I can remember the first time I used a Polaroid camera – it was way back in the late 1970’s, I was about seven or eight. We were at my uncle Mike’s house for some variety of family gathering, I’d like to say it was the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations, but I don’t think it was? Anyway, I found my uncles freshly loaded instant camera and decided to channel what I now realise was my inner William Eggleston…ten shots of the carpet, my own feet, the ceiling light, other people’s feet, the buffet. As I recall, the only person who saw that body of work as art was my Mum. Uncle Micheal didn’t, Uncle Micheal went bat-shit crazy and sent me upstairs.
I’ve shot a lot of instant film over the years, with varying degrees of success – these shots were made with my latest acquisition, a 1970’s Polaroid SX-70 – 6 shots are from the first pack of film, published in the order they were made. (the latest incarnation of Polaroid film only has 8 shots, not 10). The two missing shots aren’t even artistically bad, they’re in the bin.
I’ve tried Polaroid, Impossible and Instax – none of my photos ever came close to looking this good…even your mistakes and experiments are amazing! Loved the writing too. You’re hilarious 🙂
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Damn you and your photography greatness, Phil Kneen. I can totally imagine you as a child snapping away at everything 😄 x
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I also remember the first time I shot Polaroids – about 1,5 years ago with an old Image System camera from Ebay that came with a pack of experied Impossible film. I have been very lucky with the Impossible film and also like the new emulsion that released in line with their rebranding to Polaroid Originals. I even thought about buying the new Onestep 2 but then changed my mind an got a refurbished Spectra instead. Film is expensive but I just love it and it’s not that I’m shooting Polaroid only anyway 🙂
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damn this Uncle Micheal just don’t understand a thing :-))
i loved the look of the original Polaroid frames much more.
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