The Impossible Project

A very interesting project has been launched recently in the US. The Impossible Project is aimed at preserving what is left after Polaroid decided to drop the production of it's instant films. A group of young entrepreneurs got together and bought the old Polaroid factory plant,  some of the instant film production machines and chemical process lines and launched a new instant monochrome film in the famous SX70 and Spectra camera formats.

Those instant films are not for everyone, though. If you are still into shooting film and look for a reliable way of testing before taking the final exposure I would suggest Fujifilm FP 100C instant film for 4x5 cameras. It is a great product especially if teamed with Fuji's Provia f100 used for the final exposure. The images above and the Impossible Project should give you an idea of what I mean here. PZ and PX are fantastic for experimenting with the medium but not stable enough to be a reference. One should not confuse it with the project's original intention. A big thank you to Fuji, by the way, for continuing to manufacture their instant films. Polaroid on the other hand is more about Lady Gaga than serious tools for artists and pros these days. Pop culture uber alles!

Coming back to the Impossible Project I started using PZ and PX Silver Shade monochrome instant film this past Fall. The examples I am posting here are part of my little, private project with a working name:"Objects of the past".

Check out the Impossible Project website and their gallery of images. I was told the new shop in Berlin is a very interesting place to pay a visit. More and more people are turning to new (old) disciplines of photography. Polaroid, or instant photography is the purest of them all in my personal opinion.

I am hoping to publish a book of my polaroids on Blurb this Spring. If you are serious about trying your luck in instant photography be sure to read a book by uncle Ansel Adams: "Polaroid Land Photography", New York graphic Society 1963. Some of the tips regarding the handling of these fragile and unique films are invaluable. Finally, one more publication to check out: The Polaroid Book, published by Taschen - worth looking at....or go to a local shop and get a Fuji Instax Mini camera and start taking instant photos tomorrow! Haiku photography is fun!