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September 2012

1
No. 555

8 Exposures...with Brian Green

Patrick Tobin, | 261 days ago

Hello, friends! Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our popular instant film Q&A series. This week, we present to you South Carolina photographer Brian Green…

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

What I usually have on me at a basic shoot are two Mamiya RB67s with Polaroid pack film backs: one with a 180mm lens and one a 90mm, a Polaroid Colorpack, and an SX-70 Sonar. I have around 30 cameras in my collection but those are my main ones that get used daily.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

The instant aspect of course; I am a person who likes to put work out as it’s created so waiting on developing film would slow that down a little. Also in my opinion nothing comes close to the colors and feel the instant film gives.

3) What is your earliest memory of instant film?

My mom has always been artistic, from painting, to wood work to photography so she introduced me to it at an early age and it has always had a soft spot in my heart some of the only photos I have of my father are on Polaroid 600 film.

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2
No. 555

Impossible's Sunday Brunch - Issue 18

Patrick Tobin, | 260 days ago

Photo by Penny Felts

Welcome back to Sunday Brunch, a wonderful feature in which we share 5 solid photos taken with Impossible film that have stood out to us over the course of each week.

This week’s edition leans toward the Y chromosome; it’s all about dudes. These Impossible photos capture the essence of man in an instant.

Photos come from Penny Felts, Justin Molina, Ann McGarry, David Dalglish and Nicolas SP, on the following film types: PX 70 Opacification test film Version 4B, PX 70 Opacification test film Version 4C, PX 600 UV+ and PZ 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!

3
No. 557

Phil Garcia in Blur Magazine's Instantion

Marlene Kelnreiter | 259 days ago

by Phil Garcia

BLUR magazine features a special section called INSTANTION, dedicated to creative analog instant photography.

In the September edition once can marvel at the beautiful photography of French photographer Phil Garcia and read an interesting interview with him.

An extract: “I shoot exclusively women, first of all, because I think they are more photogenic, they have a better aesthetic knowledge of their body, and also because I like to work with women more because they bring a different vision to the photographic project than my masculine one. I’m not very directorial to my models, so I need to get them to understand the idea of the shoot and to bring their own brick to the wall.”

Download BLUR 27 for free here

No. 558

8 Exposures...with Andrea Tonellotto

Patrick Tobin, | 259 days ago

Ciao, Impossibles! Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our instant film question & answer series. This week’s entry focuses on Italian photographer Andrea Tonellotto…

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

By now, I’m making a collection!! I use three SX-70s, two of which are the original model (my favorite), an SLR 680, a Spectra system, a 1000 and, recently, I bought a 600 SE, with which I’m starting to become confident.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

At first the tones and colors made me mad for the Artistic TZ’s pastel tones, but now i’m in love with last impossible PX 70 12\11 batch’s colors, wonderful!! Secondly, for the fact that I have the result immediately, after a few minutes, and for an impatient man like me, it’s very important. Paradoxically, altough a dated method, it’s faster than digital photography. Dear old Edwin Land was really too “advanced.” Last, there is a “technical” reason…I like to take photos in balance between real life and an abstract world, with subjects born of imagination. Instant film is an absolutely real and tangible material.

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No. 560

The Impossible NYC Chinatown Photowalk

Kisha Bari, | 259 days ago

Over twenty people, with a variety of vintage Polaroid cameras, joined us last Saturday for our very first Impossible Photowalk around Chinatown.

Stopping at NYC’s first tenement building, Confucius Plaza and Columbus park, our analog friends captured this historic enclave, full of unique and colorful signage, architecture, Chinese chess players and exotic fruit, all on Impossible instant film.

After reconvening at The Impossible Project NYC Space to share their images over every surface of the store, our very first Impossible Photowalkers left excited and inspired for our next adventure in Central Park!

We were also very fortunate to have Ruddy Harootian to shoot this awesome video montage of the day. You can follow Ruddy on Twitter here

Please join us for our next Impossible Central Park photowalk on Saturday September 15th!
And check our Impossible Project NYC Facebook for more images from the day!

4
No. 561

Instant: The Story of Polaroid - Special Edition

Marlene Kelnreiter | 258 days ago

Besides being an editor at New York magazine Christopher Bonanos is a passionate expert and devotee when it comes to analog instant photography. In his book “Instant: The Story of Polaroid” he tells the story of one of the most innovative and visionary companies that ever was, from the very beginning to the end and the future via the Impossible Project.

The Special Limited Edition contains “Instant” and additionally the booklet “Faces of Polaroid”, introducing some of the key figures mentioned in the book. Christoper Bonanos himself traveled the U.S. to shoot the selection of portraits presented therein, using a Polaroid SX 70 camera and new Impossible instant film. The resulting imagery merges the old with the new and the past with present stories.

The Special Limited Edition is now exclusively available for pre-order in our Online Shop and will also be available in the Impossible Project Spaces New York City, Paris, Vienna and Tokyo starting October 4.

No. 561

How to peel PQ 8x10 photos

Marlene Kelnreiter | 258 days ago

DRY 8×10 PHOTOS
A newly processed 8×10 photo consists of a layer of wet developing paste, sandwiched between a negative and a transparent sheet. In this wet condition the photo oxidizes and it develops and alters further. To keep the print stable, it’s necessary to stop this development process.

PEEL APART
The quickest and safest way to get any humidity out of the print is to separate the positive and the negative sheets. This effectively stops any chemical reaction within the print and prevents the photo from altering or shifting in color.

5
No. 563

Viewfinder: Kimi Selfridge's "This Is Our Youth"

Patrick Tobin, | 257 days ago

Welcome back to Viewfinder, our blog series that focuses on interesting projects that incorporate Impossible film. This entry, we’re happy to bring you Brooklyn-based visual artist Kimi Selfridge…

I’m embarking on a journey to capture the world from my wonderstruck point of view. Working exclusively with analog film formats, I style my photo shoots and otherwise progress with little to no plan. Entering an uncontrolled environment, I’m able to react with a discerning eye to splice subject and setting, which lends itself to my commitment of never altering the photographs, allowing the work to remain honest and original.

All of my current public works are part of an ongoing personal project entitled “This Is Our Youth”.

To see more of Kimi’s photography, please visit her Flickr photostream

6
No. 564

Artist in Residence: Chloe Aftel

Josie Keefe, | 255 days ago

For this installment of Artist in Residence, we check in with one of our favorite photographers, Chloe Aftel, who shot our new Pioneer test version of the 8×10 Impossible film. Her 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 to test the new 8×10 film, as I’d only shot 4×5 before. I’ve used Impossible films a lot, but wasn’t sure how such a large positive would handle light and if the blacks and whites would hold or shift.

I know most people use an 8×10 in studio because it’s so unwieldy, so I thought I’d take it on location to see what would happen. I knew a few wooded areas of San Francisco and there’s a model I love working with, Erin, who generously posed for me. I wanted someone striking and with her gap teeth and incredible hair, Erin seemed the perfect fit. She shoots a lot herself and is a pleasure to work with, she also doesn’t mind experimenting, which is half the fun of using instant film.

I was surprised by the degree to which I fell in love with the film. The creamy tones and detail of the image was impressive. I could see so much more and I cannot wait to shoot with it again.

Shooting on location was tough, as the camera is a beast and lugging it around is challenging. That being said, it was...Read All

7
No. 565

PX 680 COOL HOLDEN EDITION

Marlene Kelnreiter | 255 days ago

2012 marks the 10 year anniversary of Holden. From inception, Holden has sought a singular goal: creating products that make people happier and healthier in the pursuit of a life well led.

The Impossible Project shares this philosophy and our instant analog film is a perfect way to document the moments that make up a life.

Shoot it Holden Style. Whether you’re climbing mountains or the subway stairs capture your exploits on branded Holden PX 680 COOL film. Available for a limited time selected frames in a pack bear a different Holden design.

TIMELESS IN AN INSTANT
To celebrate their collaboration with Impossible, Holden selected 10 well known photographers to shoot Impossible film capturing their vision of an independent lifestyle via analog instant photography and invited the public to submit their own Impossible photos to an on-line contest, “Timeless in an Instant.”
On September 27th, 2012 the Impossible NYC Space will host the first exhibit of photos taken by The Holden 10: Yone, Kevin Zacher, Andy Wright, Bryce Kanights, Jimmy Fontaine, Angela Boatwright, Kassia Meador, Vincent Skoglund, Brandon Long, Alessandro Simonetti and the grand prize winner of the “Timeless in an Instant” contest, Melanie Rodriguez.

No. 563

8 Exposures...with Jessica Shimek

Patrick Tobin, | 255 days ago

Hello, Impossible friends! Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our instant film Q&A series. This week, we bring you Minnesota artist and photographer Jessica Shimek…

1) What Polaroid cameras do you use?

A Polaroid SX-70, A Polaroid Spirit 600, a 240 Land Camera and a Polaroid back on my Hasselblad 501c/m.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

Every photography medium has a different feeling and portrays a different mood. I love the mood that instant photography gives me. It is warm and sometimes a bit faded…this will sound cheesy, but I feel like each image is a tangible bit of a memory.

3) What is your earliest memory of instant film?

I don’t know that I have an earliest memory that I can really remember. Polaroids and instant film were just always there. My parents had a Polaroid 600 camera and took tons of photos of me when I was younger. I grew up with it. It was never not a thing. I don’t remember the first time I watched an instant photo develop, but I remember that it was magical every time.

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8
No. 567

WHAT IS BETSY WAITING FOR?

Marlene Kelnreiter | 254 days ago

The modeling world has its legends Twiggy, Christy, Jean, Veruschka, Marisa, Kate and…Betsy.

Betsy is the original “Polaroid Girl” and she’s been modeling for decades. Once thought too old for the modeling world she narrowly avoided retirement in 2008 and came back fiercer than ever, becoming the face of the “House of Impossible,” gracing the frames of every single Impossible film produced.

Legions of instant photographers have captured her enigmatic smile on film. Some call her plastic and cold but Betsy’s heart belongs to Florian Kaps.

For Florian, Betsy will sit in a dimly lit factory waiting patiently for the lights to be turned on, a fixed smile on her face, a faraway look in her eyes, dreaming analog dreams…

On Monday, September 10th, the lights in the factory will be turned on. Will Betsy’s analog dreams come true? Will yours?

9
No. 568

Impossible's Sunday Brunch - Issue 19

Patrick Tobin, | 253 days ago

Photo by Jessica Hibbard

Happy Sunday, all you morning people! Welcome back to Impossible’s Sunday Brunch, our weekly series in which we showcase 5 hot and fresh images that caught our eye over the course of the week. This week’s issue is dedicated to the coffee-connoisseur and mocha-minded alike. Please enjoy these java-themed Impossible pictures.

Photos come to us from Jessica Hibbard Elenstar, Ben Syverson, Rabbitier, Toby Hancock and Thomas Boesgaard and were taken with the following film types: PX 100 UV+, PX 680 Gold Frame, PX 70 V4B test film and PX 680 V4C test film.

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!

10
No. 565

8 Exposures...with Dustin Yager

Patrick Tobin, | 252 days ago

Hello, instant film lovers, and welcome back to 8 Exposures, our popular analog Q&A series. This week the star is our good friend, Dustin Yager…

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

I have a decent collection of Polaroid cameras but my main cameras are an SX-70 (whichever one is working at the time) and a modified 450 Land Camera. I am currently working on a new pack film mod that i am looking forward to.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

Everyone who sees me shoot instant film asks me this question and I never have a standard answer for it. I love the uniqueness and individuality of every shot. I love that it’s not easily replicated and that your instant shot is a capture of that moment in time, whatever it may be. I love that there is an unknown element with every instant photography shot and there are no “do overs.” Digital photography just feels cold and too perfect to me sometimes and I love the softness and dreamlike quality that instant film has. I also feel that since i have been shooting instant film, it has made me a better photographer and made me think of the shot more before and during the process.

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No. 569

IMPOSSIBLE PROUDLY PRESENTS: THE INSTANT LAB

Marlene Kelnreiter | 252 days ago

On our journey toward inventing a new analog instant camera, we created the incredible Instant Lab. This revolutionary device bridges the worlds of digital and analog photography, turning pixelated iPhone images into unique and real analog instant photos on Impossible film.

We have started a Kickstarter campaign to raise the necessary funds to turn our working prototype into a final product. Supporters of this campaign will receive units before the public in February 2013. View our video and all details at kickstarter.com

There you can pre-purchase the Instant Lab at prices up to half-off the final retail price. Supporters can also pick up one of the Kickstarter-exclusive Instant Lab special editions, personalized with an engraved text, like the All Black or the Gold Edition (that’s real gold-plated, not just gold color).

Based on the recently-perfected Impossible FPU (Film Processing Unit) the Instant Lab is one of the very first hardware concepts using this innovative device, which will serve as the basis for a range of new analog instant gear to be introduced in 2013.

11
No. 571

Thank you Kickstarters!

Marlene Kelnreiter | 251 days ago

On this photo you can see two very happy men – Impossible founders Florian Kaps and Christian Lutz.

24 hours after we launched the Instant Lab in our Kickstarter campaign we are already approaching our funding target.

We simply can’t stop smiling and thank you all from the bottom of our analog hearts.

To read Florian’s and Christian’s Thank You message head over to Kickstarter.

12
No. 571

Viewfinder: Anielika Sykes' "Beyond the Surface"

Patrick Tobin, | 250 days ago

Greetings, instant film lovers. Welcome back to Viewfinder, our series that chronicles interesting projects that incorporate Impossible film. This week, we are happy to bring you Anielika Sykes…

My fascination with water and light are at the heart of this series of diptychs in which self-portraits are paired with still life photographs. My Polaroid SX-70 Sonar camera, Impossible Project PX 70 film, water – first boiled, then cold – and hot press water colour paper are the tools that have allowed me to manipulate physical images. The process of being submersed in water has resulted in loose transfers to assume new life beyond the surface.

Each set of diptychs aims to relate the notion of memory: one, a self portrait in which I look out from a familiar place associated with childhood; and the other, a still life meant to capture treasured objects associated with someone the child holds dear. The self-portraits are for the most part, shot in the High Park area in Toronto.

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13
No. 572

The Camera Museum: Polaroid Job Pro

Patrick Tobin, | 249 days ago

The Polaroid Job Pro, first released in 1992, was designed with construction and work sites in mind. It is essentially the same as the One Step Flash and Supercolor cameras, with a sliding close-up lens, but the Job Pro is a bright ‘safety’ yellow, to highlight its suitability for industrial use. A sticker with quick instructions is attached to the back of the camera. Some versions of the Job Pro have the words “The Construction Camera” near the film slot.

The Polaroid Job Pro features a single-element 116mm fixed-focus plastic lens with the sliding close-up lens, Polaroid’s Light Management System, in the form of an exposure compensation switch under the lens and a built-in flash.

The Job Pro is compatible with all of Impossible’s 600-series film, which can be purchased HERE

Interested in picking up your own Job Pro camera? Check out our Job Pro – Back To Work Camera Kit

No. 573

8x10 Workshop at Impossible Project NYC Space

Josie Keefe, | 248 days ago

September 22nd 2012
9am-1pm
Impossible Project NYC Space
map
By Adam Goldberg

To celebrate the launch of our historic new 8×10 instant film, we are very excited to announce a very special large format workshop with John Reuter and Nafis Azad in The Impossible Project NYC Space.

Don’t miss out on this very unique and exciting opportunity to learn from a legendary instant image and camera expert and work with the hottest new film in town. This workshop will explore the ins and outs of this challenging yet rewarding material. Take your instant photography up a level – sometimes bigger is better!

John Reuter joined Polaroid Corporation in 1978 as senior photographer and is currently the Executive Director of the legendary 20×24 Studio. Reuter has worked with greats such as Chuck Close, Cindy Sherman, Mary Ellen Mark and Tim Burton. He is a true pioneer with nearly thirty five years in large format instant photography experience.

With a masters in Fine Arts Photography from The University of Massachusetts, Nafis Azad is currently the Director of Photography at 20×24 Studio and is a large format specialist.

Fee : $200 (includes one sheet of 8×10 film, camera use, film holders and processing) $25 per extra sheet of film (includes preservation kit)

Registrations: nycspace@the-impossible-project.com or
Call +1 212 219 3254

14
No. 574

Dr. Love's Tips – Decoding Numbers

Patrick Tobin, | 247 days ago

Welcome back to Dr. Love’s Tips, where Impossible USA’s Camera Resource Manager Frank Love provides you with helpful advice on how to get the best out of your Polaroid cameras and Impossible film. This issue: Decoding the numbers on the back of the photo!

What do those numbers on the back of my images mean?

Those numbers are the ‘Frame Code. This code is how you can decipher which film this frame is, and when it was manufactured.

This 10 digit code breaks down into 5 pieces, which each set of 2 digits giving you a specific piece of information. Please refer to our picture for a detailed breakdown.

Effectively, the first 4 digits are not unlike a date (08/11=Aug. ‘11, etc.). The machine number is more for internal records and doesn’t really tell you the shooter anything about the film. The film type code is probably one of the more useful ones, as this will help you with whether this is a PX100 shot or PX 600 shot. Lastly the last two digits are simply the day of the month of the production batch.

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15
No. 575

SNAP! x Impossible Photo Contest - August "Ice Cream" Winners

Patrick Tobin, | 247 days ago

Photo by Ben Lormore

Hello, friends! We are happy to announce the winners from the August round of our ongoing photo contest in collaboration with SNAP! Magazine. The theme for August was “Ice Cream.”

Winning images come from Ben Lormore, Nick Leonard, Gregory Geiger, Cinthya Nunez, Justin Molina, Leandro Fornasir, Mee Thor, Meghan Davidson, Meredith Wilson and Sean Caudill.

The 10 finalists will receive $5 off their next Impossible purchase.

Congrats to Ben Lormore for his Grand prize winning image! Ben will receive a pack of Impossible Film and a mystery prize from Team SNAP!

The theme for September is ROAD TRIP! We now have an official SNAP! x Impossible Gallery on our site. Click here for more details on the collaboration: http://www.the-impossible-project.com/projects/snap/

No. 576

Impossible at Photokina 2012

Marlene Kelnreiter | 247 days ago

SEP 18 - 23, 2012
Photkina 2012
Koelnmesse GmbH
Messeplatz 1
50679 Cologne
Germany
map

We are getting ready for Photokina 2012, the world’s largest trade fair for the photographic and imaging industries, taking place in Cologne, Germany.
At our beautiful booth D020 in Hall 2.1. we’re looking forward to meeting all lovers of analog instant photography. Besides the current as well as rising stars of the Impossible universe we have prepared a nice little program:

Daily 18-23.9., 10am – 6pm
Experience a truly new Impossible color film. Have your portrait taken. Prepare your Impossible postcard with your gift coupon.
Marvel at the new PQ 8×10 Silver Shade exhibition, feat. works by artists Sebran D’Argent (FRA/IND), David Goldes (USA) and Stefan Milev (GER).
Experience the Impossible Instant Lab, melt your iPhone images into real Impossible photos. Discover future hardware plans.

Thursday 20. + Friday 21.9.
Leave your mobile number until 1pm to win a 8×10 portrait shooting session with Italian photographer Maurizio Galimberti (ITA) in the afternoon

Saturday 22.9.
The creator of the 8×10 Lego camera Jens Werlein (GER) might take your portrait! Leave your mobile number until 1pm to win a shooting session in the afternoon.

Sunday 23.9.
11am + 2pm: Discover how to perform the legendary technique known as “emulsion lifting” with creative techniques expert Michael Weyl from Spürsinn (GER).

16
No. 577

Impossible's Sunday Brunch - Issue 20

Patrick Tobin, | 246 days ago

Photo by Thomas Preyer

Welcome back to Sunday Brunch, a wonderful feature in which we share 5 fun photos taken with Impossible film that have stood out to us over the course of each week.

It’s time for an instant toy story. Get your out your dolls and action figures and enjoy these playful Impossible photos from Thomas Preyer, Spyros Bourdoukis, April W, Scott St. Pierre and Jill Auville, which were taken with the following film types: PX 70 Nigo film, PX 70 Opacification test film and PX 680 Opacification test film.

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!

17
No. 578

ONE IMPOSSIBLE YEAR IN DÜSSELDORF

Marlene Kelnreiter | 245 days ago

Our Partner Store in Düsseldorf, Germany, is celebrating its 1st Impossible birthday and invites you to join and celebrate. Enjoy drinks, music and several special and limited offers on September 22 from 12pm – 4pm.

On October 20 an Impossible Manipulation workshop will be offered to everyone interested in learning how to turn Impossible photos into analog artworks. For details please write to joerg@impossible-partner-store-duesseldorf.de

And as Düsseldorf is hungry for more analog instant magic, the BBK-Kunstforum Düsseldorf opens the exhibition “Nothing Impossible” on November 8.

No. 579

8 Exposures...with Amanda Mason

Patrick Tobin, | 245 days ago

Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our popular instant film Q&A series. This week, we are happy to bring you Australian designer and photographer Amanda Mason…

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

I primarily use my folding SX-70 original and an SLR 680. If I was onboard a sinking ship and had to start throwing all my cameras overboard, I would go down with these two. I think they are design masterpieces capable of producing simply lovely images.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

I adore the dreamlike nature of the film. All instant film creates a nostalgic, other-worldly, soft toned patina. It is a dreamy little world that I want to live in all the time. Everytime I shoot instant film I am drawn into another dimension straight away. Everytime I see an instant photograph I feel like I am looking at a memory. Of course having the photograph in your hands in a matter of minutes is quite nice too.

3) What is your earliest memory of instant film?

My earliest memory of instant film is my grandmothers Polaroid camera. As kids we were absolutely fascinated by integral film, the magic of it all. She used that camera as her everyday camera, we still have those Polaroids in our family album. I bought my first Polaroid camera when I was 16.

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18
No. 580

Holden X Impossible: Timeless in an Instant Exhibition takes over the NYC Project Space

Josie Keefe, | 244 days ago

September 27th, 2012
6-9pm
Impossible Project NYC Space
map
by Jimmy Fontaine

The largest Impossible exhibit ever to take place will be our collaboration with Holden Outerwear. This huge group show will feature ten star lifestyle photographers selected by Holden: Yone, Kevin Zacher, Andy Wright, Bryce Kanights, Jimmy Fontaine, Angela Boatwright, Vincent Skoglund, Kassia Meador, Brandon Long,
and Alessandro Simonetti.

This exhibition will feature the top submissions from the Holden X Impossible Timeless in an Instant photo contest, including the grand prize winner, Melanie Rodriguez. Participating photographers include: Aubry Aragon, Michelle Karpman, Andrew Millar, Dylan Boyd, Amand Jasnowski, Amélie Deymier, Pierre Manning, David Sperring, Marko Mastosaari, Katie Sykes, Janel Jasper, Patrick J. Clarke, Kimi Selfridge, Azuree Wiitala, Menico Snider, Sol Allen, Caleb Jenkins, Brad Brock, Juan Gavilán Saez, Thorsten Finner, George Barnett, Eric Bouvet, Ben Lormore, Frank Bowles, Scott Meivogel, Ashley D. Saldana, Amber Mahoney, Kim Oberski, Dimitrios Mavroudis, Mihai Horia Brebeneanu, Rachel Carrier, Lisa Duran, JL Picture, Lucas Orozco, Barb Morriessey, Jan Ferme, and Veyser Pierre.

The exhibition will open in NYC, but will then travel to our project spaces and local galleries in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Vienna and Paris. Don’t miss out on your chance to catch the first glimpse of this exciting new show!

RSVP: rsvp@theimpossibleproject.com

No. 581

YOU ARE NOT IN LOVE?

Marlene Kelnreiter | 244 days ago

Taken by Joost Siebeling on Color Protection film

Our new PX 70 and PX 680 Color Protection films are so strong and magic that we are absolutely confident that you will love these new films as much as we do.

In the unlikely case that you should not be satisfied with the results you did get with the new PX Color Protection Films, please return ALL 8 frames of the film pack to one of the three addresses below before October 18, 2012. Please also write your original order ID number on the envelope.

We will then issue a refund of the full purchase price of the film pack (less shipping) to your paypal or credit card account.

Impossible GmbH
CP Return
Halbgasse 3/2/1
1070 Vienna
Austria

Impossible America Corp
CP Return
425 Broadway, 5th Flor
New York, NY 10013-2547
USA

Impossible Tokyo
CP Return
Kabushi Kaisha
1-20-5 Aobadai
Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Japan

No. 582

PX 70 and PX 680 Color Protection Films

Marlene Kelnreiter | 244 days ago

This is the film we have been dreaming of and working on for many months. Words can’t describe how proud, happy and excited we are about how magical it finally turned out. A complete new recipe combined with an innovative color protection formula improves the opacification process, finally allowing for easy shooting without the need for immediate shielding of the photos. And after 30 minutes you will be looking at crisp, powerful images like in the best days of instant photography, making your analog heart beat faster.

The new films are so strong that we want to do 2 impossible things:

1. We don’t want to win you over with wonderful sample images as we usually do, but instead simply invite you to get this film and see for yourself.
(If unconvinced you can check out the results from our Pioneers: PX 70 and PX 680).

2. We are absolutely confident that you will love these new films as much as we do. In the unlikely case that you should not be satisfied with this new film you will be able to return the 8 frames of the film pack back to us for a full refund of the purchase price

19
No. 583

Viewfinder: Matteo Rosso in Burma

Patrick Tobin, | 243 days ago

Greetings, friends, and welcome back to Viewfinder, our popular series in which we share interesting projects that people are working on using Impossible film. This week’s entry focuses on Italian photographer Matteo Rosso’s trip to Burma…

A year ago I decided to embark on a journey that would take me in a totally different direction from what I’m used to. I mean different landscapes, traditions, cuisine, way of living, people’s attitude…What better place than Burma? It was the best chance to combine my passion for instant photography with a trip to remember. So I stocked up on PX 70 film and I brought two SX-70 cameras with me (occupying a large part of my backpack). Before that moment I used to take very controlled and detailed photos with Impossible films, mostly with models in indoor or studio. So it turned out to be a very attractive challenge.

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20
No. 584

A call for entries to our next NYC exhibition

Josie Keefe, | 241 days ago

by Kyle Depew

Take your shades off.

Things are getting clearer, brighter, and more colorful than ever before. Our new color protection color films let you see the light. Now there is no need to worry about light protection, and your images will be crisper and more saturated than ever before.

To celebrate this amazing leap forward, out of the blue and into the next age in Impossible images, we are launching a huge new exhibition on the north wall of our NYC project space on October 25th, running until early 2013. For the first time ever we are opening up the exhibition to YOU, our devoted impossible shooters. Upload your best images shot on our new color protection films to our online image gallery by September 28th to be considered for exhibition.

This is an exciting opportunity, but read the below rules carefully before entering to ensure that your pictures can be chosen. In order to be eligible to have your pictures selected for the gallery you must:

- upload the images by midnight PST September 28th

- indicate the appropriate film type in the gallery drop down menu

- reside in the US (sorry worldwide fans, due to strict time constraints we have to keep it limited to US photographers this time)

- have easy access to your originals (winning images will need to be recieved in our NYC office by October 2nd to be eligible for exhibition)

- uploaded scans must be at least 300 dpi, and...Read All

21
No. 585

8 Exposures...with Meghan Davidson

Patrick Tobin, | 241 days ago

Greetings from Impossible! Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our ongoing instant film Q&A series. This week, we’re happy to bring you Nebraska college professor and photographer Meghan Davidson…

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

Most often, I shoot with my SX-70. I love the depth of field that camera allows and the way you can really select the focus. I also love shooting with the Spectra for self-portraits and double exposures, and I have a Polaroid 250 that I need to spend more quality time with. And, I’m really hoping to get my hands on an SLR 680 some day.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

I have a special affection for film, especially instant film. I love when I put a pack in my Polaroid and close the film door, that the camera immediately comes to life, clicking and whirring and shooting out the dark slide. Instant film feels so timeless, so classic to me. There’s simply a magical quality about shooting with it. Because of the limited number of frames, each click of the shutter is special.

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22
No. 586

Artist in Residence - Adam Goldberg

Josie Keefe, | 239 days ago

For this installment of Artist in Residence, we check in with the talented Adam Goldberg, 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.

“When The Impossible Project invited me to test their new 8×10 film I felt as overwhelmed as I did honored. I knew this was quite literally a big step for them. I felt challenged to represent the film as fully as I knew how, and at the time of the challenge I wasn’t sure I knew how at all. I have been shooting 4×5 Polaroid for some time but I understood the 8×10 undertaking to be a different animal. But I also relished this excuse to overcome some degree of self-doubt and finally give 8×10 a shot. And frankly I’m always looking for excuses to hoard more gear.

I would come to find that shooting 8×10 and processing it, though challenging at times, paled against the effort it took to track down a Polaroid 8×10 processor. The word seemed to spread: there was a new film on the horizon and processors were being snatched up. I think one Impossible shooter, Jessica Reinhardt, and I, even unwittingly jacked up the price of a couple processors in the recesses of Samy’s Camera’s used department when they realized that there was suddenly a demand. Don’t let this deter you! Since the...Read All

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No. 586

Impossible's Sunday Brunch - Issue 21

Patrick Tobin, | 239 days ago

Photo by James McManus

Happy Sunday, friends! Welcome back to Impossible’s Sunday Brunch, our weekly series in which we showcase 5 sharp images that caught our eye over the course of the week. Lately we’ve been singing the praises of our color film, so this week’s issue is dedicated to the beauty of our monochrome films. Please enjoy these stunning black and white Impossible photos…

Photos come to us from James McManus, Andreina Schoeberlein, Nicholas Misciagna, Laurene and Domink Werdoux and were taken with the following film types: PX 100 UV+, PX 100 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!

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No. 586

8 Exposures...with Patrick Winfield

Patrick Tobin, | 238 days ago

Hi there, friends. Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our popular instant film Q&A series. This week, we’re happy to bring you creative wizard and all-arounnd nice guy Patrick Winfield…

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

I currently am using the Macro 5 SLR, Spectra and the SX-70.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

The “Thing-ness” of it. That the photo is a direct object of a memory – a tangible memory that can be held immediately and further manipulated as it develops or ‘lives on‘… that quality of being an instant artifact which can be further manipulated to play up the materiality of the medium is what attracts me to the film.

3) What is your earliest memory of instant film?

It was a picture of a dead man. Then the film was sucked back into the camera and the whole time I took pictures of things with my polaroid and tattooed myself to help figure out what happened in my life since I had some sort of amnesia…or was that the plot of Memento?

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No. 589

Impossible Photo Walk in Chicago

Patrick Tobin, | 237 days ago

Last weekend, our friend Katy Maziarz went on a photo walk with her husband and friend in the Chicago area. She chronicled the day using new Impossible PX 70 Color Protection film…

It was a small group; there were just three of us in total: me, my husband CJ (a Pola newbie) and Justin Hunger. We went to the Chicago Botanic Garden on our walk. The Garden is 385 acres, with 25 distinct display garden areas, four “natural” areas, and several small lakes and waterfalls. So as you can imagine, there’s a lot to see and a lot to photograph, and it’s almost impossible to do the entire Garden in one trip.

We started off in the Heritage Garden, which is dedicated to the history of botanic gardens and has some very interesting fountains—and a statue of Carolus Linnaeus, known as the Father of Taxonomy. But we were more interested in the bountiful blossoms. Justin Hunger got some use out of his brand-new-to-him Macro 5 camera, as you can see in one of the photos posted!

From there, we moved through the Rose Garden and into one of my favorite gardens in the place, the English Walled Garden. Just as it sounds, this is a charming, quiet old-fashioned garden in which you can imagine young ladies strolling with their beaus, a stern-eyed chaperone somewhere behind. There’s a lovely bright blue bench which is our favorite place to sit.

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26
No. 590

Viewfinder: "Ray of Summer"

Patrick Tobin, | 236 days ago

Hello, instant film lovers, and welcome back to Viewfinder, our series in which we chronicle interesting projects people are working on using Impossible film. This week, we’re happy to present to you “Ray of Summer,” a photo book by Japanese photographer Ken Hirama and singer/songwriter Ray.

The “Ray of Summer” photo book was made limited of 100 copies and was only available at Ray’s annual solo live performance. Due to the great feedback, I wanted to share some of the photos. The book is a collection of Ken’s portraits of Ray using a folding SX-70 and PX 70 Color Shade Cool film

A great portrait comes from the mutual trust between the photographer and the model, therefore having known Ray since our early teens, we were both comfortable with each other. Rather than planning each shot, I would let her play in the park or the beach to bring out her natural charm. My job was to capture her charm using this unique type of film and understanding that it always produces an unexpected image. The choices we had to make upon choosing the right photos and the film was also difficult but with the help and support from so many, we were able to finish this beautiful book.

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28
No. 591

Dr. Love's Tips - Why 8 Photos?

Patrick Tobin, | 233 days ago

Welcome back to Dr. Love’s Tips, our ongoing series in which Impossible USA’s Camera Resource Manager Frank Love provides you with valuable insight into the workings of instant film and cameras. This week: Why 8 Photos?

Many people have asked us…”Why only 8 frames instead of the traditional 10?”

The answer here is simple…yet complex. The simple answer is that there just isn’t room to put 10 frames of Impossible Film into a pack. Well then, how did Polaroid fit 10 frames into the same cartridge?

Here is where it gets a little more complex. Polaroid made nearly all their own materials, engineered collectively over 17 years; they were able to produce film that could eject out into direct sunlight moments after being exposed without harming the film, begin processing and stop all on its own…truly amazing. They had also done this with 10 frames of film to a cartridge.

In Impossible’s case, everything was there: cameras, cartridge size, and general functionality. The hard part here is that the old way of making the film was gone, no way back, everything for the film had to be re-engineered from scratch. So Impossible began a journey to create film that could function within these constraints, within this system of cartridges and cameras. There is very very little room for change in this system, but as the materials that go into the film HAD to change, it’s not surprising that the final product did vary a little from Polaroid’s.

The main difference is...Read All

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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

30
No. 593

Impossible's Sunday Brunch - NEON!

Patrick Tobin, | 232 days ago

Photo by Dave Knapik

Happy Sunday, friends! Welcome back to Impossible’s Sunday Brunch, our weekly series in which we showcase 5 warm and fuzzy images that caught our eye over the course of the week. This week, we are all about Neon! Please enjoy these luminous Impossible photos…

Photos come to us from Dave Knapik, Toby Hancock, Sean Caudill, Nick Leonard and Kumiko Sekiguchi, and were taken using the following film types: PX 70 Color Protection Film, PX 680 Cool and PZ 680 Cool.

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!

No. 674

The Camera Museum: Polaroid SX-70 OneStep

Patrick Tobin, | 159 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