camera Kit, click HERE
The Polaroid Sun 660 Autofocus camera was first released in 1981. It is similar in style to the earlier 600 cameras, with a rigid plastic body, but the Sun 660 utilizes Polaroid’s patented Sonar Autofocus technology. The distance to the subject is calculated by firing a high-frequency sound wave that bounces back to a gold-colored receiver beside the lens. The minimum focal length for the Sun 660 is 3 feet.
The see-through Sun 660 was actually a dealer model. It was given to camera shops so that they could demonstrate the functions and inner workings of Polaroid 600 cameras to customers.
The Sun 660 features a single-element 116mm, f/11 plastic lens, electronic shutter, built-in flash and Polaroid’s Light Management System, allowing the user to make exposure adjustments via a lighten/darken switch under the lens.
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In 1988, Polaroid released its Cool Cam, which was essentially the Sun 600 with flashy colors and branded with the “Cool Cam” moniker. It came in several color combinations, including Pink & Grey and the Red & Black. More rare is the Neon version, pictured here! The Cool Cam also came with a matching carrying case and a sheet of word bubble stickers that could be adhered to your photos to add some COOLNESS!
The Cool Cam features a single-element 116mm plastic lens, fixed focus, with minimum focal length of 4 feet, electronic shutter, programmed auto-exposure system and a built-in electronic flash.
The Cool Cam works with all of Impossible’s 600 films. For a complete list of compatible films, click HERE
You can also click HERE for a Polaroid 600 camera manual
The Supercolor 635 was one of many variations in the simple plastic-bodied 600 camera line featuring the Light Management System.
A basic 600-series camera, the Supercolor 635 features a 116mm single-element plastic lens, fixed focus with a minimal focal length of 4 feet, electronic shutter and a built-in electronic flash. It is similar to the Sun 600 series in design, except for the beloved rainbow stripe which would be a characteristic true of the later Supercolor 635 CL edition as well.
To see a user manual for Polaroid 600 cameras like the Supercolor 635, click HERE.
The Supercolor 635 works with any of Impossible’s 600-speed film. For a complete selection of compatible films, click HERE
The Amigo 620 was introduced in the early 1980s for Polaroid’s 600-series integral film. The Amigo is a strange model because, although it lacks a built-in flash (a socket on its flip-up hood requires special “Flash 600” flashbars), it does include the added sliding close-up lens, allowing for photos as close as 2 feet.
The Amigo has a single-element 116mm plastic lens, fixed focus of 4 feet (2 feet with close-up lens), electronic shutter, and exposure correction dial and a creamy tan plastic body.
When shooting in low light or indoors, you’ll need “Flash 600” flash bars, which can be found on Ebay or Craigslist from time to time (Sorry, the Impossible Flash Bar by Mint has a very different contact and will not work on 600 flashless cameras like the Amigo!)
The Amigo 620 works with any of Impossible’s 600 film, which can be purchased HERE
As many consumers had difficulty with the manual focus on their original SX-70s, Polaroid began producing autofocus models in 1978. The Time Zero Autofocus Model 2, introduced in the early 1980s, differed from the 1978 version only in that the body is plastic instead of chrome-plated. It utilized the same advanced sonar technology.
When the shutter button is pressed halfway, a series of ultrasonic chirps is emitted from an electrostatic transducer located under a plate over the lens. These chirps travel to the subject and bounce back to the camera’s receiver, alerting the camera to the subject’s distance, and the lens is turned on a motor to focus accordingly.
The Polaroid Time Zero Autofocus Model 2 features a 4-element 116mm glass lens, manual or autofocus capabilities, with a minimum focal length of 10.4 inches, electronic shutter, programmed automatic exposure and a socket for flashbars or electronic flashes. Another nice feature is a socket for an electrically-actuated remote shutter release.
The Time Zero AF Model 2 works with all of Impossible’s SX-70 films, which can be purchased HERE
To see a user manual for the SX-70 Sonar models, click HERE.
In the early 2000s, Polaroid released one last line of instant cameras, including the One 600. Though similar in function and capabilities, these cameras are sleeker in design, opening and closing in a clamshell fashion.
The One 600 features a 100mm lens with minimum focus distance of 3 feet and a built-in electronic flash. Some models in this line omitted exposure control while others had the addition of a self-timer.
Please note that while it is possible to install the Impossible Frog Tongue in this camera type, it is not as simple as installing in the earlier 600 cameras. You will need small jewelers’ screwdrivers to access the factory frog tongue to remove it. We do not recommend attempting this unless you feel 100% comfortable with taking apart your camera.
To see a user manual for the One 600, please click HERE
The Polaroid One 600 camera works with any of the Impossible 600 films available HERE
The Sun 650 SE was one of many variations in the simple plastic-bodied 600 camera line.
A basic 600-series camera, the Sun 650 SE features a 116mm single-element plastic lens, fixed focus with a minimal focal length of 4 feet, plus a sliding close-up lens, allowing for photos as close as 2 feet, electronic shutter and a built-in electronic flash. It is similar to the Sun 600 series in design, except for the blue accents on the nameplate and the sliding close-up lens, and the blue button, which often signified a Polaroid special edition.
The Sun 650 SE works with any of Impossible’s 600-speed film. For a complete selection of compatible films, click HERE
To see a user manual for Polaroid 600 cameras like the Sun 650 SE, click HERE
As many consumers had difficulty focusing with their original SX-70s, Polaroid released an autofocus model of their folding SX-70 in 1978. The SX-70 Time Zero Auto-Focus utilized a new and very advanced sonar technology. When the shutter button is pressed halfway, a series of ultrasonic chirps is emitted from an electrostatic transducer located under a plate over the lens. These chirps travel to the subject and bounce back to the camera’s receiver, alerting the camera to the subject’s distance, and the lens is turned on a motor to focus accordingly.
The Polaroid SX-70 Time Zero Auto-Focus features a 4-element 116mm glass lens, manual or autofocus capabilities, with a minimum focal length of 10.4 inches, electronic shutter…
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The Supercolor 635 was one of many variations in the simple plastic-bodied 600 camera line featuring the Light Management System. Polaroid released so many slightly different iterations in this line of cameras. This particular model has a silver face in place of the more common black face of Supercolors, and contains no sliding close-up lens.
A basic 600-series camera, the Supercolor 635 features a 116mm single-element plastic lens, fixed focus with a minimal focal length of 4 feet, electronic shutter and a built-in electronic flash. It is similar to the Sun 600 series in design, except for the beloved rainbow stripe which would be a characteristic true of the later Supercolor 635 CL edition as well.
The Supercolor 635 works with any of Impossible’s 600-speed film. For a complete selection of compatible films, click HERE
The Polaroid 1200si camera was first released in 2000, with an updated rounded body, as opposed to the square body of the earlier Spectra System cameras. Additionally, it differs from earlier Spectra models in that the film counter counts upward rather than downward and it was designed for compatibility with the foreign-market 12-exposure “1200” film pack.
The Polaroid 1200si features a 3-element 125mm “Quintic” plastic lens, electronic shutter, programmed automatic exposure automatic focus using Polaroid’s Sonar AF system, focus distance indicator in viewfinder which can be set for feet or meters, built-in electronic flash, a built-in self timer and a socket for electronic remote control. The Polaroid 1200si is silver in color, with navy blue trim.
The Polaroid 1200si works with all of Impossible’s PZ films. For a complete selection of compatible films, please click HERE