• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to IMPOSSIBLE’s Analog Travelog! In this series, we showcase fantastic IMPOSSIBLE photos taken on voyages the world over. This entry comes from Jenifer Monroe who took a trip to southern California and brought along some IMPOSSIBLE film…

I’ve lived in northern California since 1981, but haven’t spent much time in southern California. I had a chance to go to a conference in Laguna Niguel, and I knew it would be beautiful so I packed my SX-70 and a couple of film packs. After I arrived, I had to use the map app on my phone to figure out where, exactly, I was. Laguna Niguel is south of LA and north of San Diego and right in the middle of a bunch of gorgeous light mixed up with stunning beaches. I didn’t have a lot of time to take photos, and what I did get is awfully cliche. But who can blame me for taking all those sunset photos my first time in SoCal? I can’t wait to get back there when I have time to wander.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to IMPOSSIBLE’s Analog Travelog! In this series, we showcase fantastic IMPOSSIBLE photos taken on voyages the world over. This entry comes from Andrew Bartram who recently traveled to Vietnam and brought along some IMPOSSIBLE film…

Vietnam – wow, what a place; talk about culture shock. My advice is to go now before it changes beyond recognition. Hanoi is mind-blowing, bustling, manic, mopeds everywhere, all sorts of smells attacking your senses. But the people, oh my. Those Vietnamese people, their smiles, their friendliness their curiosity.

Wandering around the streets with an SX-70, Polaroid 250, Lomography Belair and Olympus Trip does not make you blend in to the background; if anything it made for better images because people were genuinely curious and interested in these “antiques”. If you follow our footsteps and head off to Vietnam best advice is to spend a few days at a time in the city (in our case Hanoi) and then take off into the countryside, take a 2 day cruise around Ha long bay where mountains rise out of the sea, take an overnight sleeper train to Sa pa and go hiking with the local tribes – they love those Impossible images. Best of all, go with an open mind and a generous heart and enjoy.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to Impossible’s Analog Travelog! In this series, we showcase fantastic Impossible photos taken on voyages the world over. This entry comes to us from Deborah Slater who recently took a trip to Perth in Australia, and brought along some Impossible film…

Every year in February, whilst England is well and truly settled into its cold and dark winter, I fly off to Perth in Australia, to visit family and friends and recharge the batteries with a well-needed burst of Australian summer sunshine. I spent my school days growing up in Perth and have always equated February with long hot summer holidays – even after 20 years of living in England, I find it hard to spend this part of the year in “winter”.

I decided to take my SX-70 with me on this trip, for the first time, and stocked up with numerous packs of the Impossible Project’s Color Protection film before I left. I was unsure as to what kind of results I would get – I knew that the harsh Australian heat and sunshine (temperatures were reaching 35 degrees centigrade plus) could have had an adverse effect on my images. I’d never used my camera in these kind of temperatures before, but I was keen to give it a go. Perth is a perfectly laid back and relaxed kind of city and pretty much everything during their summer revolves around the beach and outdoor life.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to Viewfinder, our ongoing series in which we chronicle interesting projects people are working on that incorporate IMPOSSIBLE film. This entry focuses on a project from our friend Alison Turner called “Reflected Identities”…

When I look in the mirror, what I see reflecting back at me is usually not how I feel inside. Under the superficial layer of skin, hair and eye color, I am much more complex than my reflection reveals. My internal struggles and search for self-identity has given me plenty of bricks to build the wall high, while holding down an internal mix of intense feelings of anger, loss, jealousy, vulnerability, love, sadness and confusion.

They say that you are a direct reflection of your friends and the people you choose to surround yourself with. If this holds true, all of my friends in this series are a collective self portrait of who I am. “Reflected Identities” has allowed me to see and understand these feelings by looking closer at the faces and bodies of the people who are closest to me who are also learning to accept who they are right now.

• 
• 
• 
• 

The Ad Council’s 2013 Washington Conference kicked off recently in Washington DC. AOL contacted us prior to the event about including camera kits, complete with Impossible film, in gift bags for the guests. During the night, guests enjoyed snapping instant photos with their new Sun 660 cameras and PX 680 Color Protection film!

The Ad Council’s Board, which consists of the nation’s top media, advertising and corporate executives, visited Washington DC to carry on the tradition of the historic Conference, which has spanned 13 Presidents and seven decades. The tradition of the conference began in 1944 when President Franklin Roosevelt invited the then War Advertising Council to spend a day in Washington for a briefing on the events of World War II.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our popular instant film Q&A series! This week, we’re happy to bring you British writer and photographer Hilary Clarke…

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

The first camera I bought was a 600, which I still love as it’s so easy to use and takes fantastic images. I’ve also got a Spectra and a folding SX-70 sonar which is fast becoming my favourite. I seem to be building up quite a collection as I’ve just bought a Land 1000, the type of Polaroid I remember best from childhood.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

I’m quite shy about approaching strangers to take their photographs, but carrying a Polaroid camera means that people are intrigued and very often will ask me to take their photo! It’s easy to get chatting to people, and they always have memories of Polaroid cameras themselves which they like to share.

I love the variety and depth of the images that can be produced; they sometimes have a lovely dark smokiness that can be quite hypnotic and at other times, the sharpness takes my breath away.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our ongoing instant film Q&A series. This entry focuses on UK photographer Andrew Bartram…

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

Mainly SX-70 Originals, I have two of those but one has recently stopped working; an SLR 680, and 250 and 103 Automatic Land Cameras.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

I can’t draw, paint or play a musical instrument so, along with my passion for the darkroom, instant photography allows me an accessible creative release from the day job.

Although I have been a film user and printer for 25 years I have only been into instant photography for the last year since I bought my first 600 box camera on Ebay, shortly followed by my first SX-70. I love the sheer unpredictable nature of the Impossible films, even the fabulous Color Protection film behaves in different ways depending on light, heat and the variables associated with your camera. So it’s that unpredictability, the uniqueness of each image combined with those wonderful Polaroid Cameras that I love about instant photography.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to Viewfinder, our ongoing series in which we chronicle interesteding projects people are working on using Impossible film. This week, we are happy to bring you a glimpse into this year’s South By Southwest via the eye of our friend Jarrod Renaud…

So the infamous SXSW that I’ve always wanted to travel to. The door finally opened through the band A Boy and His Kite who I’ve photographed recently. I went on what was a short weeklong tour through Texas…first stop was Austin. It’s very easy to cast expectations on such an event; I built it up in my head and found out quickly how unprepared I was, haha. It was chaos. So much going on, so many bands, so many people…and very little time. With a less than a day and a half I had some boxes of Impossible film that I was itching to use…and it was a stretch to shoot what I had as I default to a slow and picky process when I’m shooting instant film.

Bringing along the latest PX 70 Color Protection and a very beat-up SX-70, I looked for moments and people that made sense to photograph. Taking photos is such a relational thing that although there were a ton of very interesting people that would have looked awesome on film I ended up holding out on shooting till I made real connections with people. It’s been a while since I’ve shot Impossible film so I was pleasantly surprised...Read All

• 

Welcome back to Dr. Love’s Tips, where Impossible USA’s camera resource manager Frank Love provides you with insight that allows you to get the best out of your Polaroid camera and Impossible film. This week: Shooting in Warm Weather…

It’s warming up again and even though we’ve touched on this topic before, it’s worth revisiting, for as the seasons have changed, so have our films.

Now everyone is surely familiar with our previous generation of COOL Films, but it’s possible that some haven’t yet shot our Color Protection films on those hot balmy summer days.

Just to start, whether it’s the COOL film or Color Protection film, the film is meant to be stored cool for best results. But, once you’re taking it out to shoot, you don’t need to keep the film at a refrigerated temperature. That said, if you’re going out on hot days, and plan to be outside for awhile, you will likely want to take some precaution so that the heat won’t affect the film.

There is one key difference to note between what you may be used to shooting (COOL color films and prior film generations), and the new Color Protection formula films. That being, COOL films when actually processing, would benefit from some extra warmth, giving the film a little boost in contrast and saturation. However, the new Color Protection formula does NOT react in the same way. The CPF films process best in those room temp/just below room temp conditions....Read All

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our ongoing instant film Q&A series. This week, we turn the spotlight on Chris Mettraux…

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

J’ai la chance d’avoir une grande collection de Polaroids. J’utilise un Polaroid SLR 690, sx70, Polaroid 110 modifié pack 100, et un Polaroid 600 SE modifié par mes soins avec un dos 600 et sx70 qui me permet de régler diaphragme et vitesse…

I am very happy because I have a big collection of Polaroids. I work with several cameras, for example the Polaroid SLR 690, the SX-70, the Polaroid 110 modified for Type 100 pack film and the 600 SE modified by myself with a 600/SX70 back which allows me to set the aperture and the speed.

Je suis photographe et ne travaille qu’avec des appareils argentiques ou des procédés anciens “cyanotype, Vandyke, ziatype et wetplate” donc le Polaroid et venu à moi comme une evidence. Je suis également modérateur sur un forum de Polaroid at www.polaroid-passion.com

I am a photographer and I only work with analog cameras or old processes like Cyanotype, Vandyke, Ziatype and Wetplate. So the instant photography came to me like evidence. I am also a moderator of a polaroid forum at www.polaroid-passion.com.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to our newest addition to the Impossible Blog: Impossible’s Analog Travelog! In this series, we’ll be showcasing fantastic Impossible photos taken on voyages the world over. This entry comes from Claire Oscuro who recently moved to Marseille and has documented the transition with Impossible film…

I moved from Paris to Marseille in January 2013 for a new job opportunity. As I had fallen in love with instant photography a few months before, I thought it could be a great occasion to create a polaroid photo series/collection about my new hometown and discoveries and to share it with others through a website and hopefully some exhibitions!

There was in fact another great opportunity that could help me promote such an idea: as some of you might know, Marseille has been chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2013, along with Košice (Slovakia). I thought that instant photography would be a great way to focus on the Marseille-Provence area and try to reveal its charms, so the MarseillePolaroid2013 project was born!

The European Capital of Culture is one of the most high-profile cultural events in Europe. The Capitals are selected on the basis of a cultural program that must have a European (and in this case Euro-Mediterranean) dimension, involve the public, be attractive at the European level and fit into the long-term development of the city. It is also a unique opportunity for the cities to change their image (and Marseille needs to!), put themselves on the world map, attract more tourists and rethink their own development through culture.

For Marseille-Provence 2013, the year as European Capital of Culture is split into three ‘episodes’:
Episode 1: “Marseille Provence welcomes the world”, from January to May 2013
Episode 2: “Marseille Provence under open skies”, from May to September 2013
Episode 3: “Marseille Provence – a Thousand Faces” from September to December 2013.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our instant film Q&A series! This week, our star is Oklahoman Dylan Boyd…

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

I have a large shelf dedicated specifically toward displaying my vast Polaroid and instant camera collection, but I primarily use my SLR 680, SX-70 Sonar, Original SX-70, Spectra Onyx, Macro 5, and for packfilm I use a 250 Land Camera and a Holgaroid from time to time.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

There are so many reasons to love instant photography, for me it’s not only the nostalgic feeling it gives me, but also the tangibility and the time it gives me to escape this always growing digital world. I suffer from high anxiety and it gives me a chance to slow down, breathe, and be at one with myself and my art. I appreciate that I can compose a photo, snap the shutter and then have the image spit straight out of the camera. After that I love that I can watch all of these beautiful chemicals create an image right before my eyes. It’s an actual creation, not just a bunch of 0’s and 1’s on a hard drive. I consider it real magic.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to our newest addition to the Impossible Blog: Impossible’s Analog Travelog! In this series, we’ll be showcasing fantastic Impossible photos taken on voyages the world over. This entry comes from Juli Werner, who recently visited New York City and brought along some Impossible film…

At the end of last year, my husband and I took a quick trip to New York City. It wasn’t our first time visiting, but it was our first time back in almost 8 years. Since we figured we couldn’t make up for 8 years gone in 3 days, we picked out a few things that we absolutely had to do and left the rest up to chance. Our main mission: visit the Impossible Project.

I packed light for the trip, taking one Spectra camera and my trusty SX-70 Alpha 1 SE. It was hard to decide on films. I planned on buying some there, but I also wanted to use up some of my stash. I ended up taking PX 70 Cool, PX 100 UV+ Silver Shade test film, PX 70 Color Protection and an older pack of PZ 600 UV+ Silver Shade Black Frame. I took the Mint Flash bar along as well and it came in handy for taking some photos of friends. While we were at the Impossible Project, I bought some of the new PZ 680 Color Protection which I promptly starting shooting and totally fell in love with it.

The weather was sunny and not too cold; perfect for shooting Impossible films! I put most shots into an inside coat pocket which worked quite well for keeping the film warm but not overheating it. All the Impossible films are great for New York City. The new color protection films were a breeze to use and I was amazed by the true-to-life color, even when using the flash with the PZ 680. The silver shade films, especially the black frame, were great for capturing a timeless feeling especially when shooting architecture.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to our newest addition to the Impossible Blog: Impossible’s Analog Travelog! In this series, we’ll be showcasing fantastic Impossible photos taken on voyages the world over. This entry comes from Kirstin McKee, who recently visited Crete and brought along some Impossible film…

Ever since I first read the legend of Theseus the Minotaur, when I was seven years old, I have wanted to visit Crete. I was captivated by the setting of the labyrinth and the tragic love story. And having passed on my obsession with Ancient Greece to our children and my daughter’s best friend, we have made several trips to Greece in recent years. This year we decided to visit Crete, a plan hatched during a road trip around mainland Greece two years ago.

I took four cameras: a Polaroid Sun 660, a Nikon D800, a Contax 645 and an iPhone 5, but the Polaroid images were my favourite from the trip. I love to create instant Polaroid memories as we travel around, laying them out each evening as a mosaic that expands and evolves over the course of the holiday. As we spent a week touring the island’s ancient Minoan, Greek and Roman sites, we fell in love with the food, the friendly people, the cats and the dramatic, craggy landscape. The weather was not as hot as we had anticipated (which was no bad thing, given the long hours spent in the car), but it was still warm enough to swim in the sea, especially on the southern coast with its North African climate. Highlights of the trip included exploring the labyrinth-like palace at Knossos, wandering around the much quieter ruins at Zakros on the desolate eastern coast, and swimming in the Libyan Sea at sunset.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Hi friends, and welcome back to 8 Exposures, our ongoing instant film Q&A series. This week, we’re happy to bring you Maryland photographer Ashley Saldana…

1) What kind of Polaroid Camera do you use?

I use a variety of Polaroid cameras. The majority of the time I use my grandparents’ Supercolor 635 CL Polaroid camera. Lately I have been shooting with my SX-70 Model 3 and my Spectra camera.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

I like the fact that every photo you take is completely different, even if you take the same shot twice. I love the minimal control I have of how the photo will develop – that’s what makes instant film so mysterious to me! You just never know exactly how your photo will end up. I also love how the anticipation builds up to watch something right in front of me develop in my hands. It’s like I’m capturing different bits and pieces of the world and taking them with me wherever I go.

Photo by Moko Chen

• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to Sunday Brunch, our series in which we share lovely photos taken with Impossible film. We decided to mix up the brunch menu a bit by inviting Impossible friends and photographers to guest curate our Sunday Brunch selections.

Our good friend and fantastic photographer Jessica Hibbard came up with the menu for this week’s “Guest Chef” entry. Please enjoy these tasty photos selected by Jess!

It’s that time of year when the dreary winter days seem to drag on … I thought it might be nice to share some photos of flowers, so we can daydream about springtime together.

Juli Werner

I really believe that emotion and personality is conveyed through photographs. Juli is a beautiful person who loves flowers, and it really shows in photos like this.

Vanessa Morrow

I tend to gravitate toward color, but there really is nothing like the glow of silver shade film. I love how the flowers and the jars have that ethereal glimmer you can only get with instant film.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Hello friends, and welcome back to 8 Exposures, our ever-popular instant film Q&A series. This week, we are pleased to bring you California photographer Patrick J. Clarke…

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

I was lucky and bought some Polaroids before the prices started going up….and I’m a bit of a camera nut, so I have more than a few.

My first Polaroid camera was actually my son’s One 600. It’s the camera that got me back into using instant film and then discovering The Impossible Project.

I have an SX-70 Sonar that’s been with me since First Flush came out, and then recently got my Uncle Larry’s SX-70 Alpha 1 Model 2 with the split-viewfinder. It’s been dubbed “The Uncle Larry” for obvious reasons. I love the Sonar, but I’ve been shooting with the Model 2 a lot more since it’s smaller than the Sonar, beat up looking and I love the split viewfinder in it.

I had a Spectra, but it started smelling like it was on fire every time I used it, so I replaced it with a black and red Spectra 2 with a close-up lens and the copy stand. I haven’t had a chance to play with it much, but love the Spectra format and will be using it more soon.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to Impossible’s Analog Travelog! In this series, we showcase fantastic Impossible photos taken on voyages the world over. This entry comes from Claire Penn, who recently visited Venice and brought along some Impossible film…

At the end of November I had the chance to go to Venice with a group of 30 female photographers from all over the world. We all met via social media and have our own little group where we discuss all things photography. I packed up my most recently acquired Polaroid, a beautiful SX-70 in pristine condition and 3 packs of PX 70 Color Protection. I’d taken one test shot at home which I loved instantly (no pun intended) and decided to save the rest for Venice as I couldn’t think of a better place to practice.

We spent 3 days wading through Venice’s streets and courtyards, shooting anything and everything, drinking coffee, eating delicious food and soaking it all up, literally. The PX 70 results were beyond my expectations especially as it was my first time using the camera. There were a few duds for sure where I’d messed up the exposure when dealing with strong sunlight/shadows but I’m more than happy with the ones I got. More practice is needed with the camera/film and temperatures eg. how they affect the results…but that’s the joy of it. The girls travelling with me were as excited as I was and many of them are now shopping around for their first Polaroid. It’s infectious.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Hello and welcome back to 8 Exposures, our ongoing instant film Q&A series! This week, we turn our lens on Celina Wyss…

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

I’m always scouting sales and thrift shops for more but currently I shoot with a few different SX-70s, 3 Spectras and have just started playing with a Colorpack IV. My vintage camera collection extends far beyond those however and my closet is full of various 600 models and more. I’m pretty certain I’m going to need a new system for storing them soon.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

I love that what you see is what you get. There is no digital doctoring after the fact and for me that actually feels freeing. I love the imperfection that comes with instant photography. You are free to let the photo be what it is, flaws and all. Instant photography is truly about being in the moment. You stop, just for a moment and witness the world around you. You notice the temperature, the light, the shadows all in a moments time. You take a breath in and then you click. Then waiting for the shot to develop is the icing on the cake. It’s like magic!

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our popular instant film Q&A series. This week, we are very happy to bring you German photographer Ghee Dondlinger…

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

I own two SX-70 models, one of which is a sonar, which is the model I prefer as at allows me to use auto focus; and I also own a Supercolor 635 CL model which I use primarily in low-light conditions.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

I like lo-fi photography in general for its unpredictability and the way the images turn out less than perfect. Instant film in particular I enjoy because they add their own specific sense of ‘unreal’ to the resulting image, a somewhat painterly quality. And for the challenge to make every exposure count. Also, in this digital age, it’s nice that there still are a few things which you can actually touch and hold.

3) What is your earliest memory of instant film?

I think my first conscious exposure to instant film was a book published in 1984 by singer/songwriter David Sylvian. Entitled ‘Perspectives’, it featured collages made from Polaroid photographs. My first hands-on experience with instant film was when I moved to Berlin and one of my flatmates owned a Polaroid camera, which was much used by everyone living in or visiting the flat.

Photo by J. James Joiner

• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to Sunday Brunch, our series in which we share lovely photos taken with Impossible film. We decided to mix up the brunch menu a bit by inviting Impossible friends and photographers to guest curate our Sunday Brunch selections.

Our good friend and fantastic photographer Azuree Wiitala came up with the menu for this week’s “Guest Chef” entry. Please enjoy these tasty photos selected by Azuree!

J. James Joiner

This photo really stood out to me. It looks so timeless and joyful! I loved the matching reds, so bright and happy.

Christoph Holtmann

I was really drawn to the composition in this photo. I love the texture of the wall behind the car, the colors, and the reflections. I’m a big fan of the colors the COOL! films produced, subdued and dreamy.

Andrew Millar

Sparklers are so fun. I thought Andrew caught this one perfectly! Look how sharp and defined the lines are with perfect little stars on the end! Magic!!

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to our newest addition to the Impossible Blog: Impossible’s Analog Travelog! In this series, we’ll be showcasing fantastic Impossible photos taken on voyages the world over. This entry comes from Frank Zierenberg, who recently visited Morocco and brought along some Impossible film…

I shot a lot of polas in Essaouira, Morocco at the end of October 2012. All photos were taken with PX 680 Color Protection film and an SLR 680.

It was particulary interesting to take pictures in a culture so different from our western culture – especially with a deep skepticism regarding photography. The old myth that a part of your soul is stolen when a picture is taken seems to be somewhat still present. Therefore the whole experience of taking pictures there was a journey that confronted me with some of the deeply rooted paradigms of photography: Respect for the depicted and his/her culture & the respect for privacy.

Using instant photography totaly changed everything. I quickly developed the method of “one for you, one for me”. This was a perfect ice-breaker and something that somehow seemed to overcome the skepticism regarding being photographed. I very often had crowds around me wanting to get their picture taken, even offering money of gifts from their shops in return. And I did not have a bad conscience for taking their pictures, as I left something for them.

Thanks to Frank for taking part in Analog Travelog! To see more of his photography, please visit http://www.brainbackup.de/

If...Read All

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Hello dear friends, and welcome back to 8 Exposures, our popular instant film Q&A series. This week, we are very happy to bring you Greg Brophy…

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

I own one of just about all of the major Polaroid cameras. I use the SX-70 Sonar for color, an SLR 680 for black and white and a Spectra AF for both. I also love my Automatic 250 Land Camera for Chocolate film. I have a modified 110B, but the rangefinder is very sensitive to motion so I only use it in the studio.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

I love it I think for the same reasons most other people do. You can take a photo and have something in your hand that develops without the need for a darkroom. The fact that you have a physical object. I love the vintage-style colors and the way it looks without having to do anything to it in the computer. I used to spend a lot of time on the computer to get my images to look the way that Impossible films look. Now I can spend more time taking photos and developing my ideas.

The happy accidents I get when I shoot with it, the unpredictability of it. When I shoot digital, I know exactly what it will look like before I even shoot it. With Impossible film, there is still room for unexpected surprises.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Greetings Impossible friends, and welcome back to 8 Exposures, our very popular instant film Q&A series. This week, we’re happy to bring you UK photographer Amy Siân Green…

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

My SX-70 gets used the most and is my most beloved. I also have two 600 Onestep cameras, one of which used to belong to my dad. They take turns on breaking, usually because I keep getting sand inside them by accident. And who could forget my poor little I-Zone that hasn’t been used since I was ten years old…

2) Why do you like instant photography?

I like that I’m using the same medium that my grandfather used to use. I like that I can hold a Polaroid taken in the late seventies next to a Polaroid taken forty years later and the difference is miniscule.

Funnily enough it’s the slowing down that I prefer when it comes to instant photography. There is a tendency to shoot digital at speed and in multitudes, but with film you have to take your time. And even once the photograph has shot out of the camera, you can sit and wait for the picture to develop in your hands.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our popular instant film Q&A series. This week, we’re happy to bring you Andrew Twyman…

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

For now I just own a Polaroid SLR 680

2) Why do you like instant photography?

Instant film is pure and it’s honest. It tells you everything happening in the moment. You are given a real gift to hold onto and share in that moment that you are experiencing and that will carry with you for the rest of your life.

3) What is your earliest memory of instant film?

4 or 5 years ago or so I remember I was just about to get into it and Polaroid stopped production. when I found it came back, I bought a camera as soon as I could.

4) What’s your favorite Impossible film type?

So far the best film I have used is the PIGEONHOLE PX 680 Color Protection, the new PX 680 COLOR PROTECTION, and Holden PX 680 COOL film.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to Viewfinder, our ongoing series in which we chronicle interesting projects people are working on that incorporate Impossible film. This week, we are happy to bring you photos from this year’s Pardcast-A-Thon, taken by Rick DeMint, AKA Portroids…

Every year on the day after Thanksgiving, the popular comedy podcast Never Not Funny holds a 12-hour live-streaming marathon event, the Pardcast-A-Thon, to raise money for the charity Smile Train. The host Jimmy Pardo and co-hosts Matt Belknap and Pat Francis welcome 2-3 new guests each hour from the world of entertainment (writers, comedians, musicians, actors, etc.). This year, they raised over $100,000 to help provide cleft repair surgeries to children in developing countries.

As a comedy fan, many of the portroids (autographed Polaroid portraits) I’ve taken over the past nine years have been of comedians, which is how I ended up meeting Jimmy, Matt, and Pat and getting involved, even in a small way, with Pardcast-A-Thon. For the past three years, I’ve been given access to take Polaroids backstage of all the guests. It is truly one of the highlights of my year. So much fun! These portroids are then auctioned off afterwards to raise additional money for Smile Train. I also put together a poster of all the photos to commemorate the event, which they have hanging on their studio wall.

Last year I used the Impossible Project PZ 600 UV+ Silver Shade Black Frame film to beautiful result, and this year I switched for the...Read All

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our ongoing instant film Q&A series. This week, we are happy to bring you Georgia photographer Lee Summers…

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

My first love, the SX-70 original. An SLR 680 SE that saved me in the dark days of Time Zero discontinuation. And the beautiful, translucent Spectra Onyx for when I want to roll wide.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

It’s like the difference between a tamagotchi and a real pet. It’s one of a kind and unpredictable. Tangible. It’s a conversation starter. It’s been said so often before but this is real magic right here and we need more of that in this world. Plus, when my hard drive eventually dies and I lose all of my digital photos, I’ll still have my Polaroids. And someday, someone else will have them and wonder why I’ve kept so many blurry photos.

3) What is your earliest memory of instant film?

For some reason, I can’t recall ever growing up with a Polaroid camera in the family, though my parents have albums of them that run counter to my memory. The turning point in my adult life was when I was given a donated original SX-70 by a manager at a thrift store I used to work at in the early 2000s. I fell in love with the mechanics and design and since Time Zero was still readily available at the time, I was instantly hooked.

Photo by Bruno Haas

• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to Sunday Brunch, our series in which we share lovely photos taken with Impossible film. We decided to mix up the brunch menu a bit by inviting Impossible friends and photographers to guest curate our Sunday Brunch selections.

Our good friend and fantastic photographer Sol Allen came up with the menu for this week’s “Guest Chef” entry. Please enjoy these savory photos selected by Sol!

Photos come to us from Bruno Haas, Jerome Cimolai, David Sankey, Flore de Sermet and Lisa Duran, and were taken with the following film types: PX 70 Color Protection, PX 100 UV+, PX 680 Gold Frame and PX 600 Black Frame film.

Here are Sol’s thoughts about each photo…

Bruno Haas

I’m a complete sucker for reflections. Love the blue to yellow to blue shift as well. That red lil’ car? C’mon, too perfect! :)

Jerome Cimolai

A super creative, and well displayed triptych. Feel super bad for them about the accident, though!

David Sankey

I think this is perfect. The slight wonkiness, the couple of birds and of course, the delicious creams of the PX 100. Decadent.

Flore de Sermet

Charming, secret and inviting. So lush, I can only hope there are more photos from this.

Lisa Duran

Love vistas. I have found myself searching for wide open views for the last couple of years. Whenever there is a beautiful landscape in front of me, I instantly get drawn in.

Thanks so much to Sol for taking time to assemble this tasty bunch! Keep shooting, and be sure to submit...Read All

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to our newest addition to the Impossible Blog: Impossible’s Analog Travelog! In this series, we’ll be showcasing fantastic Impossible photos taken on voyages the world over. This entry comes from Abe Bingham, who just visited Morocco and brought along some Impossible film…

In October, my partner and I spent a couple weeks in Morocco, traveling from Tangier to Casablanca and Marrakech by train. We didn’t know a lot about the country except for what we’d read: but we were interested in the dry, hypnotic beauty of the desert, and the feeling of being in a completely new place. In Tangier, we visited the sites of beat and literary history, staying in the same, surprisingly unfussy room that Jack Kerouac did when he visited fifty years prior. Casablanca was full of friendly locals and pickpockets and beautiful architecture. And Marrakech? Well, let’s say it was a little too touristy for our taste, but we did see some remarkable and beautiful sites.

In my previous trip abroad, I hadn’t brought my SX-70, and this time I decided that I wanted to. The camera itself travels remarkably well. I found a snap-locking tupperware that fit my camera perfectly to protect it from bumps and water. The film took up more room in my bag than the camera, and took some explaining at customs in Tangier! Beyond practical logistics, though, the SX-70 is a wonderful camera to travel with. I found myself taking fewer “tourist” shots with it (smiling head in front of whatever famous or beautiful landmark) and more “souvenir” shots. By that I mean close-up photos of small details that can really transport me back there.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Hello friends, and welcome back to 8 Exposures, our instant film Q&A series! This week, we’re happy to bring you London photographer Cyrus Mahboubian…

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

I’ve collected an unhealthy number of Polaroid cameras in my time and I’ve used most of them, apart from the very early models. My favourite is the original SX-70, but the one I use most often is an SLR 690. It was made in the 80s, based on the SX-70 design and it’s a wonderful camera.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

I like it instinctively, I’ve been hooked since I shot my first Polaroid and watched as the image appeared. Whenever I try to explain it in words, it always comes back to two things: the tangible nature of the prints and their singularity. For those reasons the photographs are more than just photographs, they’re objects. I also like the integrity of instant photography; once you’ve shot the image, there’s nothing more, you can’t edit it – actually that will make you a better photographer. Today everything is digital, but it’s hard to connect with digital images – the vast majority exist only on computer drives and will never be printed. It’s sad. Instant photography is the remedy.

Photo by Alexandre Bouchon

• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to Sunday Brunch, our series in which we share lovely photos taken with Impossible film. We decided to mix up the brunch menu a bit by inviting Impossible friends and photographers to guest curate our Sunday Brunch selections.

Our good friend and fantastic photographer Andrew Millar came up with the menu for this week’s “Guest Chef” entry. Please enjoy these savory photos selected by Andrew!

Photos come to us from Alexandre Bouchon, Penny Felts, Landry, Lambis Stratoudakis and Hugo Goudswaard, and were taken with the following film types: PX 70 Color Protection, PX 70 Cool, PX 680 Cool and PX 680 First Flush.

Thanks so much to Andrew for taking time to assemble this tasty bunch! Keep shooting, 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!

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our ongoing instant film Q&A series! This week, we are happy to bring you California photographer Bria Morrison…

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

My folding SX-70 is the love of my life and my very first “real” (as in not automatic everything) Polaroid camera. I found her on eBay in early 2009 and she’s still one of my greatest treasures. Since then I have fallen for my Spectra which is perfect for quicker shooting at weddings or other on-the-go occasions. And, not to forget my latest acquisition, my beloved Polaroid 180 Land Camera.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

I really love everything about instant photography but the one thing I love above all others are the images themselves. They’re soft and clear all at once. Painterly. You can blow them up HUGE and they remain some of the most beautiful photographs I’ve ever seen. There is no equivalent in the digital or standard film worlds.

3) What is your earliest memory of instant film?

Even though instant film was in my life for many years before this, the first time I can honestly say I remember what it was like to be photographed on instant film was on Grandparent’s day when I was in elementary school. My grandma, mom and I all posed for a picture & held up this little paper bunny I had made for Easter.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome to our newest addition to the Impossible Blog: Impossible’s Analog Travelogue! In this series, we’ll be showcasing fantastic Impossible photos taken on voyages the world over. This entry comes from Matt Smith, who just visited Spain and brought along some Impossible film…

Back in 1999, a group of 8 or 9 of us travelled from our shared university house in Wales, UK to a friend’s parents’ villa near Denia on the East coast of Spain for a sunny holiday that happened to also be my 21st birthday. You can imagine the 10 days that followed.

This September, a group consisting of mainly the same people met in another villa near Denia, to attend the wedding of our friend who owned the villa from the previous holiday, where the wedding was to be held. Friends travelled from the USA, Oman and other far flung places for the wedding. This was also a reunion of lifelong friends, impossible to believe 13 years had passed since the last trip. A week of good times, parties, relaxing, swimming and ping pong followed, as well as a beautiful wedding, where we were still in the pool at 5am.

Luckily for me I had a few packs of the new PX 70 Color Protection test film and some PX 600UV+ with me, along with my trusted SX-70. This was the point I feel that Impossible film has really made it. Great colours, no shielding, no hassle, just shoot it! The weather was 35 degrees...Read All

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Hello, instanteers. Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our popular instant film Q&A series. This week, we happily bring you wonderful California photographer Francisco Chavira…

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

Like most photographers, I get GAS or Gear Acquisition Syndrome; It’s incredibly easy to get! There are Polaroid cameras everywhere at my place. However, I was challenged by a fellow photographer to stick to one camera and one film, to learn everything about that one camera and that one film. So, I shoot almost exclusively with an SX-70 Sonar. I’ve learned that the sonar doesn’t work most of the time, so I manually focus all the time. Sticking with this one camera, I’ve grown very comfortable with it and shooting it has become very natural. It’s truly an amazing camera, the depth of field and the sharpness of the SX-70 is stunning.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

As a film photographer, having an instant photo at your disposal is incredibly rad. Not only do you get the satisfaction of seeing how your images will look right away, but your subject gets the feeling of accomplishment as well. All the effort your subject put into makeup, hair, posing ect. is worth it. Instant film is powerful, because it has a unique ability to alter someones mood. To think how this one tiny square image, can uplift and excite is amazing. Having that power to instantly uplift your subject on a portrait shoot is powerful.

Photo by Katy Maziarz

• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to Sunday Brunch, our series in which we share lovely photos taken with Impossible film. We decided to mix up the brunch menu a bit by inviting Impossible friends and photographers to guest curate our Sunday Brunch selections.

Our good friend and fantastic photographer Toby Hancock came up with the menu for this week’s “Guest Chef” entry. Please enjoy these savory photos selected by Toby!

Photos come to us from Katy Maziarz, Kevin Scott Koepke, Ghee Dondlinger, Troy Bradford and Kim Oberski and were taken with the following film types: PX 680 Color Protection, PX 70 Cool, PX 600 Cool and PX 600 UV+ Black Frame.

Toby’s thoughts on each photo…

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome to our newest addition to the Impossible Blog: Impossible’s Analog Travelogue! In this series, we’ll be showcasing fantastic Impossible photos taken on voyages the world over. Our first entry comes from Ashley Moore, who just visited Rome and brought along some Impossible film…

The first time I visited Rome was in 2008 as part of a month long trip to Italy. At that time I was just starting to rediscover photography and I hadn’t yet delved into the wonderful world of film, specifically instant photography. Since I started shooting instant film and Impossible Project film, I’ve often wished I could go back and re-shoot Rome. This past October of 2012 I was very lucky to be able to do just that.

My husband and I decided to stay in Rome for the whole 2 weeks of our vacation. Even though we had been before, it felt as though we had only scratched the surface and there were so many places still to see. Besides, this time we didn’t want to spend every day run off our feet, this time we wanted to sit and really soak up the city. But Rome is a city of so many layers. With 2500 or so years of history, numerous forms of government, modern urban conveniences, and daily life (past and present) jumbled up into one glorious mess through which it is difficult for someone there for only a short period to truly absorb.

I found that shooting with my SX-70 made me slow down, and look longer at things while I focused, adjusted the composition, re-focused, etc. Something about that square viewfinder view shows me things in such a different way than how my eyes see.

Photo by Ben Innocent

• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to Sunday Brunch, our series in which we share lovely photos taken with Impossible film. From now until the end of the year, we will be mixing up the brunch menu by inviting Impossible friends and photographers to guest curate our Sunday Brunch selections.

Our good friend and spectacular photographer Jessica Reinhardt came up with the menu for this week’s “Guest Chef” entry. Please enjoy these savory photos selected by Jessica!

Photos come to us from Ben Innocent, Mazzy Chi, David Gugushvili, Stephanie Lakos and Ghee Dondlinger, and were taken using the following film types: PX 70 Color Protection, PX 680 Color Protection and PX 600 Cool.

Photo by Anthony De Lucci

• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to Sunday Brunch, our series in which we share lovely photos taken with Impossible film. This week, we have a special treat for you. From now until the end of the year, we will be mixing up the brunch menu by inviting Impossible friends and photographers to guest curate our Sunday Brunch selections.

Our good friend and spectacular photographer Chloe Aftel came up with the menu for our first “Guest Chef” entry. Please enjoy these savory photos selected by Chloe!

Photos come to us from Antonio De Lucci, Bernard Arce, Carine Wallauer, Marcin Jastrzebski and Samuel Blenkin and were taken using the following film types: PX 70 Color Protection, PX 680 Color Protection, PX 100 UV+, PX 70 Cool and PX 680 Cool.

Thanks so much to Chloe for taking time to assemble this tasty bunch! Keep shooting, 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!

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Welcome back to 8 Exposures, our ever-popular instant film Q&A series. This week, we’re very happy to bring you the photography of Carla Triolo…

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

My favorite camera is my folding SX-70 Sonar. I take it with me everywhere. If not for the fear that I would roll over and crush it, rendering it useless and reducing me to a blubbering incoherent heap on the floor…I would snuggle with it in bed every night. It was the first Polaroid camera I was truly successful with. Out of all the cameras I have, I find it the most portable and it has always yielded great results. I also use a Spectra SE, a Polaroid Land Model 250 and my grandfather’s Polaroid Land Model 350.

2) Why do you like instant photography?

I love the unpredictability of instant photography. No matter how I picture an image turning out I am never 100% on point. You never know exactly what will happen. Also, I appreciate the fact that unlike digital photography, I can’t just delete and retake as I please. This makes me focus a lot more on what I want to photograph and how. I think the extra care and thought really shows through in the pictures. You can tell how much love was put into it.

Photo by Sarah Kirkham

• 
• 
• 
• 

Greetings from the land of Impossible, and welcome back to Sunday Brunch. Each Sunday, we share with you some Impossible photos that have caught our eye over the course of the week. Please enjoy these wonderful instant captures…

Photos in this issue come to us from Sarah Kirkham, Dustin Yager, Deirdre Malfatto, Penny Felts, and Maiga Doocy. Photos were taken using the following film types: PX 70 Color Protection and PX 70 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!

Photo by Giulio Speranza

• 
• 
• 
• 

Greetings from the land of Impossible, and welcome back to Sunday Brunch. Each Sunday, we share with you some vibrant Impossible photos that have caught our eye over the course of the week. For this entry we look to the changing colors of the leaves. Please enjoy these Fall foliage photos!

Credit goes to photographers Giulio Speranza, Jenna Gersbach, Amanda Raney, Juli Werner and Ryan Kemp. Photos were taken using the following film types: PX 70 Color Protection, PX 70 Cool, PX 680 Gold Frame 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!

Photo by Joep Gottemaker

• 
• 
• 
• 

Happy Sunday, friends! Welcome back to Impossible’s Sunday Brunch, our weekly series in which we showcase 5 spooky images that caught our eye over the course of the week. This issue: Pumpkins! We hope you enjoy these Halloweeny Impossible shots…

Photos come to us from Joep Gottemaker, Bettina Poenisch, Shawn Barker, J. James Joiner and Jenna Gersbach, using the following film types: PX 680 Color Protection, PX 70 Color Protection and PX 70 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!

Photo by Jessica Reinhardt

• 
• 
• 
• 

Happy Sunday, friends, and welcome back to Impossible’s Sunday Brunch, our weekly series in which we showcase 5 cool and calming images that caught our eye over the course of the week. This issue: Oceans & Lakes! We hope you enjoy these watery Impossible shots…

Photos come to us from Jessica Reinhardt, Andrew Jarman, Jon Duenas, Hilary Clarke and Carla Triolo, and were taken using the following film types: PX 680 Color Protection, PX 70 Color Protection and PX 70 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!

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!

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

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.