So yesterday my friend Jamie and I did a test shoot for our portfolios (her styling book and my photogrpahy). We collected an enormous amount of colorful "stuff." I will say for as much as I like white stuff, I like colorful stuff equally as much. The shots looked really great, and it felt amazing to be working towards a goal (less styling jobs/more photography jobs). The sad part was trying to shoot digitally. I rented a canon 5d, as many photographer friends of mine have claimed that it gets the job done. Well, I'm not sold. It seems as if digital kind of robs the photo of any mood. That's also probably because I don't know what I am doing and I have relied so heavily on the polaroid to create my "mood." I cried for the first time last night thinking about the end of polaroid. I think I have been in a bit of denial about it. I will be very, very sad when it is gone. The happiness that film brings me is beyond words. It's like it takes what I see and coats it with pixie dust. Now I just need andrew to come up with some digital pixie dust to sprinkle on my new photos. I'll keep you posted. I guess I always do, huh.?
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Highs and Lows
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9 comments:
all i can think to say is ...
i hear ya!
(and if you work with different lenses you might find you get a better result with the digital camera. at least that has been my experience. you have to play to get the "look" of film in any capacity but still, it's just not the same.)
good luck! mav xx
You don't have to "surrender" to digital.. why not try different film cameras? old cameras, medium format, lo-fi....I don't know... My favevourite camera is the holga, ans its amazing how challenging that simple plastic box can be...
Your post put my thoughts into words perfectly. I think your photos are magical, and if it weren't for the impending end of Polaroid film, I'd run out and buy a Polaroid camera this second. As a photography student, I find myself coming home from my digital photo classes and wanting to go out and shoot a roll of film.
Alma is right about the Holga! I have four of them. They add a bit of "pixie dust" through soft focus and vignetting, and I'm sure they're not going to stop making 120 film any time soon. At least, I sure hope not...
I don’t know much about Polaroid. I do know that the Polaroid photos that many other flickr and blogger users (including you) have taken with their Polaroid make me want to go out and get one. I agree that there is something magical about Polaroid photos- perhaps it’s the colour, the square filming… I did try to use photoshop element to capture the “feel” however without success.
By the way, I really love your Polariod blog. Very inspiring.
I agree about the end of Polaroid. It is too sad to think how it will not even be an option soon and we not-so-digital holdouts may have to give in.
You photos are beautiful.
I am sure though that you'll get the hang of the digital and create beautiful photos that way as well.
I still have my original SX-70 from 1978. (And the Olympus OM-1 from 1976. And my Canon AE2.) And now a Canon 20D. It's phenomenal, but for "art" I still go with film and shooting manual. The "bells and whistles" make me nervous.(Well, BFA & MA in photo here; my zipshots blog is not at all representative of my "art" or work.)
While I understand that you want more photo gigs, I must say that I see your photography leaning more towards "fine art" than stock. (Of course, the goal, I guess, is that they be one and the same.) I do think that your Polaroids would look lovely (and sell) in large format (24x24). (Scan then print?)
For professional work, though, and in the style of your Polaroids, it doesn't seem that a 35mm camera would fit. It seems to me that your thinking is "square." Have you thought about a 2-1/4? A Mamiya or Rollei?
Well, my buck-fifty; I talk too much.
My husband and I just had a fight. He thinks Polaroid’s are overrated and I am CRAZY for wanting to start using them now when they will no longer be made. His thinking is that anything I shoot with a Polaroid can be created in Photoshop just as easily. He is crazy I know. I think no matter HOW talented you are in Photoshop it will NEVER be the same. Case closed. Now I just need to stock pile film and hope he will come over to the “Polaroid dark side”
I am really feeling your pain!!
I only recently started my Polaroid hobby, in what seems like the world's worst timing! I'm holding out that another company realizes there are too many of us who love the medium and buys the Polaroid company it to continue the tradition...
i started having anxiety attacks about poor polaroid a few weeks ago. and as sure as i am that another company will buy up the rights and keep it going, i can't help but think it wont be the same. they'll have to call it "instant film" instead of polaroid. and what if the chemicals are even slightly off? ugh. it breaks my heart.
sorry. i suppose i'm not helping :)
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