Instant Love

Warhol's

Last June the world kind of ran out of Polaroid film. I have a special place in my heart for Polaroids. They are so candid and honest and immediate. A little hobby of mine is purchasing old cameras at flea markets and antique stores. Great in theory but I run into issues when I try to find film for them, which these days, is usually impossible. Ironically, in the case of my 1983 Polaroid Sun 600, Impossible may be the answer.

Polaroids of my parents from the mid '70s. They are about my age here.

First off, let me quickly explain why Polaroid film is unavailable now:

Polaroid made negatives. Every Polaroid has a negative and a positive. The negative material was made in Boston and the equipment they used was decomissioned years ago. Before the equipment was decommissioned, the company produced miles and miles of negative and put it in cold storage. So once that negative was gone (last june), there really wasn't anybody to make more of it.

Enter: SavePolaroid & The Impossible Project. Essentially, one man (Dr. Florian Kaps, Impossible Project founder) purchased the last Polaroid factory, hired some of the staff and is working to produce a new type of Instant Film by early 2010. At this point it is undecided as to whether he will keep the Polaroid name or not.

I find it interesting that we've come so far with digital photography, and live in a world with such advanced technology, but trying to recreate instant film is deemed an "impossible" project.

Perhaps the secret of creating successful instant film died with this guy. 

Or maybe there is just not enough interest/money/materials?

I for one hope Polaroid film comes back, and for less than $100 a pack.