Impossible Project PX600 Black Frame - Mint Close Up Lens - Photography Still Life 2

Following up my post from Monday, here are a few more shots using the Mint Close-Up Lens in tandem with a pack of Impossible Projects PX600 Black Frame film. No real theme this time, just a few things from around the house. Enjoy. 

Impossible Project PX600 Black Frame - Photography Still Life

Yesterday afternoon I decided to get out my SX70 Sonar and an older pack of Impossible's PX600 Black Frame that I had sitting in the fridge so that I could play around a little more with the Close-up Lens from the  Mint Lens Set for SX70. I shot an entire pack, but for today I will just be sharing these three photos that are kind of related in content. I have to say, the close-up lens really does open up some new shoot opportunities and I'm really enjoying that particular lens attachment for still life. More images coming soon... Enjoy. 

Impossible Project PX600 BlackFrame PP - Ghostly Images with Emily Wallace

This past weekend I once again worked with the very talented Emily Wallace. You might recall from this post, that it was only a week ago that we worked together the first time. Since the weather was unseasonal and difficult that day (which I guess is actually pretty seasonally accurate for Cleveland any day) we decided to set up another shoot shortly after in order to head outside and shoot in a few different areas of downtown. Of course, while the weather wasn't quite as cold this time around, it was extremely windy and carried a forecast of possible thunderstorms at any and every moment. We lucked out though, and ended up shooting for a couple hour and getting some amazing photos.

While I shot mainly digital throughout this shoot, I did also end up shooting my weekly roll of film for the Coalesce52 project which will be posted down the road when I catch up with my developing and blog posts. This blog however, is where I tend to post most of my instant film work and that's what I have here today (obviously). These images were all shot using my SX70 Sonar and some of my last remaining stock of the Impossible Project's PX600 Blackframe Poor Pod film.  

This film has long been one of my favorite instant films from the Impossible Project despite of, and perhaps because of, it's obvious little defects. A quick browse through my archives will reveal a quite a few different photos that I've taken with this film and I'm sure that somewhere in there you will also find a lengthy explanation of what a Poor Pod is and my thoughts and reviews on this film. But, of course, in the highly likely scenario where you don't care about all that and you just like to see cool photos... well here are a few of my favorites from this film - Swings, Little World, St Theodosius, and '57 Chevy. Enjoy.

Impossible Project PX 600 Black Frame PP - Workshop Test Images

Here are just a few more images from the workshop this past weekend. For anyone who's followed along with my images and the one's Scott posted over on his site... this are probably starting to look a little repetitive. I guess that's the downfall to 30 people taking photos of the same subjects all afternoon.


Above, is my first test of the lighting setup where we had Anthony staged. I lit this with a Mole 1k in a softbox and a Mole 650w fresnel spotted with a couple of scrims. The softbox was gelled for daylight, which doesn't matter in this image since it's black and white, but many people were shooting Impossible's PX680 and PX70 films. This, of course, is Impossible PX600 Black Frame in an SX70 Sonar with an ND pack filter.


Now, the two images below were taken during the workshop as part of a demonstration showing why you need to shield your images. Of course, since it was a live demonstration, something odd happened...

Shielded from light as normal

Not shielded for first 5-10 sec

As you can see my first image turned out just as it should have, shielded the proper way. The second image, however, is the one that caught me by surprise. Shot immediately after image 1, I didn't shield this image at all coming out of camera. I then grabbed it, held it up to show everyone what an undeveloped photo looks like, waving it around for a few seconds before finally putting it in my back pocket with the other photo. The temperature had been giving us issues all day, so I just got in the habit of keeping them warm. I'm not sure if it was the heat or what, but my exposed, unshielded photo turned out almost as good as my shielded. There is a slight sharpness different and a bit of contrast difference but it is still much more than I expected to get at all.

Anyone else have any similar experience? Maybe Impossible is closer to an unshielded image that I thought...

Impossible Project PX600 BlackFrame PP - St Clair Avenue

I shot this yesterday out the window of my office building. I was here working on a lot of retouching for a project I hope to be able to share soon and decided to quickly take this photo since I didn't have the time to get out and walk around. This is St Clair Ave in the Warehouse District of downtown Cleveland shot with my SX 70 Sonar and an ND pack filter.


I've been slowly working my way through this pack of Impossible PX600 Black Frame Poor Pod. I've had it loaded in my camera for some time now, but winter has really cut down on the amount of shooting I do. I'm trying not to rush through the pack, but at the same time I really want to load up some of the new PX 70 test film I just received.


As I mentioned before, I will be helping out with an Impossible workshop this upcoming weekend, and, I figured that would be an optimal time to test the new film. I'm looking forward to showing a couple new people how great Impossible's films have become and how much fun analog photography can be. Hopefully, all said and done, I'll have a few good shots on the new PX 70 to share from the event as well.

Impossible Project PX600 BlackFrame PP - Black Cat

A black cat on black frame from the Impossible Project. Shot with an SX70 Sonar and ND pack filter. That about sums it up... Hopefully I'll be shooting a bit more in the near future...

Impossible Project PX 600 Black Frame PP - Wrigleyville

I think these are the last of my photos from Chicago. At least, the last of my photos that are on instant/integral film. There are a few more floating about on 35mm Ektachrome slides, and, some yet to be developed ones on 35mm Rollei ATP that I'm pretty excited to see.


These photos were taken the last day of our trip to Chicago. We were actually entirely packed up, large coffee's in-hand, getting ready to hit the highway. There was one last thing I wanted to see though, if only for the sake of seeing it, and that was Wrigley Field.


What you see at top is (obviously) not Wrigley Field, but an eatery within walking distance in Wrigleyville. I ended up liking this photo better than the one I took of the actual stadium - though that photo is great for what the subject matter is, I personally find it very uninteresting. The photo of the 'EAT' sign down the road though... I rather liked.


However, for the sake of posting it, here is that shot of Wrigley as well.

Both shots were captured on an SX 70 Sonar with Impossible Project's PX 600 Black Frame "Poor Pod."

Impossible Project PX 600 Black Frame PP - Congress Hotel

For some reason, this is one of my favorite buildings that I saw in Chicago. It's not one of the big sky scrapers, just one of the older buildings along the oldest part of Michigan Avenue. Maybe it's because it is not only a great looking building, but also appeases my affinity for signs. Either way, here is the Congress Hotel - Shot on an SX 70 Sonar with Impossible PX 600 Black Frame Poor Pod... my favorite Impossible film.

Impossible Project PX600 BlackFrame PP - The Warner Theatre

One of Erie PA's oldest, most historical buildings - The Warner Theatre. Originally opened in April of 1931 with the showing of the movie The Millionaire. Seen here on Impossible Projects PX 600 Black Frame "Poor Pod." Shot with an SX70 Sonar.

Impossible Project PX600 BlackFrame PP - Presque Isle Motel

It's pretty crisp and cool around Cleveland as we creep into the middle of September. It's hard to believe it's already been more than two weeks since a Labor Day weekend filled with oddly high temperatures. 


This year, I spent my Labor Day up in Erie, PA... which at this point probably shouldn't come as too much of a surprise to anyone who has followed my blog recently. Tiffany and I spent a couple nights out at her family's cottage near the lake. We had a few cookouts, rode our bikes, drove around town. Once or twice along the way, I got out one of my cameras and took a photo or two.

These two images are from of the old Presque Isle Motel. It's an old, dilapidated building that appears to have been shut down years ago. I've been dying to shoot this place since we drove past it a couple months ago, but, despite the number of times we've been in Erie there just hasn't been time. Labor Day, however, finally gave me the opportunity and the storm clouds that threatened all day couldn't have worked out any better.


These were both shot with an SX70 sonar using some of my favorite film from the Impossible Project - PX600 Black Frame Poor Pod. Unlike most of what I've shot from the Poor Pod batch, these actually show the signs of the Poor Pod. But, like I've said many times before, it's these uncontrollable aspects that really make analog photography what it is. Considering the content and composition of the images... I think it worked out perfectly.

Impossible Project PX600 BlackFrame PP - Rick Ross and Taking Back Sunday

Sometimes my job takes me to interesting places, and other times it lets me meet interesting people. For quite some time now the studio I work for, Uppercut Motion + Sound, has been doing a series of videos with Microsoft Zune and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As different musical artists are passing through town on their tours they stop by the Rock Hall and do a quick interview and walk through which we film and edit.


Just recently I started shooting a quick polaroid of the artist/s right before the interview begins, and then right before we wrap I have them quickly sign it. This past week I snapped two such photos, above of Rick Ross and below of Taking Back Sunday. They definitely aren't the best photos I've ever taken, but I think the memorabilia factor still makes them interesting.

I don't think I'll be taking these photos with everyone that rolls through from now on, but, I do hope to get a couple more before it's all said and done.

Photograph Info:

Location: Cleveland Ohio - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Camera: Polaroid SX70 Sonar

Film: Impossible Project PX600 SS Black Frame PoorPod

Impossible Project PX600 BlackFrame PP - Little World

This idea has been in my head for a while now. I've been contemplating exactly how I would do it, and what would look the most realistic. So, a couple weeks ago I shot a little test shot and went from there. Today I finally shot the first of what I hope to become a larger series that I'm calling "Little World." This was the second photo that I took int his setup after only one small adjustment.


As of right now, I'm not going to detail how exactly I shot this... but, I will say that it was achieved in camera with no manipulation in post. I scanned this photo direct out of camera, resized and posted. Later on down the road, I will go into a little more detail and post the process behind this and future shots.


Hope you like... and for this, I recommend a click through for a full view...

Photograph Info:

Location: Cleveland Ohio

Camera: Polaroid SX70 Sonar

Film: Impossible Project PX600 SS Black Frame PoorPod

Impossible Project PX600 BlackFrame PP - Kiwi

Kiwi is delicious, and, it photographs nicely.

Photograph Info:

Location: Cleveland Ohio

Camera: Polaroid SX70 Sonar

Film: Impossible Project PX600 SS Black Frame PoorPod

Impossible Project PX600 BlackFrame PP - AndreaMJM

I got the chance to work with Andrea this past weekend. She's a traveling model, from San Francisco, and since she was in town for a couple days on work we were able to get together for a few hours and shoot. I didn't take very many instant photos, just these and a few on chocolate I'll post later, but there are definitely some good shots coming when I develop my next rolls of medium format and 35mm.


The two images here, of course,  are Impossible's PX600 Black Frame from the Poor Pod pack shot through an SX70 with ND pack filter. These turned out all kinds of funky from direct sunlight exposure and some nice 80-85 degree temps... But still, I like them.

Photograph Info:

Location: Cleveland Ohio

Camera: Polaroid SX70 Sonar

Film: Impossible Project PX600 SS Black Frame PoorPod

Impossible Project PX600 BlackFrame PP - St. Theodosius

This is a pair of shots that I took yesterday afternoon after work. I've been meaning to shoot this church on instant film for a while, I even stopped there once to do so, only to find out that I had already shot the last frame from the only pack of film I was carrying with me at the time. I guess it's for the best, because I'm quite happy with how these turned out and pair together.


For those who don't know, this is St Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral. It's located on the westside of Cleveland in a little neighborhood called Tremont. It was built in 1912 and is another of Cleveland's historic buildings. If it looks familiar and you've never been to Cleveland, it's probably because this cathedral is best known for it's appearance in the 1978 film The Deer Hunter with Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep.

Photograph Info:

Location: Tremont, Cleveland Ohio

Camera: Polaroid SX70 Sonar

Film: Impossible Project PX600 SS Black Frame PoorPod

Impossible Project PX600 BlackFrame PP - Black and White

st john cantius - cleveland ohio - polaroid sun 600

When I first started taking photos, it was almost immediately with a digital camera. First I had a brief stint with a 35mm camera, many rolls of poorly shot film and a sudden realization of the cost of film and developing. Soon after digital became my learning tool, and stepping stone, to where I am now... giving me the ability to shoot more photos for less money and continue to evolve my processes with just a single cost. 


Ultimately, though, digital had another side effect that I didn't realize until later on. I never shot much black and white. I loved looking at black and white photos, admired those who could do it, but I never liked the look of my digital photos converted over to black and white. To this day, it's still something that I rarely do when I shoot digitally.

museum center - cincinnati ohio - polaroid sx70

My return to film, however, has definitely been my return to an appreciation of black and white photography and my return to learning how to shoot in black and white. For me, color has always been a big part of what and how I approach a photo, or, my post processing of digital photos. It's definitely been a learning process to stop thinking in color, to actually ignore color, and to focus simply on differences in contrast, lines and shapes as they occur in the frame.

hathaway brown school - cleveland ohio - polaroid sx70

I think I'm reaching the point where I can more efficiently see in black and white, and more importantly, accurately reproduce that image onto film. 

Impossible Project PX600 BlackFrame PP - '57 Chevy Bel Air

I was at a wedding this weekend in Chagrin Falls. It's a really quaint little town about forty-five minutes outside of Cleveland. There are lots of little boutiques, a popcorn shop, restaurants, and just outside of the local police station this '57 Chevy Bel Air that is done up to look like an old school police car. This is really the only photo I had time for this weekend, but I will most likely be heading back in the future for some more photos.

Photograph Info:

Location: Chagrin Falls Ohio

Camera: Polaroid SX70 Sonar

Film: Impossible Project PX600 SS Black Frame PoorPod