Polaroid a 75-year-old brand synonymous with instant imaging, was founded by Edwin H.
Land in 1937. He was inspired by his 3-year-old daughter’s confusion as to why
a camera could not instantly produce pictures after they were taken. Land
invented not just instant photography but the culture that came with it. The
purpose of inventing instant photography was essentially aesthetic to make
available a new medium of expression to numerous individuals who have an
artistic interest in the world around them (Land, 1947). He first showed his first instant camera and film in 1947 and
called it the “Land Camera” which reached the market and continued to be the
company’s product line. By 1950, Polaroid had sold more than one million packs
of instant film and was selling cameras to over four thousand dealers
nationwide.
In February 28,
Polaroid announced that they will not anymore continue to their production of
films. The instant camera had become a losing proposition in the face of the
extremely efficient and popular digital camera. Fujifilm is now the only
remaining supplier of instant film in the United States, the Instax.
People
may be wondering why would buy such a camera today,
particularly as digital cameras can be bought for the same price. "The
Polaroid is really one-of-a-kind photography. Each time you look at the image
you can be sure the artist himself touched it” (Kaps, 2008).In addition to
that, here are reasons on why people would choose to have Polaroid or instant
cameras:
·
Immediate Pictures – photographers or users do
not have to wait for weeks to see their pictures printed. They offer the ability
to immediately see their final product Even though digital cameras users can
see their pictures after taking them, they still have to be uploaded and
printed in computers. Not like the instant camera, snap and wait for the print
to shoot out the side, where it will develop within just a few minutes
·
Memories in films – people can be nostalgic at
times and instant cameras are every suitable for them. In digital cameras you
can take continuous random shots, while in instant cameras every photo counts
because users are sure that they want to capture that valuable moment. “Because
you are part of the process of the photo becoming an image, the whole thing
becomes more valuable” (Kaps, 2008) Moreover, the film, paper that allows you to write anything under the photo,
adds that nostalgic feeling to the memories in the films
·
For events/travels - using an instant film
camera at parties and different places when people travel is a great way to
capture fun, candid shots or the beautiful sceneries of the place. Whereas
digital photos at a party mean waiting for someone to upload them onto a social
network, instant film provides a hardcopy right away. Or maybe you met someone
in a trip with whom you had fun with, why not take an instant photo and share
it
·
For scrapbooking and fun crafts – with the funky
and retro-style look of the images produced by an instant camera, it surely be
a good part of scrapbooks. People who want creative way to preserve their
memories will appreciate the authenticity and one-of-a-kind nature of instant
photography. And with the unique style
of instant films, they can make great additions to fun craft projects like
using it as a design in bedrooms or even in birthdays/events
In the present, digital age is becoming more and more developed
faster processors, faster data transfers, and faster photos. But why not take a
look back at the past where Polaroid became a hit and sensation to people that
almost all household owns one. Moreover, instant cameras are also developing simultaneously
with the digital cameras. And there are a lot of reasons to love and to have
instant cameras in our lives. As one of Polaroid’s old advertising jingles once
sang, “It’s more than a camera, it’s almost alive.”
Sources:
*All photos are from Google images and Tumblr
G. P. 2013 April
17. Instant Forever. Economist.com. http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2013/04/polaroid-photography.
2014 March 7.
Jewel, M. 2008
February 14. Industries Frantic To Find
Polaroid Instant Film. Manufacturing.net. http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2008/02/industries-frantic-to-find-polaroid-instant-film?menuid=36.
2014 March 7.
Lyons, P. 2008
February 8. Polaroid Abandons
Photography. The Lede. http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/polaroid-abandons-instant-photography/?_php=true&_type=blogs&hp&_r=0
2014. March 7.
(n.a). 2013 August 20. 10 Reasons to Buy an Instant Film Camera.ebay.com. http://www.ebay.com/gds/10-Reasons-to-Buy-an-Instant-Film-Camera-/10000000177628985/g.html.
2014 March 7.
Regina Alyssa L. Bargola
2013 - 68055
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