Polaroids!

One day in 2012 I read a random blog post about a Dutch company called The Impossible Project was creating new film for Polaroid instant cameras, because Polaroid themselves had discontinued their official film. I thought it was a pretty neat article, but otherwise went about my day as normal.
The very next day, I went to a flea market and randomly came across a Polaroid Spirit 600 for $5. I bought the camera for fun and put in an order for some new film from that Dutch company. Since then, Polaroids have become my favorite way to take pictures of things.

I like Polaroids because, honestly, I'm not that good of a photographer. But Polaroid photos have such an iconic look to them, even 'bad' Polaroids turn out looking really interesting. The blurs, the washed out colors, the weird tints, even the emulsion and roller errors lead to some really cool stuff. Here are a few of my favorite Polaroid pictures from over the years.

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A row of pinball machines at the Houston Arcade Expo 2012.<br>Polaroid OneStep SX-70, Impossible Project film.
My old retro game setup, back when I lived in an apartment roughly the size of an acorn. Playing Earthbound.<br>Polaroid Spirit 600, Impossible Project film.
Fry's Electronics in Irving, TX. This one's kinda blurry but I still like it.<br>Polaroid OneStep Flash, Impossible Project film.
Owl fursuiter a the Arlington Furmeet, Feb 2013.<br>Polaroid Spirit 600, Impossible Project film.
Closing day at Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti, open 1978, closed 2013.<br>Polaroid Spirit 600, Impossible Project film.
The Ole Barn Dance at the Musée Méchanique in San Francisco. Put in a quarter and the marionettes will dance for you.<br>Polaroid Spirit 600, Impossible Project film.
I only met Calamity once briefly at Texas Furry Fiesta 2013, but he was a friendly guy and will be missed.<br>Polaroid Spirit 600, Impossible Project film.
A Mr. Do! and Donkey Kong Junior cabinets at the Texas Pinball Festival 2014.<br>Polaroid SX-70, Impossible Project film.
Bram Stoker's Dracula pinball machine at the 2014 Texas Pinball Festival.<br>Polaroid SX-70, Impossible Project film.
Reunion Tower, 2018.<br>Polaroid OneStep2.
Dallas as seen from Reunion Tower, 2018.<br>Polaroid Onestep2
Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls Nov 2019.<br>Polaroid OneStep2
Niagara Falls funicular, Nov 2019.<br>Polaroid OneStep2
Letchworth State Park, New York, Nov 2019.<br>Polaroid OneStep2
Dinosaur Valley State Park, Glen Rose TX, Oct 2020.<br>Polaroid OneStep2
Dinosaur tracks in the limestone, Dinosaur Valley State Park, Glen Rose TX.<br>Polaroid OneStep2
The two large fiberglass dinosaurs to the entrace of Dinosaur Valley State Park were originally a part of the Sinclair Dinoland exhibit at the 1964 New York World's Fair. Here's the tyrannosaurus.<br>Polaroid OneStep2
Some cool mushrooms at a Lindale, TX campground.<br>PolaridNow with monochrome film.
Royce City Futuro House, Oct 2022.<br>Polaroid Lab.
A fake computer/video game store inside the National Videogame Museum in Frisco, TX, specifically in their Video Game Crash of '83 exhibit.<br> Polaroid One, 600 Film
A fake 1980s living room inside the National Videogame Museum. The game on screen is the Intellivision version of BurgerTime. This is my ideal atmosphere. In my dreams, I am here.<br> Polaroid One, 600 Film
A Kangaroo arcade cabinet sits next to a Nintendo Play Choice 10 at the 2023 Texas Pinball Festival.<br> Polaroid One, 600 Film

My Polaroid cameras

  • OneStep 600/Spirit 600
    My early go-tos. My first Spirit 600 is probably nearest and dearest to my heart.
  • OneStep Flash
  • SX-70
    I love this camera, but using it makes me anxious! This camera is over 50 years old now and it takes a little bit of effort to expand/fold it shut.
  • OneStep Express
    When it comes to consumer electronics, I prefer blocky to bubbly. Not of of my favorites, but it's not the camera's fault.
  • Land Camera Automatic 100
    Got at a thrift store untested. I couldn't even test it if I wanted to, this camera requires a type of battery they don't even make anymore! But it's a neat little piece of history and it sits on my shelf, the elder statesmen of my Polaroids.
  • OneStep 2
    When Impossible bought Polaroid and became the modern Polaroid we know today, I was actually kind of wary. Especially when they announced a new camera. But I got one anyway and it's become my new go-to camera. Mostly because the film is available at every Target and Walmart around, making it very easy to swing by the store, grab some film, and go out there.
  • PolaroidNow
    The "dumbed down" version of the OneStep 2. I'll be honest, I mostly got this to add to my collection more than its ability to take photos.
  • Polaroid Lab
    This is kind of a weird one. Basically it's a "camera" you set your phone on and it takes pictures of whatever's on the screen. Good for turning digital photos into Polaroids. I don't use this a lot because relying on it kind of goes against the spirit of Polaroid/analog photography for me. But that being said, there are some times where I find myself in the perfect spot for a cool Polaroid, and me without my camera. Or sometimes I run out of film at the worst moment. I'm glad I have the Lab for moments like this, even if it's "cheating".