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August 2012

1
No. 518

Viewfinder: Jeff Mather's "Jurassic Park" Music Venue

Patrick Tobin, | 292 days ago

Hello, old friends. Welcome back to Viewfinder, our series chronicling interesting and exciting projects people are working on that incorporate Impossible film. This entry has a musical bent, with images of musicians and bands by Jeff Mather, founder of Indiana music venue Jurassic Park…

Jurassic Park was an idea I conceived early on in college at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. The music scene there for a long time was lacking of a small music space for bands to play, for both local and touring bands. When I wanted to see bands I liked, I found myself driving to Chicago or Bloomington, IN for shows, and I thought why not try to get those bands through West Lafayette? So I moved into a house with the full intent of turning the basement into a music space, and I built a stage, installed lights, bought a sound system, and started booking bands for every weekend.

In the beginning, most of the shows were either local bands or out-of-town bands with a local presence, but the buzz started early and Jurassic Park grew with each show. Every weekend, more people were showing up to the new and somewhat only music venue in town. As attendance was growing, so were the caliber of acts, including Reading Rainbow (Philly), coming off a tour with the Dodos, and Cast Spells (Dave Davison from Maps & Atlases).

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2
No. 523

Impossible Night Photography Workshop Recap

Josie Keefe, | 290 days ago

By Kisha Bari

Last Thursday The Impossible Project debuted a brand new edition to our workshop series, the Impossible Night Photography Workshop.

Check out some of the amazing images that these talented photographers including Kisha Bari, Jeff McCrum, and Annie Tao produced from our first ever class!

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3
No. 522

8 Exposures...with Sol Allen

Patrick Tobin, | 290 days ago

Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our instant film Q&A series. This week, we are happy to present to you our good friend, Arizona wonder Sol Exposure…

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

Although it seems like a good amount of my cameras are in an inoperable state, I tend to lean on my Polaroid SX-70 that I got refurbished from Unsaleable (Impossible’s predecessor), Hasseblad 503cw, Polaroid 450, Polaroid Spectra Pro and an Agfa Viking. I’ll usually throw one or two other ancient cameras in the bag, depending on what the shoot/trip is.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

Primarily, because of the unexpectedness of the film, especially if it’s expired. Every type of film has a learning curve and that’s fascinating to me. It’s wonderful to want, or to be told by a client, to achieve a certain look and to know what combination of camera and film will be able to create it. Also, I’m probably impatient.

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4
No. 525

The Camera Museum: Polaroid Amigo 620

Patrick Tobin, | 289 days ago

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

5
No. 526

Impossible's Sunday Brunch - Issue 14

Patrick Tobin, | 288 days ago

Photo by Jenna Gersbach

Greetings, instanteers! Welcome back to Impossible’s Sunday Brunch, our weekly series in which we showcase 5 juicy images that caught our eye over the course of the week. This week’s issue, subtitled, “Vitamin C”, focuses entirely on fruit. We’re here for all your instant anti-oxidant needs!

Photos come from Jenna Gersbach, Ina Echternach, Kumiko Sekiguchi, Justin Goode and Matt P Dooley, taken with the following film types: PX 70 Cool and PX 600 UV+ Black Frame

Keep shooting, friends. And be sure to submit to the Impossible Gallery and the Impossible Flickr Group! Your Impossible moment may end up in a future edition of Sunday Brunch!

6
No. 527

8 Exposures...with Ian Fleming

Patrick Tobin, | 287 days ago

Allo, Guvna! Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our instant film Q&A series. This entry turns the spotlight on our friend from across the pond, Ian Fleming…

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

I have rather too many. The SX-70 is my favourite. I have a SX-70 Sonar, a 645 CL and a Polaroid 1000 ‘red button’. For pack film, I have a lovely 180, a Big Swinger, a Square Shooter (which I have 3 packs of Viva for), plus my Big Shot, an underestimated camera.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

The instant gratification. I think Dr Land new this; it’s highly addictive, having a real picture that has an ‘artistic’ feel to it. Oh, and it’s great fun.

3) What is your earliest memory of instant film?

We used Polaroids all the time in the Film and TV business for ID, Pack Shots, reference shots, etc. But I always found all the film and camera types very confusing; I’m not sure it helped Polaroid in the long term.

4) What’s your favorite Impossible film type?

Well, I have shot a ton of PX 680 First Flush in my SX-70 and got great results, but now it has to be PX 70 COOL, closely followed by PX 70 Nigo edition. For B&W I love PX 600 Black Frame, I bought a load of the Poor Pod film from last year; it’s a really easy film to use.

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No. 528

8x10 By Impossible Exhibition at NYC Project Space

Josie Keefe, | 287 days ago

August 23rd - September 9th, 2012
August 23rd, 6pm - 9pm
Impossible Project NYC Space
map
By Chloe Aftel

Impossible grows bigger and bigger every year, and now the film is growing too. We’ve begun to produce a brand new 8×10 Impossible film material, launching Impossible into the exciting world of large format photography. To celebrate this historical development the Impossible Project NYC Space is mounting a landmark exhibition of our exclusive pioneer test film batch that will give a sneak peek into this exciting new medium.

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7
No. 529

Impossible Olympics!

Patrick Tobin, | 286 days ago

Photo by David Dalglish

With the Olympics in full-swing, a few people have recently shot Olympics-inspired photos using Impossible film. We wanted to share some of the Gold-Medal winners with you!

Photos were taken by David Dalglish, Caleb Jenkins and Meredith Wilson with PX 70 film.

The Summer Games end next week and won’t be back for four years, so be sure to get your fill now. Keep the Olympic spirit alive!

8
No. 530

Viewfinder: Clément Riere's "Still Waiting For You"

Patrick Tobin, | 285 days ago

Hello, friends. Welcome back to Viewfinder, our series chronicling interesting projects people are working on that incorporate Impossible film. This week, we present you with an exciting short film by French director Clément Riere, called Still Waiting For You. Here is a synopsis…

In the 1970s, a UFO port was built in a small town on the French west coast. In the 1990s, Jean-Philippe, a teenager who is fascinated by space and stars, suddenly disappears while visiting it. Today his brother Carl is confronted to disturbing documents that have remained secret for 20 years, and that could help him find out about what happened to Jean-Philippe.

From Clément…

The movie tells the story of someone going missing, according to what the main character, Carl, remembers. His memories take the shape of various archive footage: Super 8 films, videos and pictures. It was what this movie aimed at: telling the story of a character through visual fragments.

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9
No. 531

Analog Feedback Night take 4

Josie Keefe, | 283 days ago

By Stixxx

Once again we opened our NYC Impossible Project Space up to local instant film community, to give local photographers a chance to gather together and discuss their latest work on our film. This month, we chatted with a group of regulars and first timers about their images. Space Manager Kisha pulled out a few of the test 8×10 shots, and talked about the testing process of this brand new material.

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10
No. 532

8 Exposures...with Thomas Böttcher

Patrick Tobin, | 283 days ago

Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our instant film Q&A series. This week, we bring you German wonder Thomas Böttcher…

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

I have got three SX-70s (all without autofocus), a Spectra, several 600 cameras, two Landcameras: 320 and 330, and one 4×5 Polaback for my Sinar F 2. My favorite camera however is my SX-70 because it allows more room for creative work. I especially appreciate the aspect of the selective focus and the vintage charm of these cameras.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

Most people like instant photography because each photo is unique and can be looked at in a relatively short time. These are certainly also important aspects of instant photography for me, but I value even more the unique charm of the instant photography. It lives partly through its technical deficiency, its not being one hundred per cent perfect. A lot of photos today are defined exclusively through their technical perfection, so that the message of a picture often recedes into the background.

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11
No. 532

The Camera Museum: Polaroid Supercolor 635

Patrick Tobin, | 282 days ago

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

12
No. 534

Remembering Charlotte Horrillo

Marlene Kelnreiter | 281 days ago

Charlotte Horrillo graduated from Manchester Met Uni in 2011 where she was an Art student. She was also an Impossible Pioneer and a considerable part of her work involved the use of Polaroid and Impossible photographs.

Charlotte passed away on the 15th of July at the age of 24 after battling a rare type of cancer. Her achievements in the face of her treatment and many surgeries were immense. Much of the content of her art is related to her experience of being ill, without being morbid or sentimental or self pitying. With a beautiful eye and a great collection of Polaroid cameras she was constantly creating intense analog instant photographs.

Charlotte’s family set up a “justgiving” page in her memory for the Christie hospital in Manchester where she was looked after for much of her illness – to donate please click here.

No. 535

Impossible's Sunday Brunch - Issue 15

Patrick Tobin, | 281 days ago

Photo by Annie Donovan

Greetings, feathered friends! Welcome back to Impossible’s Sunday Brunch, our weekly series in which we showcase 5 images that caught our eye over the course of the week. This week’s issue is “for the birds.” Take flight with these beautiful Impossible photos of our neighbors in the sky…

Photos come to us from Annie Donovan, Amalia Sieber, The Kodachromer, Paula Roy and Joep Gottemaker with the following film types: PX 680 Cool, PX 70 Cool, PZ 600 Black Frame and our new 8×10 test film!

Keep shooting, instanteers! And be sure to submit to the Impossible Gallery and the Impossible Flickr Group! Your Impossible moment may end up in a future edition of Sunday Brunch!

13
No. 536

8 Exposures...with Fernanda Montoro

Patrick Tobin, | 280 days ago

Welcome back to 8 Exposures, kiddies. This week, our instant film Q&A series focuses on Fernanda Montoro…

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

The camera I love and use the most is the Polaroid SX-70. That’s the dream camera for me, the camera that has become the extension of my eyes. I often use a Polaroid 600 SE and Polaroid Spectra too. My little Polaroid camera collection also includes an SLR 680, a Mio, a couple of Miniportraits. And, of course, many SX-70s! I like to have them handy and to play with them from time to time, depending on the mood.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

I like absolutely everything about it!: Being able to watch the past become picture, in front of my eyes. Those whirring mechanical sounds that instant cameras make. Its distinctive painterly qualities, texture, saturation, ‘imperfections’. I even enjoy the limitation of having a limited number of shots! (Makes me respect the medium, compose more carefully, try my best in every frame). Also, thanks to instant photography I started to look at photography in a more serious way.

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15
No. 537

Viewfinder: Jonathan Pryce's "100 Beards"

Admin, | 278 days ago

Hello, friends. Welcome back to Viewfinder, our series in which we chronicle interesting projects that incorporate Impossible film. This entry focuses on a project by Jonathan Pryce, entitled 100 Beards…

After moving to London at the beginning of this year, I got thinking about new projects that would be fulfilling and challenging. Having been a street style photographer for over 5 years, I thought capturing a specific trend would be interesting. On July 1st 2012, I launched “100 Beards, 100 Days”. I’ve always has a passion for mens’ style, shown in my blog AnotherGarcon so I thought the current public obsession with facial hair could be a nice place to start.

There are two main reasons for choosing this trend: beards are everywhere now and I’m fascinated with how trends emerge. Over the past few years, the beard has re-established itself as the ultimate accessory for the modern gentleman. I wanted to document the many beards I was seeing on a daily basis. Secondly, I have major beard envy – I can’t grow a good beard myself so I’m living vicariously through others.

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16
No. 538

Impossible NYC Chinatown Photowalk

Josie Keefe, | 277 days ago

August 25th 2012
4-6pm
Impossible Project NYC Space
map
By Kisha Bari

Attention New York Impossibles – we are announcing a brand new addition to the fun line-up of events at the Impossible Project NYC Space, a Impossible Chinatown Photowalk!

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17
No. 538

Dr. Love's Tips - Roller Rejuvenation

Patrick Tobin, | 276 days ago

Greetings from LoveLand! Welcome back to Dr. Love’s Tips, where Impossible USA’s Camera Resource Manager Frank Love provides you with helpful advice and insight into your Polaroid cameras and how to get the best out of Impossible film. This week, Frank talks about rejuvenating your camera’s rollers…

For anyone with an SX-70, folding or not, you have Polaroid’s ‘First Draft’ at roller design.

These are rollers that work by having a sort of teflon coating on the top roller. It’s this material that ‘grips’ the film as it’s ejecting to move it through the rollers for processing.

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18
No. 539

The Camera Museum: Polaroid's Neon Cool Cam

Patrick Tobin, | 275 days ago

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

No. 541

Impossible's 'Roid Week Gallery

Patrick Tobin, | 275 days ago

We hope you enjoyed ‘Roid Week 2012 on Flickr!

The final day is always bittersweet, so in order to keep the Polaroid Week spirit alive a bit longer, we cordially invite you to share your favorite Impossible photos submitted during Polaroid Week to the Impossible x Polaroid Week Gallery.

Over the course of next week, we’ll pick our five favorite photos and on Sunday, August 26th, we’ll feature them in a special edition of Sunday Brunch. The five winning photographers will receive an Impossible film prize package.

We look forward to seeing your photos!

20
No. 542

8 Exposures...with Troy Bradford

Patrick Tobin, | 273 days ago

Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our instant film Q&A series. This week, we’re happy to bring you Texas photog Troy Bradford…

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

I have three working SX-70s, one 250 pack film camera, one modified 250 pack film camera with a Rodenstock 127mm lens added, one 100 pack film camera, two Spectra cameras, one 600 One Step Closeup and a 104 pack film camera converted to a pinhole camera.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

As most people will say, I like the fact that you get to hold the image immediately. In addition to that, I also like the fact that you get to watch the image come to life. The thrill of this process takes me back to my days in high school when I had my own darkroom and was able to watch film images develop before my eyes in the chemical bath. So that takes care of touch and sight, but I also like the smell of the peel-apart films. It is not like the smell is a pleasant one, it is just the fact that you can relate this smell to a developing picture…Now if you separate out just Impossible film and ask the same question, I would say that holding an Impossible image is like instantly holding a small piece of artwork.

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21
No. 543

The Camera Museum: Polaroid's Pink & Grey Cool Cam

Patrick Tobin, | 272 days ago

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 the more common Red & Black and this beauty: the pink & grey model. 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 (You may want to try some of our COOL films with this baby). For a complete list of compatible films, click HERE

To buy your own Pink & Grey Cool Cam, click HERE!!!

22
No. 544

Viewfinder: Massimiliano Muner's "Heaven"

Patrick Tobin, | 271 days ago

Welcome back to Viewfinder, our series chronicling interesting projects people are working on using Impossible films. This entry brings you Italian artist and photographer Massimiliano Muner…

For these picture I have drawn my inspiration from a series of paintings by Ed Ruscha, an artist I am really fond of, where words and sentences often have no reference with the image below.

In particular, I have decided to play with the meaning of a word that refers to a specific idea: on one hand the sky as a changeable element of the physical world and, on the other hand, the transcendent idea of the sky connected with the concept of heaven from a religious point of view. The sky as a visible manifestation/symbol of an idea/ideal spiritual place: the pursuit for happiness.

The writing in block capitals, which is impressed on every shot, intentionally fades, in order to convey the idea of a condition (happiness, precisely) that is often evasive and changeable. Such project has been designed to convey the importance of pursuing happiness also in everyday things. The initial idea was to take pictures of ordinary objects with such writing impressed on it, but then I had to think about the subjectivity of such emotion and I have therefore found to be more appropriate to immortalize something that anyone sees every day, and the writing conveys an idea that is exactly the personal idea of happiness everybody has.

I was born in Trieste and I am 28. I have been cultivating the passion for photography for more than ten years, first beginning with digital cameras to then be attracted by the fascinating world of film. I collect Japanese and German cameras, as well as Polaroids.

Thanks to my pictures, which are cut and re-assembled together, in 2011 I won ISO600, the first instant photography festival, which took place in Milan. In particular, I have been using this peculiar technique for about two years, creating dynamic works. My polaroids have been on display in Rome, Milan, Wien and Trieste, both in art galleries and in other exhibition centers.

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No. 545

Impossible 8x10 on NYT Lens Blog

Marlene Kelnreiter | 271 days ago

By Rommel Pecson on Impossible 8x10 test film

In the light of the upcoming Impossible 8×10 film Adam McCauley has written an extensive article for the NYT Lens Blog – head over to read this most inspiring and in-depth piece!

Amongst others it features interviews with a few of the contributing photographers to our 8×10 exhibition, on display from August 23 – September 24 in the Impossible Project Space NYC.

The new Impossible PQ 8×10 film will be available starting August 30. One pack contains 10 photos, and the film is compatible with all 8×10 cameras equipped with a Polaroid film holder, as well as the original Polaroid 8×10 processor.

23
No. 546

8 Exposures...with Benjamin Innocent

Patrick Tobin, | 270 days ago

Greetings, instanteers, and welcome back to 8 Exposures, our instant film Q&A series. This week’s guest is a good friend of ours from the UK, all-around nice guy and brilliant photographer Benjamin Innocent…

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

I have a few instant cameras but have found that I gravitate to 3 that I use often: A Polaroid SLR 680, a Land 250 pack film camera (newly acquired) and an SX-70 Model 1. I find the SX-70 is my most frequently used camera; it was my first folding Polaroid and I adore it. Its design is genius, more a work of art.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

I am fairly new to instant film, however (and this may sound crass), I find this 40-50 year old technology absolutely blows my mind, it is magic! Taking each shot makes me a little giddy with a click, thud, whirr sound. I am very much self-taught/learnt from friends when it comes to taking photographs and I have found that instant photography is where I have settled; it resonates with how I approach making a picture. I love that it slows you down, when you press the shutter button you are committed; no deletes or retakes. The nervous wait to see the image and then you are left with the tangible element that is unique; physically holding an image, passing it round, sticking it up on a wall, giving that one copy away.

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24
No. 547

8x10 by Impossible Launch Party

Kisha Bari, | 269 days ago

As 6pm quickly approached, the finishing touches were made in preparation to launch the first US preview into the world of Impossible Large Format instant photography.

Wine & beer were chilled, cheese platter prepared, DJ Danny Miller kicked off with a classic Dawn Penn tune to set the mood and the last frame tipped slightly to straighten.

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25
No. 548

The Camera Museum: Polaroid's See-Through Sun 660

Patrick Tobin, | 268 days ago

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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26
No. 549

Impossible's Sunday Brunch - Roid Week Gallery Winners!

Patrick Tobin, | 267 days ago

Photo by Andrea Jenkins

Hello instanteers and welcome back to Sunday Brunch, where we share spectacular photos taken with Impossible film that have caught our eye over the course of the week.

This week’s issue is very special. We invited you to keep Polaroid Week 2012 alive for an extra week by submitting your favorite Impossible photos to our Roid Week Gallery. Our intention was to select our 5 favorite photos, with the winners receiving a special Impossible film package. Well, with so many fantastic submissions, we had a hard time deciding on just 5, so we chose 9!

Winning photos come from Andrea Jenkins, Linda Nielsen, Juli Werner, Nicholas Misciagna, Moko Chen, Heather Champ, Frank Zierenberg, Cromwell Schubarth and Matt Dicke using the following Impossible film types: PX 70 Cool, PX 680 Cool, PZ 680 Cool, PZ 600 UV+ Black Frame and PX 600 UV+ Grey Frame.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all of the wonderfully talented Impossible photographers out there who took part!

27
No. 549

8 Exposures...with Rachel Carrier

Patrick Tobin, | 266 days ago

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.

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29
No. 551

Viewfinder: J. James Joiner's Impossible Folk Project

Patrick Tobin, | 264 days ago

Welcome back to Viewfinder, our series in which we chronicle interesting projects that incorporate Impossible film. This week, we’re happy to bring you J. James Joiner documentation of the Newport Folk Festival…

It wasn’t until I loaded the backpack full of film onto my already sweaty back that I started to worry I may have made a mistake. Not only was it well over 80 degrees – and pushing 100% humidity – but I now had two days of serious shooting ahead of me with two cameras that were past the 30 year mark.

When I decided to do the Impossible Folk Project – the name an amalgamation of the project’s primary subjects, Impossible Project instant film and the venerable Newport Folk Festival – I made the determination that I had to commit fully to the concept, and left my usual digital SLRs on a shelf back home (In all fairness, I should admit that I did, at the last minute, slip my Fuji x100 in the glove box. But only as a “break glass in case of emergency” contingency. Or if I found myself out of instant film and with the time to take several minutes manually focusing each frame). Now here it was: go time, so to speak, and I was definitely having a moment of panic. Not only was I not well-versed in the way of instant photo taking (I generally shot my Polaroid cameras as a hobby, not in the so called professional capacity), much of that shooting had been done on expired film, which as you know can be, um, unpredictable?

After checking in for our press stuff and firing a few shots of the waiting crowd, shots I suddenly realized I couldn’t preview for at least a few minutes to make sure I had “caught” the moment, it dawned on me just how dependent we’ve all become on instant gratification (which is, of course, ironic since I was shooting with the OG “instant” format). Here I was, supposedly a seasoned “professional”, and I was getting panicky over whether or not I had managed to get a decent photo. Deciding that peace of mind (and restoring a suddenly shaky self-confidence) trumped any late-onset light damage, I pulled the pics out of my pocket (don’t worry, I have museum-quality pockets) and gave ‘em the mid-development once-over. Lo and behold, and with a great deal of the credit owed to the wonderful folks at the Impossible Project, they looked great.

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No. 552

Transparencies Exhibition Opens In Vienna

Marlene Kelnreiter | 264 days ago

1 SEP 2012, 10am-6pm
Impossible Project Space Vienna
Kaiserstraße 74
1070 Vienna
AUSTRIA
map
by James Matthew Carroll

A smashing opening party is awaiting visitors of the Project Space Vienna this coming Saturday!

Presenting the very first Transparencies ever created by Impossible photographers, dozens of Magnetic LED Frames will not only illuminate the unique analog instant artworks but also the whole space.

Visitors who join the exhibition opening on September 1 between 10am-6pm will not only be able to enjoy this shining view but they’ll also get 5% off on their purchase the the Project Space. See you there!

The Impossible Transparencies Exhibition @ the Impossible Project Space Vienna features work by Alan Marcheselli, Bernd F. Oehmen, Britta Hershman, Carmen Palermo, Cherry Collins, Frank Merath, Frederic Vinolas, Gian Guido Zurli, Hervé Benz, James Matthew Carroll, Jon Jekel, Li Ang, Luca Tommaso Cordoni, Lucile le Doze, Michael Collins, Mik Boitier, Monica Saviron, Noah Kolb, Stefano Tirelli, Susanne Melanie Berry and Teodora Stoica.

30
No. 552

PQ 8x10 Silver Shade

Marlene Kelnreiter | 263 days ago

For the last few months we devoted our love to large format instant photography, today we are proud to introduce a new, astonishing instant film for your 8×10 camera.

Other than the traditional Polaroid peel apart 8×10 film, the new PQ 8×10 Silver Shade film is an integral instant film. The basis of this film is our Silver Shade material with a film speed of 640 ASA. One pack contains 10 negatives and 10 positives to be shot in 8×10 cameras using the original Polaroid 8×10 holder and processor.

Before you start shooting, please familiarize yourself with the characteristics, necessities and handling of this new 8×10 film. DOWNLOAD User Manuals Here

31
No. 554

Artist in Residence: Bill Phelps

Josie Keefe, | 262 days ago

For this installment of Artist in Residence, we check in with Bill Phelps, who shot our new Pioneer test version of the 8×10 Impossible film. His photos are on view in the Impossible Project NYC Space until September 24th, as part of the 8×10 by Impossible exhibition.

“I was very excited about the new 8 × 10 film, and very curious about it no longer being a peel apart process, it had become a completely new medium.

In seeing the work in the exhibition, I realized we were dealing with a new breed of film. After twenty years of shooting the Polaroid product, I had become very used it’s characteristics and sensitivities, rarely using a light meter. I approached this experiment in a rather methodical way, trying to create some constants, it showed itself to be very different from the original.

The first half of the box I shot in a white studio with only overcast, window light. The information I received from Impossible was very helpful, as was the tip sheet included in the package. Conditions and drying time are very important, Stefan Milev’s image with the leaves inside, took advantage of this, it was beautiful. I kept detailed notes, but I found rather quickly that I needed to remain open to whatever may come. That day showed me that it really was a different animal and I decided to shoot the rest of the film in a new situation.

I decided to shoot in my apartment under completely...Read All

No. 554

Dr. Love's Tips – Formats and Materials and Machinery - OH MY!

Patrick Tobin, | 262 days ago

It’s time for another edition of Dr. Love’s Tips, in which Impossible USA’s Camera Resource Manager Frank Love provides you with advice on how to get the best out of your camera and Impossible film. This week’s entry will hopefully offer some answers to the oft-asked questions about pack film, 4×5 film and roll film…

We have gotten many requests, questions, and pleas about creating more than just the amazing formats of SX-70, Spectra, and 600 film since the initial announcement of The Impossible Project. These requests have especially been renewed recently with the unveiling of our new 8×10 film.

I just want to take a moment to explain how it is we have come to be manufacturing the films we do, and why we aren’t making other formats.

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No. 674

The Camera Museum: Polaroid SX-70 OneStep

Patrick Tobin, | 160 days ago

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!

No. 592

The Camera Museum: Polaroid Business Edition

Patrick Tobin, | 233 days ago

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

No. 548

The Camera Museum: Polaroid's See-Through Sun 660

Patrick Tobin, | 268 days ago

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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No. 539

The Camera Museum: Polaroid's Neon Cool Cam

Patrick Tobin, | 275 days ago

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

No. 532

The Camera Museum: Polaroid Supercolor 635

Patrick Tobin, | 282 days ago

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

No. 525

The Camera Museum: Polaroid Amigo 620

Patrick Tobin, | 289 days ago

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

No. 518

The Camera Museum: Polaroid SX-70 Time Zero AF Model 2

Patrick Tobin, | 296 days ago

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.

No. 511

The Camera Museum: Polaroid One 600

Patrick Tobin, | 303 days ago

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

No. 486

The Camera Museum: Polaroid Sun 650 SE

Patrick Tobin, | 310 days ago

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

No. 475

The Camera Museum: Polaroid SX-70 Sonar Blue Button Special Edition

Patrick Tobin, | 331 days ago

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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No. 468

The Camera Museum: Polaroid Supercolor 635

Patrick Tobin, | 338 days ago

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

No. 431

The Camera Museum: Polaroid 1200si

Patrick Tobin, | 366 days ago

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