It doesn’t really matter that digital is – not the future but – the present of photography. I don’t think any of my photographer friends use film in their professional practice but probably all of them use it once in a while for other, ‘personal’ stuff. Photographing on film, especially with medium and large format cameras, is very different from photographing with DSLR. Photographing is a process that is effected by the tools and methods used.
Just about a year ago, Polaroid announced that they won’t be making Polaroid film much longer and in June this year production was stopped. This was obviously a great blow to many but most of all to those who’s style depends on the use of it.
Now, a group of Dutch heroes have bought the equipment that was used to make Polaroid and not only are they re-starting it’s production but are also researching into modern ways of assembling the film cartridge.
The Impossible mission is NOT to re-build Polaroid Integral film but (with the help of strategic partners) to develop a new product with new characteristics, consisting of new optimised components, produced with a streamlined modern setup. An innovative and fresh analog material, sold under a new brand name that perfectly will match the global re-positioning of Integral Films.
Impossible b.v. Be sure to check it out. They have a more info on the project as well as really cool Polaroids of machinery used to make it.
–kristian
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One Comment so far. Leave a comment below.BTW, if you didn’t click on the word “who’s” yet you didn’t find that it takes you to the website of Elsa Dorfman. She’s a portrait photographer in Cambridge, MA, who uses a 20×24″ Polaroid camera for her practice. Looking through her archive, it’s easy to see that it’ll be difficult for her to start using digital for her work.