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mik-kon-bao, mipolaroidsevadeTRIPI. . ., 2010
Whatever mipolaroidsevadeTRIPI. . . means? I found these extraordinary abstractions on the photographer's page on Flickr. Apparently, mik-kon-bao is a Spanish pro member from Valencia, resident in Halmstad, Sweden.
Click on images for enlargement.
Zoraaki, Globe, Polaroid SX-70, ATZ film, 2010
I wish I could tell you something about Zoraaki but all I can do is link you to the Flicker page where I found this very competent photo taken in a very minimalist way. Not easy, and for that I congratulate this photographer for diligence and deliberation in making this shot.
Click on image for enlargement.
Click on image for enlargement.
Michael Raso, Sarina/Polaroid Portrait, June 2010
Professional photographer and broadcaster Michael Raso took this portrait with a Polaroid Big Shot camera on Polaroid 664 black and white film. The first time I used this camera I, too, deliberately used black and white film instead of the recommended color film and got astounding portraits, too.
Michael says of his photo, "I shot Sarina in my studio last June. She has the look and sensibilities of a 1960s [Michelangelo] Antonioni star.
Click on image for enlargement.
Daniel Klaas, My Beautiful Muse II, June 2011
This lovely evocative photo was found on Flickr, taken by Daniel Klaas with a Polaroid 420 Land Camera using Polaroid 100 Blue film at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia.
Click on image for enlargement.
JL Pictures, Geisha's Calligraphy to Her Father, 2011
This lovely double exposure photo was taken with a Polaroid SX-70 and Impossible PX70 PUSH and a green filter. I found it on Flicker at JL's Photostream, Impossible PX70.
Dave Bias, Llama, Polaroid SX-70 with 600 film and ND pack filter
I am blown away by the manner in which he intentionally incorporated all the Polaroid colors in this outstanding photo.
Dave is vice president of Impossible USA and a talented prolific photographer. You can check out his work on his website at this link.
Click on image for enlargement.
Click on image for enlargement.
Anne Bowerman, The Miss, Polaroid SX-70 and ATZ film, 2010
Anniebee is one of the best and most prolific instant photographers you'll find. She also helps mind the store at Impossible USA in Manhattan.
Click on image for enlargement.
Grant Hamilton, Super awesome, Polaroid SX-70
I'm sure you're familiar with the work of Grant Hamilton in this iconic imagery. It's just one of many, many other dynamic photos featured on this link.
Grant Hamilton, Upside Down, Polaroid SX-70, 2008
Grant is also one of the most accomplished instant photographers of people, as evident in this charming photo of his lovely daughter.
Grant Hamilton, Self Portrait, Polaroid SX-70, 2008
Found on Flickr, Grant eloquently states his love for his SX-70 camera:
"Polaroid cameras are magical . . . .
Like the moment it captures, each Polaroid photo is unique.
There are no negatives and no memory cards. When I carry my Polaroid, I can transform the ethereal into the tangible.
That is magic."
Author using iMac onboard camera, From Polaroid to Impossible, 2011
I've just seen the new book and want to include a few really great photos for today's upload.
The book has some great examples of instant photography, such as these full page photos of legendary cabaret singer Mabel Mercer [1900-1984] and philosopher and scholar Marshall McLuhan [1911-1980]
Barbara Bordnick, Mabel Mercer, Polaroid Type 808, 8x10, 1979
Barbara has one of the most beautiful splash pages on the Internet, found here.
Yousuf Karsh, Marshall McLuhan, Polaroid Type 55, 10x13, 1974
Yousuf Karsh's great photo of the irrepressible McLuhan, who is credited with predicting the World Wide Web 30 years before its time.
Ansel Adams, Yosemite Falls, Polaroid SX-70, 1979
It's remarkable that Ansel got such a good photo from this film size considering his great successes with large format cameras, examples of which may be found here.
Paul Caponigro, Untitled, Type 55 film, 7.6 x 9.4 inches, 1979
[John] Paul Caponigro is another former Polaroid consultant, who is now working in digital as well.
From Polaroid to Impossible's cover price is $51.90 in the USA, and is sold elsewhere in the world by Impossible shops.
Click on image for enlargement.
Sunny 16, Tori and Ryan, SX-70/PX600 UV + black frame, 2011
The photo was taken in Norfolk (GB) in June of this year by their friend Sunny 16. It's a great photo which you can see again on Sunny's website, and in the context of her archives here, and on Flickr, where she's also known as Chaps1.
If you want to know the origin of the term Sunny 16, it's a photographic term used to calculate daylight for exposures without using a conventional light meter, and it's found on Wikipedia.
Click on image for enlargement.
Makikofsky, Hercule, Probably SX-70, date unknown
This French graphic designer and photographer's excellent work can be found at his site (see link above) or on Flickr. And here, too.
Click on image for enlargement.
maxipedri, Betty, Polaroid Model 680, PX 600 UV with black frame, 2011
I hope to learn who maxipedri is because his fine photography on Polanoid made me take a second look. He lives in Verona, the home of Romeo and Juliet, in Italy, and took this photo just last month. It was uploaded on 7 July.
maxipedri, Me on barbeque, 2010
This is what really grabbed me. Something I always wanted but never learned how to build, my own wood burning outdoor oven.
Click on image for enlargement.
Paul Stevenson, Self-Portrait 3/12, 2010
Stevenson, a professional photographer from Leeds in the UK said of this self-portrait on Flickr:
"It's going to take two years to do my 12 portraits at this rate!
Comedy specs (although not far off my real myopic correctional device)
How could I resist not including this photographic gem. It looks to me like an SX-70 with a close-up attachment that's trying to act like a fish-eye lens.
Rachel James, Taken with Polaroid, Polaroid SX-70, 2005
This excellent and expressive photo was taken at the Kroller-Muller Sculpture Garden in the Netherlands, located in the city of Otterlo.
The sculpture, Monsieur Jacques, was created in 1955 by Oswald Wencklebach and greets visitors at the entrance to the sculpture park. Rachel James has captured the expression as if the subject were sitting live for his portrait.
Visit Rachel's beautifully designed website by clicking on her name above, or here.
Christy [under the leaves] me, 2008
One of the finest self-portraits I've seen, which makes it a very special discovery. I'm hoping that Christy can tell me more about the photo and I'll revise this text when and if I learn more about it.
In the meantime, you can check out more of her photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/undertheleaves/sets/72157605231951507/
Juli [Juli Werner], Us., 2009
Juli grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she lives with her husband Will and two 14-lb. cats. She says that "she loves to take photographs and has a great love of vintage cameras, especially Polaroid. You can check our some of my photos [at] http://www.flickr.com/photos/juli"
She also says, "If you like the felted and other handmade items in my [flickr] photostream, please check out my Etsy shop!"
Author, Kitten in the Sink, SX-70 and film, 1979
Our lovely kitty enjoying the cool of a round porcelain sink. How appropriate for the month of July.
nnarin, penguin in carseat, SX-70 Sonar Autofocus, 779 expired film, 2006
Narin Nopparatwong, of Bangkok, Thailand, took this wonderful photo in May of 2006. He is an accomplished photographer with experience using other cameras and films. His photos can be seen by clicking on the link above.
Billy Terr [Billy Terrell], 52.1, Polaroid SX-70 camera and 600 film, 2008
Billy said this of his photo as it appeared on Flickr: "This is my first photo as part of the 52 weeks project. One self portrait a week. Since I will not have the worry of "missing a day" I think I'll have more fun than I did with 365 days. I have also given myself a "no digital rule" with this one, currently concentrating on just Polaroid using my SX-70. . . ."
Amanda Mason, untitled self-portrait, 2011
A remarkable self portrait by this very talented Sydney, Australia, designer as well as photographer, was made with a Polaroid SLR 60 on Impossible Project PX 600 First Flush film on 31 March of this year.
uglymonday, ART, Milan, Italy, SX-70 camera and film, 2006
This dynamic Polaroid photo was taken by Italian architect Mariano Biazzi Alcàntara of Cremona.
It was found on Polanoid and also on his website > Portfolio> Minimalism.
Mariano has also created Instant World, a web log where you can find even more terrific examples of his work with Polaroid photography.
Here's Looking at You, Kid . . .
Photographer unknown, Title unknown, Date unknown.
Professional photographer Ben Benoliel posted this (among others) on his blog of May 2009 with the comment:
"I often [troll] the net when I'm bored. . . . Recently I was introduced to a website called Polanoid where photographers of any ability can go and post pictures taken on Polaroid film. I would say my personal work was influenced more by ‘non-photographers’ [than by] ‘photographers’ and this is a great place to see experimental, fun and . . . photography at its best! Mind you there is also some extremely pollished and beautiful work on there also, a few examples of stuff I like below. . . ."
Warning! nudity will appear on the page linked above. NSFW.
Danny Sanchez, Ferry Building at Night, SX-70 with PX70FF with dial set to regular exposure, 2011
This excellent example was found on Flickr. among his other instant photos.
Maniasakegirl, Me, 2010
Now that is a face. What a great self-portrait by maniasakegirl, her Flickr name.
Jess Hibbard, Amaryllis, Polaroid SX-70, Formula 40 Test Shot, 2010
Jess wrote in Flickr, " I was honored to be one of the test photographers for The Impossible Project's new film. I've been dying to share, but was sworn to secrecy until the end of the big press conference today . . . . This particular photo was taken on the windowsill of my office. . ."
A great photo, Jess.
Fred, A Sign, 2006
I love the design and its impact. I only wish I could tell you who Fred is, but I will continue to search Polanoid, where I found this and update the information when and if I'm ever successful.
Taken with a Polaroid SX-70 camera and 600 film.
Leanne Surfleet, 35/52, Polaroid, 2010
How could I resist this intriguing self-portrait? It was taken by Leanne as image 35 of apparently a weekly photographic challenge.
I love it!
Happy Independence Day!
Anne Bowerman, 'merica, Polaroid SX-70
Love this photo by anniebee and it's so appropriate for today!
Probably taken from a window of The Impossible Project in downtown New York City.
Gutterrock, Stupid Sunglasses, Polaroid SX-70, 600 film, 2006
I wish I could tell you more about this photographer but I couldn't find anything about him on Polanoid, except that the location of the shot was in Louisville, Kentucky.
So, Gutterrock, if you see this and you wish to be identified, please email me. If, on the other hand, you don't want the photo shown, let me know and I will delete it ASAP.
Luke Serwach, untitled, Polaroid SLR 680, TIP PX680 film, Kinoflo lights, 2011
Polish photographer Luke Serwach of Warsaw made this fabulous photo that brought me to a screeching halt when I discovered this and similar photos of his while surfing the web. This is a work of art.
Luke writes that he had a site under construction which will be finished in approximately 4-6 weeks, at which time I'll add the link to this post.
Enhancing Polaroid photos
Author, Fran at Gayhead, Martha's Vineyard, Polaroid SX-70, SX-70 film, 1981
Same photo, scanned, enhanced and color corrected by the author, 2011
Author, 1937 Packard restoration, SX-70 and film, circa 1975
Same photo, enhanced and color corrected in Photoshop by the author, 2011
The cars were being restored by my good friend of more than 60 years, graphic designer and former studio mate, Albin Webber. Al's Packard phaeton subsequently won first prize at Hershey, Pennsylvania.
The point of this exercise is to show what had been necessary to adequately reproduce SX-70 photos for print. It was a challenge to art directors and pre-press technicians alike as we were always compelled to adjust each of the four-color process separations for print production.
Adobe Photoshop now allows us to do in minutes what it usually took hours for film separations produced in million-dollar installations. It's just too fascinating for me to resist attempts at improvement.
Author, Lily and lobster, Polaroid Model 100, Type 108 film, 1963
In comparison, this old Type 108 print needed much less color correction.