Polaroid Workshop
Published on May 11, 2016
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Agenda
- Introduction
- History of Polaroid & Overview Film and Cameras
- Hands-On: Polaroid-Cameras & Film
- Buying Tips
- Hands-On: Lifting
Introduction
Photo by quinn.anya
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Thomas Preyer, CEO of PolaWalk
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Thomas' first camera: The Polaroid 600 AF
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Hell by Dash Snow
PolaWalk
Instant-Safari
Your turn!
Photo by Photographing Travis
Experience with Polaroid?
Photo by r. egeriis
Interest in Photography?
Photo by Zorah Olivia
History of Instant-Photography
Timeline - Land & Polaroid:
http://goo.gl/cJJYVl
http://goo.gl/cJJYVl
1937
1932: Land-Wheelwright Laboratories
1937: Polaroid
George Wheelwright was Land's physics teacher in Harvard
1937: Polaroid
George Wheelwright was Land's physics teacher in Harvard
Photo by The Logo Smith
Edwin H. Land
Edwin H. Land
- Harvard Drop-Out (Chemics)
- 535 Patents
- 1957: Honorable degree from Harvard
Born 1909 in Connecticut
Death: 1991
Various sources list him as the number three person by the number of issued patents in the US (only championed by Bell and Edison). This is most likely not accurate
Dropped out of Harvard after his freshman year
Death: 1991
Various sources list him as the number three person by the number of issued patents in the US (only championed by Bell and Edison). This is most likely not accurate
Dropped out of Harvard after his freshman year
Polarizer
Land invented the first synthetic shield polarizer (Patent: 1929)
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First customer for the polarized sheet: Kodak. They used it for their cameras.
Photo by NightFall404
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Land wanted to sell the polarizer to the automotive industry in Detroit to prevent people from being killed by cars when blinded by the lights. The companies were interested, but it never made the production stage.
Photo by Thomas Hawk
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They also tried to sell the technology to Hollywood --> 3D movies!
Photo by Marcus Vegas
WWII
Land was an advisor to the Eisenhower administration.
Polaroid worked for the US Navy and Army in WWII and created numerous products i.e. infrared night viewing devices and 3D simulation.
Polaroid worked for the US Navy and Army in WWII and created numerous products i.e. infrared night viewing devices and 3D simulation.
Photo by mag3737
1943 - Idea for the Instant-Camaera
"Daddy, why can't I see the picture right away?"
Land was on vacation in Santa Fe when his daughter asked him why she couldn't see the pictures right away. That led him to thinking about the problem and theoretically solving it in just hours.
Photo by Bjørnli Foto
The First Polaroid Camera
- Presentation: 1947
- In Stores: 1948
- Rollfilm: 1948 - 1993
Launch: December 1948 in a Boston department store. All cameras (about 100) and all film sold within a day, even though the cameras was very expensive (89.95$)
Peel-Apart Film
- 1963: Land 100 Camera
- Type 100: Produced by Fuji until 2016
Fuji stopped the production of the last remaining film (FP-100C) in early 2016. If stored cool the film can last for 5 to 10 more years.
Large Format
- 8x10 - Impossible Project
- 4x5 - New 55
- 20x24 - Supersense
- 8x10: large studio cameras
- 4x5: the classic reporter camera (i.e.. Speed Graphic by Graflex - (1912-1973), received important updates (i.e. weight) in 1947: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_Graphic
- 20x24: only 5 or 6 cameras exist
- 4x5: the classic reporter camera (i.e.. Speed Graphic by Graflex - (1912-1973), received important updates (i.e. weight) in 1947: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_Graphic
- 20x24: only 5 or 6 cameras exist
Photo by FreeVerse Photography
Picture-Time!
Peel-Apart Film
Integral Film
Photo by Attila con la cámara
Integral Film
- 1972: SX-70 Camera
- Land's dream: One-Step Photography
- If you think of Polaroid you probably think of this format
Partly inspired by Birdie Johnson (wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson) who wrote a letter to Land about how Polaroid's film was left behind by visitors cluttering the country's national parks.
1976 - 1986
Kodak tried to create their own instant system for a quite some time. In the end they went to market with a me-too product that was inferior to what Polaroid had.
CC | Philippe Vieux-Jeanton | Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/miwok/19884297412
CC | Philippe Vieux-Jeanton | Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/miwok/19884297412
Infringement-Lawsuit
- 1976-1986
- 5 patents infringed
- Kodak had to stop selling instant products & recall of all cameras and film
- Fine: 925 Million USD
The patent infringement lawsuit took over 10 years. Fine was finally paid in 1991.
Fun fact: Judge miscalculated the fine. Originally it was 909 Million.
Fujifilm produces instant film since the late 80s. They originally used Kodak's technology but in cooperation with Polaroid (in a trade for technology and they had to stay in the Asian market).
Fun fact: Judge miscalculated the fine. Originally it was 909 Million.
Fujifilm produces instant film since the late 80s. They originally used Kodak's technology but in cooperation with Polaroid (in a trade for technology and they had to stay in the Asian market).
Photo by michael_d_beckwith
Polavision
1978
Camera's for this short film system without sound were produced by Eumig in Austria. Flop. VHS and Betamax was already available.
Land steps down
1982
Polavision being a flop lead to Edwin Land step down from all functions at Polaroid. He even sold all his shares to finance his research (Theory of Color Vision)
More: http://www2.rowland.harvard.edu/book/theory-color-vision
More: http://www2.rowland.harvard.edu/book/theory-color-vision
Land & Jobs
Art & Science | Art & Technology
Land always said that companies should operate at the intersection of "Art and Science". Jobs view was inspired by this. He thought that componies should operate at the intersection of "Art and Technology".
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More similarities:
- Product launch events
- No market research for their product development
- Same desk ;)
- Product launch events
- No market research for their product development
- Same desk ;)
Spectra
1986
Polaroid's market research concluded: The customer wanted bigger and wider prints.
The End
2001 Bankruptcy - New Owner - 2008 Bankruptcy
2004: Decision to stop the production of instant film and cameras
2008: Tom Petters, owner and CEO was arrested for fraud (a Ponzi scheme). Sentence: 50 yrs. in federal prison.
2008: Polaroid stopped the production of instant-film
2008: Tom Petters, owner and CEO was arrested for fraud (a Ponzi scheme). Sentence: 50 yrs. in federal prison.
2008: Polaroid stopped the production of instant-film
Polaroid today
PLR IP Holdings
Polaroid is now only a brand that is licensed to manufacturer's of various products like tablets and TV sets. They do no longer produce any cameras or film.
Impossible
2008
The Impossible Project started re-engineering instant-film in the last remaining factory in Enschede, The Netherlands.
CC: Photo credit | Tim Bradshaw: https://www.flickr.com/photos/timbradshaw/3822291707/
CC: Photo credit | Tim Bradshaw: https://www.flickr.com/photos/timbradshaw/3822291707/
Florian "Doc" Kaps
Founder Impossible | Ex-Polaroid Merchant & Marketing at Lomography
One of the founders of "The Impossible Project" (others include André Bosman, former director of Polaroid's production facility in Enschede).
CC: Photo credit | Tim Bradshaw: https://www.flickr.com/photos/timbradshaw/3822291707/
CC: Photo credit | Tim Bradshaw: https://www.flickr.com/photos/timbradshaw/3822291707/
Silver Shade
Juli 2010
One of the first Impossible films. Photo credit: Thomas Preyer
Film Production
Production: They had to start from scratch and re-engineer the film – different materials and chemicals!
I-1 - Impossible Camera
2016
I-1 (Launched in May 2016)
Autofocus-Camera with a ringflash and an iOS App for creative options and manual controls:
http://www.shop.polawalk.com/product/i-1
Autofocus-Camera with a ringflash and an iOS App for creative options and manual controls:
http://www.shop.polawalk.com/product/i-1
Picture-Time!
Instant Lab - Create the Polaroid for the Lifting
Picture-Time!
Polaroid 600
Overexposure
Avoid exposing and developing in direct sunlight; this will cause overexposure and reddening of the final result. The Impossible instant-photos are no longer sensitive to light after a few minutes but it will take about 30 minutes to fully develop the Polaroid. It might even develop further after that point!
Shield from Light
Instant film contains multiple layers. One of them is a regular film negative, which is why the photo is sensitive to light until it is fully developed. The development time of the color Impossible picture is about 30 minutes. The reason for this rather long development time is mainly caused by the so-called opacification layer. It is another, blue, layer within the film, which protects the lower (light-sensitive) layers from light. Think of the opacification layer, or opacifier, as a chemical curtain that needs to be drawn over the film to protect the image you’ve created.
The opacifier isn’t perfect protection: Therefore we recommend using the "Impossible Frog Tongue", a device that can be installed in most Polaroid 600 and SX-70 cameras which helps to further protect your pictures: http://www.shop.polawalk.com/product/frog-tongue-box
Avoid exposing and developing in direct sunlight; this will cause overexposure and reddening of the final result. The Impossible instant-photos are no longer sensitive to light after a few minutes but it will take about 30 minutes to fully develop the Polaroid. It might even develop further after that point!
In short: Expose your Polaroid as little as possible to sunlight.
The opacifier isn’t perfect protection: Therefore we recommend using the "Impossible Frog Tongue", a device that can be installed in most Polaroid 600 and SX-70 cameras which helps to further protect your pictures: http://www.shop.polawalk.com/product/frog-tongue-box
Avoid exposing and developing in direct sunlight; this will cause overexposure and reddening of the final result. The Impossible instant-photos are no longer sensitive to light after a few minutes but it will take about 30 minutes to fully develop the Polaroid. It might even develop further after that point!
In short: Expose your Polaroid as little as possible to sunlight.
Sky
On a gray day try to minimize the amount of sky in your pictures!
Low Temperatures
When it’s cold outside it’s crucial to warm your camera and your pictures. You can achieve this by carrying the camera inside your coat. In addition we recommend putting the Polaroid once it left the camera as close to your body as possible, at least your coat’s inner pocket. Be careful to not bend it. The warmer you keep the picture the better the colors and contrast will be.
High Temperatures
When it’s hot outside, over 28 degrees Celsius or 83 degrees Fahrenheit, we recommend keeping the picture once it exited the camera out of the sun and/or at a cool place (i.e. in the film box next to a cold beverage in your bag) for development. This will help minimizing unwanted orange or red tinted pictures.
Blur
Hold the camera steady until the picture leaves through the exit slot. That is especially important when there isn’t much light available. In dim light the camera shutter stays open longer than in bright light. Any (camera) movement while the shutter is open will result in a blurred picture.
We therefore recommend holding the camera in your left hand, your palm on the bottom of the camera. This will simulate a tri-pod and give your camera extra stability. Be careful to not block the film exit slot at the front of the camera!
Press the “flash override shutter button” from the bottom. There’s the most available space for your finger!
We therefore recommend holding the camera in your left hand, your palm on the bottom of the camera. This will simulate a tri-pod and give your camera extra stability. Be careful to not block the film exit slot at the front of the camera!
Press the “flash override shutter button” from the bottom. There’s the most available space for your finger!
Getting the Exposure right
Your exposure for pictures without flash are set by an electric eye. It sets the shutter speed and lens opening according to the light conditions it “sees” in the scene. If the scene is unevenly lit the picture will be unevenly exposed, being either too bright or too dark. Try to take pictures where the lighting is even – about as bright on the background as on the subject.
If the background is a large part of the picture and is brighter than the subject, the electric eye will set the correct exposure for the background. The subject will be too dark. To avoid this we recommend moving in close with the subject.
If the background is a large part of the picture and is darker than the subject, the electric eye will set the correct exposure for the background. The subject will be too bright. This time moving in close will prevent your subject from being too bright in the final picture.
If the background is a large part of the picture and is brighter than the subject, the electric eye will set the correct exposure for the background. The subject will be too dark. To avoid this we recommend moving in close with the subject.
If the background is a large part of the picture and is darker than the subject, the electric eye will set the correct exposure for the background. The subject will be too bright. This time moving in close will prevent your subject from being too bright in the final picture.
Colors
There is one key ingredient to colorful pictures: Color! If you want to have saturated colors in your Impossible instant picture the subject must be colorful.
Flash
Outdoors, under normal light conditions, use the flash override shutter button. It is located right beneath the flash shutter button. Check out our “Quick-Guide to Instant-Photography” for pictures and more information.
www.polawalk.com/en/download
If you like to take a picture indoors, use the flash by pressing the flash shutter button. Check out our “Quick-Guide to Instant-Photography” for pictures and more information.
To achieve the best results place your subject in front of a light background (i.e. a white wall) and stand 1.2 to 3 meters from your subject.
There are circumstances where you’d rather not use flash indoors, i.e. when you want to snap a Polaroid of something that’s lit by a natural light source (i.e. through a window).
www.polawalk.com/en/download
If you like to take a picture indoors, use the flash by pressing the flash shutter button. Check out our “Quick-Guide to Instant-Photography” for pictures and more information.
To achieve the best results place your subject in front of a light background (i.e. a white wall) and stand 1.2 to 3 meters from your subject.
There are circumstances where you’d rather not use flash indoors, i.e. when you want to snap a Polaroid of something that’s lit by a natural light source (i.e. through a window).
Go Closer!
To make the most of your instant-shots we recommend moving in close often and making your subject the main interest of your picture! Frame it in your viewfinder as big as possible and keep the background simple. Don’t think too complicated: Often the simple things work best in a Polaroid.
Lomography
TLR Camera for Instax Mini: TL-70 by Mint
Lomography has the Lomo'Instant and the Lomo'Instant Wide for Fuji Instax film. They have more controls and creative functions than Fuji's cameras:
http://www.shop.polawalk.com/products/camera-packages/lomoinstant
Lomography has the Lomo'Instant and the Lomo'Instant Wide for Fuji Instax film. They have more controls and creative functions than Fuji's cameras:
http://www.shop.polawalk.com/products/camera-packages/lomoinstant
Picture-Time!
Fuji Instax
Film
- Impossible (8): from 20 EUR
- I-1 (8): 18 EUR
- Instax Mini (20): 19 EUR
- Instax Wide (20): 20 EUR
- FP-100C (10): 20 EUR
http://www.shop.polawalk.com/products/film
Polaroid film price with inflation:
5$ in 1972 = 28,56$ in 2015
0,5$ per picture = 2,86$ in 2015
Impossible: 2,94$
Polaroid film price with inflation:
5$ in 1972 = 28,56$ in 2015
0,5$ per picture = 2,86$ in 2015
Impossible: 2,94$
Camera
- PolaWalk Polaroid-Package: 119€
- Instax 210 (Wide): 99€
- Lomo Mini: from 99€
- Lomo Wide: from 199 €
- I-1: 299€
- Instant Lab: 149€
- SX-70: 299€
- I-1: 299€
- SX-70: 299€
Buying Tips - Polaroid 600
- Empty film pack
- Close-up lens or Autofocus
- eBay or Craig's List
- Flash
Use an empty film pack to test the camera. You can test all functions but the light meter (which will in our experience work just fine more than 90% of the times)
Buying Tips - SX-70
- Empty film cassette filled with old Polaroids (motor, ejection cycle)
- Mirror
- Exposure
- Bellows
- Tip: Buy a tested and working cam
Use an empty film pack to test the camera. You can test all functions but the light meter (which will in our experience work just fine more than 90% of the times).
Check for stuck mirror, unperforated bellows.
We recommend buying a tested and working camera.
Check for stuck mirror, unperforated bellows.
We recommend buying a tested and working camera.
Storage
Film & Photos
Photos: Protect them from light, temperature changes and humidity
Film: Store cool and protect them from temperature changes (i.e. store them in a fridge) and humidity
Archive: Scan i.e. with a flatbed scanner (i.e. Epson V370)
Film: Store cool and protect them from temperature changes (i.e. store them in a fridge) and humidity
Archive: Scan i.e. with a flatbed scanner (i.e. Epson V370)
Creative Ideas
Photo by Andrew Bartram (WarboysSnapper)
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Credit: Jerome Cimolai
https://www.flickr.com/people/cimolaijerome/
https://www.flickr.com/people/cimolaijerome/
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Credit: Jerome Cimolai
https://www.flickr.com/people/cimolaijerome/
https://www.flickr.com/people/cimolaijerome/
Untitled Slide
Credit: Jerome Cimolai
https://www.flickr.com/people/cimolaijerome/
https://www.flickr.com/people/cimolaijerome/
Untitled Slide
Credit: Jerome Cimolai
https://www.flickr.com/people/cimolaijerome/
https://www.flickr.com/people/cimolaijerome/
