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Almost 20 - Discussion

Ray Liu Photography Posted 6 months ago
Trying to get a bit of talk going on :)

So, I realised that next year will be the 20th anniversary of this movement/group.

We've all started at various times on our own Polaroid/instant journey (I started around 2012), and I'm happy that now in 2025, we still have an instant photography scene, be it Instax (wildly popular) or Polaroid (so thankful that we still have the film!)

The story of Instant Photography is always fluctuating. I mean its seems so weird to talk about the whole Impossible Project days to people new to instant photography now, but more topically right now more than ever, I am glad Instant photography exists as we start entering the realms of AI generated photography.

Anyway, I'm waffling, but just to say, keep on shooting instant (and film) and keep coming back to FlickR for Polaroid Week!
Lou O' Bedlam Posted 6 months ago
It's fascinating to watch how the relationship to Polaroid film changes over time, as the film itself changes.

2012? I was so frustrated, back then!
Skink74 Posted 6 months ago
My first Polaroid week seems to have been 2010. I'd gotten into pack film thanks to acquiring a polaroid back for my Bronica, then picked up a Super Colour Swinger 3 in a charity shop and things snowballed, just in time for everyone to stop making the film.

But every Polaroid Week and the awesome people that contribute showed me that there is always something new to try and something more creative just waiting to be discovered, whether it's instax, impossible, new Polaroid, or some ancient expired stuff from the 60s that someone has somehow preserved.

Long may it continue!
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lawatt Posted 6 months ago
yesssss! I was thinking of this earlier this week (my first 'Roid Week was the second, having been wildly inspired by the first -- I'm truly an old-timer) -- and thought I'd send a note to Cate and Lori, the founders, to see whether they might have any thoughts or reflections...? and will definitely keep on snapping polas, as long as there is film to work with!
Ray Liu Photography Posted 6 months ago
Lou O' Bedlam:

Hahahah I mean it was experimental stuff from TIP and I nearly gave up! Then there was the streaky episode
Ray Liu Photography Posted 6 months ago
lawatt:

My first PW was actually 2016, 4 years after i started as I thought my Polaroids were not artistic enough, but then I realised, we all have our own styles! So next year, I will have been participating for 10 years.
H Polley Posted 6 months ago
Wow, 20 years! My first Polaroid Week was 2010, after I bought the early Impossible film. So 15 years for me!
Estrella Marr Posted 6 months ago
I knew about this group not so long ago thanks to Ina, so my first time started in 2021 and since then I always have fun being here sharing my stuff and seeing wonderful work from you all. I hope more people join us in the future so the community can grow stronger, keeping instant film relevant and alive forever!
dorianmeyers Posted 6 months ago
My first one I think it was back in 2021 and since then I haven’t missed one.Its one of the most anticipated events of the year for me and I feel extremely privileged to be a part of it and see the work of so many awesome instant artists! I did not have the privilege to shoot Impossible Film (too young I guess for that ) but the state of the Polaroid emulsion is great so I am not complaining. I just wished they still made Spectra film or pack film wasn’t 100-150 bucks a pack . I hope Polaroid week(s) live on forever.

Ps. Instax is great as well!
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~ Meredith ~ Posted 6 months ago Edited by ~ Meredith ~ (admin) 6 months ago
I got my first camera, a Polaroid 600, in 2010; right around the time The Impossible Project released its first film (BNW Silver Shade). My first Polaroid Week was in 2011. I’ve made many friends in the community over the years and I’m so very glad that I found them when I did. I’ve looked forward to Polaroid Week each year ever since ☺️

Wooden Bowls by ~ Meredith ~
claudia_lisboa Posted 6 months ago
A group that is about to turn twenty and I unfortunately only participate since 2021. How much talent there is in this group and I'm learning from each of you. I envy, yes I envy, all those who have enjoyed the years of abundance of polaroid films that are now no longer found or are so expensive that they are out of reach. I like this group a lot
rustman Posted 6 months ago Edited by rustman (member) 6 months ago
My first 'Roid Week was Fall 2007.

My first instant camera was a variation of "The Handle," by Kodak in the mid-80s.

Late 2005 I purchased the Polaroid One600Ultra at Costco, and can remember when they sold 5-packs of 600 film for $45.99.

I still have my SX-70 Model 2, Colorpack II, Spectra AF, and 180 Land Camera. And a bunch of expired film, both Fujifilm and Polaroid.

These days I'm having a blast with Instax stuff. The Wide Evo camera being my latest acquisition.

Instant fun, forever.
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~ Meredith ~ Posted 6 months ago
claudia_lisboa:
I feel this. Particularly what you said about the abundance of film. I’ve been lucky enough to try a number of the original Polaroid films but I wish I’d gotten into Polaroid much earlier than I did.

That said, you’ve found the community now and we’re very glad of that ☺️
claudia_lisboa Posted 6 months ago
Meredith Wilson I'm happy to have met you too
philippe* Posted 6 months ago
I had my first SX70 in 1983. I was working part time in a photo store at that time so I had the opportunity to make a lot of picture that year. After a long hiatus, I found a new interest in instant film in 2008, just when Polaroid stopped its film production. Despite that, I bought a few cameras and a lot of expired film. The few I have left are not usable anymore... I haven't tried the new Polaroid films yet. I miss the Time Zero.
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~ Meredith ~ Posted 6 months ago
philippe*:

I only ever managed to get hold of 1 working pack of Time Zero. Grateful I had that opportunity. Such a magical film.
Maureen Bond Posted 6 months ago
Would be great to have a commemorative zine put together for the 20th. Just thinking out loud :)
Estrella Marr Posted 6 months ago
Maureen Bond it's a great idea, really!
Scott Southall Posted 6 months ago
I didn't start learning photography until Polaroid Film was gone in 2011, and my first Roid Week was 2012. I essentially "grew up" with Impossible Project film, and I wouldn't know anything without Flickr and Instagram, and all of the amazing photographers I learned from over the years. I only started taking Polaroids, and I only found this group because of Lou. I look forward to coming back here every year, and every time I take a photo I love, I'm always thinking of hoarding it away to show you guys later.
@OcularSushi Posted 6 months ago Edited by @OcularSushi (member) 6 months ago
I started to take Polaroid seriously as a potential artistic medium in the heady days of JPG magazine (anyone remember that?). This is where I happened across Penny Nannini / Felts (who I miss to this very day), the "artist" using the name Zia Khan, amongst others.

I was fascinated by the aqua hues of expired Time Zero film and fell quickly in love with divots et al.

Learning to shoot with Polas was a slow burn for me, but I'm thankful to have collaborated with some wonderful people in the past, even though I now regard shooting integral as an occasional luxury rather than a lifestyle choice.

Made a few valued contacts through Flickr, Twitter and IG, especially when the latter two were actually good.

I've never been to one of the big physical meets. Maybe someday though.

Edit - My first Polaroid week was only a few years ago. I should post more. At least the community and PW Group(s) - and Flickr - are doing something to keep the legend alive.
rustman Posted 6 months ago
Oh, yeah. I remember JPG Mag.

In my long history with photography and the internet I've abandoned so many accounts it's not funny.

JPG Mag was cool, though and I was fortunate to have a few shots published while it lasted. Heather and Derek were trail blazers.

And speaking of shots, do any of you fine folk subscribe to SHOTS Magazine? Damn fine publication.
Lou O' Bedlam Posted 6 months ago
One thing I'll say: POLAROID WEEK NEVER HAS TO END. We can post Polaroids all the time!!! Saving some gems for our two yearly Polaroid Weeks is great, but no reason the community only has to show up for two weeks a year.
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lawatt Posted 6 months ago
Lou O' Bedlam: great point! there's also PolaWeekly: www.flickr.com/groups/polaweekly/

and of course lots of other instant-film focused groups here on Flickr -- and especially as Meta-powered social media feels less and less community-oriented these days, encouraging folks to spend more time here on Flickr for fantastic photography seems like a promising direction!
Lou O' Bedlam Posted 6 months ago
lawatt:
Ooooh, I didn't know about that group! Joining now!
thereisnocat Posted 5 months ago
My first Polaroid Week was 2009, but I’ve been a Polaroid enthusiast basically my entire life, dating back to 1966 when I was three years old and used to try to climb up my father’s dresser to get his Polaroid Land 250, which fascinated me. I never succeeded, and my parents finally distracted me by getting me a Kodak Instamatic R4, which worked; I still have the R4, which still works, and because unholy terror me never succeeded in getting the 250, I now own that camera as well, and it also works. My first Polaroid camera was a Christmas gift, a Pronto, around 1977. I shot that into my college years. I stepped away from photography for several years after college, but when I returned, my interest in Polaroid did too, and one of my first purchases was an SX-70. Polaroid has kind of been the keystone of my photography, leading me into 4x5 (because I needed a camera to shoot New55) and 8x10 (found an inexpensive Polaroid 8x10 processor and back, so I needed a camera to shoot it).