The Table, A Polaroid

United States Postal Service.
Croton-on-Hudson, New York - May 2008

The mrs. took yesterday off from work, and we decided to treat ourselves to lunch at a place that we've been recommended by a couple of neighbors. With boxes still waiting to be unpacked and film taking up space in the fridge, freezer, and bathroom, I bought a pack of Polaroid 600 at the supermarket for $15. A few months ago, that was a ripoff, but now with the film on the way out and prices skyrocketing, pushing $20 at some stores, it was a steal. It'd have been a shame not to buy it.

I looked across the table, with my beer stupidly positioned just off frame to the right, unfolded the camera, heard a couple people chuckle or just raise their eyebrows at the near tables, and pushed the button, and out came this photo. There's nothing really specifically interesting about it. Nothing at all. Just a couple of glasses and a bottle of ketchup, with soft focus, but it's dying. Soon, there'll be none left. It's strange to look at the camera, and know that there's a finite amount of photos left in it, through no fault of its own, no fault of the masterful engineering that went into it. It's being forced into obsolescence. Knowing that it's going to be gone soon feels almost like watching a funeral.

I've noticed more and more Polaroids showing up on photo sites lately. Seems like people, myself included, are realizing what's going to be gone soon. I'd like to think that people are buying more Polaroid film, and shooting more film, and making more and more noise. I'd like to think that it'll be enough to save instant film, but will it?

-=-
Polaroid 600 film in an unmodified SX-70 Sonar Camera.

Labels: 600, film, funeral, ketchup, polaroid, polaroid sx-70, sonar, table, water

Monkey Bars


The trip takes us to Yucatan.
Brooklyn, New York - September 2007

In Owls Head Park, Bay Ridge. Taken with an unmodified Polaroid SX-70 Sonar on 600 film. I just turned the light-dark selector all the way to dark.

Labels: bay ridge, brooklyn, polaroid, polaroid sx-70, sky, sx-70