21 May 2012

Polaroid Polacolor Type 108 - Coney Island


Early last week I spent a couple days in the NYC and Brooklyn areas in order to go to a few meetings about a big event that I can't yet tell you about. As soon as I can I will, but, in the meantime, I'll just start sharing some of the photos that I took while I was out of town.


Today's three photos all come from one of my favorite places to visit - Coney Island. I'm not quite sure what it is about this place that I love so much, but I find it endlessly fascinating. I like to think there used to be places like this all over the US and this is just one of the few remnants of that time - It's the kind of Americana that I love. I do know that part of the intrigue of this place is based around the fact that my all-time favorite movie (Requiem for a Dream) took place and was heavily filmed in the Coney Island and Brighton Beach areas. 


There's really something wonderful about walking around a place that is so iconic, and, there's really no better example of how iconic it really is than the Cyclone. Now a nationally registered historic site the Cyclone is a wooden roller coaster that was built in 1927 and is still operational today. Originally part of Astroland, which closed in 2008 and was replaced in 2010 by Luna Park, the Cyclone is now owned entirely by the Parks Department and will remain operational independently thanks to it's status as a NYC landmark.




Another Coney Island landmark of the 1920's that is still operational today is the Wonder Wheel. The Wonder Wheel appears to be part of Luna Park, but, is actually Part of Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement park... it all gets quite confusing when you look into it...




These three photos were all taken with a Polaroid 250 using some expired Polaroid Polacolor type 108 that I've been hanging onto for a special occasion. I wasn't able to shoot an entire pack (time was limited and walking around with wet photos is a bit difficult) but I do think that this film is well suited for the location. I would love to go back to this area again sometime and take a few days just to shoot.


Until then though... I'll be posting some more photos from this area and Manhattan as I get the time and as I get some film developed. Stay tuned.



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