For some reason, this didn’t get published back in December. Oh joy! Here it goes!
On Cyber Monday, The Impossible Project offered a whopping 20% off its entire online store. That was the perfect opportunity for me to purchase a Lens set that I’ve been focused on for quite a while (pun intended) …
This video is actually my first post-narrated one! I’ve tried to make it sound a little better by using the iMovie “more bass” equalizer on the narration track, please let me know how you like it! 😀
This limited edition film behaves exactly like the B&W 2.0 film – but it develops in black and red, resulting in interesting and eye-catching images if you choose the right subject. This is also the downside of this film’s unique chemistry: not everything that looks good in B&W does in B&R. I’ve found that subjects that already contain the color red in parts of the image work well. What is also a small drawback is that it was only available with a black frame.
Unfortunately the film is currently sold out. You can however still check out the store page here, so there’s a chance it’ll be restocked eventually.
UPDATE: You can now watch a recording of the Impossible I-1 camera keynote on Vimeo (embedded below). I have also added many interesting details about the camera to this post, including detailed specifications that were just posted on the I-1 website.
Bloomberg Design Conference 2016: Oskar Smolokowski from Impossible on Vimeo.
Sections (roughly): 00:00 to 10:00 (about Impossible and why they made the camera), 10:40 (first look at the camera), 13:30 (flash), 15:00 (app), 17:00 (example photos taken with the I-1), 17:20 to end (live demo).
As you have probably already heard, Impossible unveiled their IP-1 I-1 camera at the Bloomberg Businessweek Design Conference on April 11th. I promised you to write a post after the announcement to cover all the details that were unveiled. Here we are, 12 days later, and it’s not like I forgot to write or something. The problem is that there‘s was not much to report until now: Impossible annoyingly chose to postpone any info outside of some basic points of interest until May 10th, when the camera goes on sale. Luckily, the BW keynote video is now public, meaning I was able to add tons of info to the post. Enjoy!
As expected, the camera looks a lot like the ugly child of a Polaroid Land Camera 1000, an Impossible Instant Lab and a rotary phone:
Yeah, I was kidding. Not: Continue reading (UPDATED June 25) A detailed look at the Impossible I-1 camera
As you know, I have a passion for instant photography and the cameras connected to it. I have personally tried nearly every format of Polaroid films that has existed (except the pocket, 500 and 80-type films) and played with cameras from most formats. Impossible has been teasing their upcoming instant camera on Twitter for a few days:
Our CEO @sirozwald will be presenting our new camera at Bloomberg Businessweek Design Conference 11.04 #BWDesign2016 pic.twitter.com/sdyYqA6dUv
— Impossible (@Impossible_HQ) 7. April 2016
Our CEO @sirozwald will be presenting our new camera at Bloomberg Businessweek Design Conference 11.04 #BWDesign2016 pic.twitter.com/5aYE6hzwyL — Impossible (@Impossible_HQ) 8. April 2016
Also, ICYMI, Impossible now has a new website, located at impossible-project.com. This is what it looks like: 
That’s right, the first thing you’ll see on their website is a giant teaser for their camera that is “coming soon…”. Coming tomorrow actually, so it’s about time to get excited and get the rumor-mill going! Continue reading Analyzing the upcoming Impossible instant camera
My passions for Instant Photography and Apple products culminated in this picture today. (c) CONATH 2016
Film: Impossible Color 1.0 (animal skins)
Camera: SX-70 AF
Tripod, no flash, kinda messed up the shielding.
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, dear readers!
In the Polaroid above, you can see a close-up of my grandpa’s lovely Christmas crib. (I’ll update the image to a proper scan once I get to it)
Welcome back to the final part in the “Polaroid shooting Tips’n Tricks” series! This time, I’m going to explain different things that you can do to protect your image after taking it.
In case you haven’t read the previous posts in the series, make sure to check those out as they include tips on choosing the right camera & film combo as well as setting things up to achieve a great looking photograph.
Part One: Choosing camera + film
Part Two: Capturing the moment
Let’s assume you have set things up and taken the image. Before we go into detail on post-shooting techniques, it’s good to know… Continue reading Polaroid shooting Tips ‘n Tricks Part Three: Preserving the moment
Yep. I bought an original Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera (with Sonar AutoFocus)!
I’m actually on holiday in the UK atm (’till Saturday) and of course I took my SX-70 (and the 660 AF). The results have been impressive! As I can’t scan the images here, you’ll have to wait until at least next week to see them, tho 😉. Sorry!
– chris
In case you were wondering what I was doing the past weeks, here’s your answer: I was out and about to take some summertime Polaroid pictures!
For your enjoyment: my latest Polaroid series,
“Summertime is Polaroid time!”
(taken on Impossible B&W factory seconds)
As you might have noticed, there are only six photos in this series even though every Impossible film pack contains eight images. That’s true!
The first image that’s not included here shows my sister (1.5 y old) and her friend, the neighbour’s daughter (2 y) playing together. I gave this image to our neighbours.
The second shot shows a woman making huge soap bubbles. She loved it, so I decided to give it to her!
What do you think of these pictures? I’ll meet you down in the comments!
Welcome back to another iteration of Polaroid shooting Tips ‘n Tricks!
This is a series full of tips for getting the most out of your Polaroid camera! Part one was about choosing the right camera and film for yourself to use.
Part two is about pre- and mid-shooting techniques. It also features some of the lastest Polaroids that I took during the past two weeks! Part three is about “Preserving the moment”.
Enjoy! 🙂
Taking Polaroids these days would be less of a hassle if the images weren’t so expensive. The average Polaroid photo on Impossible film costs about 2,5€ for normal and 1,25€ for Factory Seconds packs (excl. shipping and discounts). This is why getting the shot right seems to be more important than ever. However, don’t let that ruin the experience of instant photography! If you see something worth capturing, go for it! (See Impossible’s #nowornever campaign)
Not everything looks good on Polaroid, though. The following kinds of images are probably not going to come out right using instant cameras:
Unlike most of today’s analog and digital pictures, Polaroid 600 and SX-70 images are (obviously) square. In addition, because classic Polaroid cameras were made mainly for portrait photography, focus is sharpest in the center of the image and autofocus cameras will always attempt to focus on the center of the image. This means that most photographic rules of thumb that you might know don’t necessarily apply on Polaroid format.
However, the following two basic framing techniques can be applied to Polaroid photography:
The bend of the path was consciously placed exactly at the interseciton of the left and bottom thirds in this image:
This one might seem like no technique at all because it’s so basic, but placing the subject of your Polaroid image in the center is actually a good idea for many reasons:
– The center of the image will always be the sharpest spot.
– There is a slight vignette effect at the edge of many Polaroids.
– Classic Polaroid cameras were made for Portrait photography with the subject in the middle.
– AF cameras will always focus on the center of the image.
Things to note when framing the shot:
– Polaroid photos are quitte narrow in comparison to standard 4×3 images. Take care while framing the shot in order not to position things at the very edge of the photo, they’ll seem unimportant and be slightly out of focus! (remember, AF cameras focus in the middle)
– Be careful not to cut anything off by incorrect framing! On all non-SLR Polaroid cameras, the actual image the camera will capture is slightly to the right of what you see in the viewfinder!!
Depending on when and where you’re taking the photo, different settings should be used on your camera. Impossible has some good support documents detailing what settings to use in which situations and with which model of camera:
– “Explanation of dark & light settings”
– How to use the flash: “My photo are over or under-exposed with the flash”
When you’re arranging the subject(s), take some extra time and take some quick digital test images (LOL! Back in the 70s, Polaroids were used for test images!) to check wether the scene looks right. This will also help you with remembering when and where you took the Polaroid image. It’s no shame to rearrange chairs and people for your image since the print will cost an instant 2,5€ (no pun intended).
The following shot took about five minutes of preparation and involved lots of sticky tape to keep everything in place!
With everything set up and ready to go, it’s time to press that shutter button! On 600 cameras, use the small black tab under the red button to take the image without flash.
That’s it for this part of “Polaroid shooting Tips ‘n Tricks”! To read the third and last part, click here.
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