As I write this, in July 2012, instant photography is something that is taken for granteed in the time we live in.
Digital photoraphy changed the world when it came to instant imagery, but although viewing them on a screen is fun, it doesn't quite have the same excitment that the instant camera first produced in 1947 as Polaroid's 'Land Camera.'
In 1947, Edwin H. Land created the first camera to give you a dry print just 60 seconds after you snap the shutter.
The process of delevopment involved ordinary chemicals, but the negative was not transparent and did not require any light for printing.
Land developed his method after his daugther questioned him on why photographic developing took so long.
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| Image by Popular Science Magazine |
Sales of all types of film photography dropped by a large 25% at the beginning of 21st century.
It seems now the format is used by those who are passionate about photography and the work they create.
Most people who want to take holiday snaps, events and days out now use devices wuch as their mobile phones, ipods or compact digital cameras to capture their own piece of history.
To me this method is convenient, but not quite as much fun as analogue photography involving film. It's nice to have the option depending on who you are and what you use your photography for.
Upon it's release in New York in 1948 the first Polariod was sold for $95. A year later Polaroid were assisted by legendary photography Ansel Adams when designing new products and film.
Over the next ten years, the company grew and Polaroid extended their products to Canada and Europe in the late 1950's.
By 1963 they had produced 5 million cameras and business was blooming. A range of camera serieses were to follow including the popular SX-70 and Sun 600.
Time produced many models of camera from this company, but in 1991 founder Edwin Land dies at the age of 91. Polaroid also recieve a sum of $925 from Kodak on the basis of Patent Infringment.
Stepping into the new millennium the company's sales of instant cameras and film dropped, thus reducing their need for manufacturing, and eventually ceasing production of all instant film.
Polaroid announced they were stopping their production of instant
film in February 2008. They closed three factories and around 450
employees lost their jobs. A sign showing the economic climate and the
convenience of digital photography that had taken over the world and
become readily available to every budget in the last 8 years.
A sad time in photographic history.
Fast forward to 2011, and I find myself personally hunting down expired pack of Polaroid film on ebay for an extortionate price. All for the sake of being able to try out the world changing format of instant images for myself.
After discovering these 2 Polaroid cameras in my Grandfather's loft, I felt compelled to put a set of film through each one. My Grandfather would have been the last person t use these and I felt it only right to see if they still worked. I'm sure he would be been proud to see them in action!
(I will be posting an review article on the Polaroids during July)
Fast forward again, and now we are in 2012. Current financial climate and cost of living has risen to nearly an unreal amount. The cost of photography can be very cheap if you want it to be. Personally, I like to experiement and try new things. A keen photographer friend and artist, Melyssa Shannon introduced me to the range of instant cameras produced by FujiFilm.
So fear not those wanting to give instant photography a go, FujiFilm is the answer!
Fujifilm began producing film for the Japanese and Asian markets, calling their inevention 'Fotorama.'
In 1980 they began selling their cameras to the world, and during the 90's developed a camera known as the Instax.
This is now poerhaps, thier most famous instant camera. With the eleimation of Polaorid film and production, Fujifilm took over the market and their Instax camera became availible to countries outseide of the USA.
I recently purchased an Instax Wide 210 camera and after nearly two years trying trying to get some Polaroid results, Fujifilm's Instax has solved all the problems.
(Article / Review to follow on the Instax Camera)
Overall, instant photography helped change the world. The fast paced environment would not be where it is today without the likes of these (what seems now as) simple developments in technology and science.
If you are interested in giving instant photograpy a go, I suggest checking out ebay for the best deals on new Instax cameras. It is also good if you want to pick up an original Polaroid camera to try out, or just add to your collection shelf.
Currently I am using my Instax camera out and about in the city as I am scouting potential models for a continuation of work on my Fashion Portfolio.
It's a great way to get a snapshot of the person and scribble their name and number at the bottom of the image.
If you want to read more on instant photography, it's history, The Polaroid company or Edwin Land himself, check out these few links:
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