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.

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 & Expired Polaroid Sepia - 57 Ford Fairlane

Taking a reprieve from my Chicago photos, though I do have a few more to post, I thought I would share a couple images of a really beautiful '57 Ford Fairlane convertible.  This little car is one that we just recently used while shooting a commercial, which I unfortunately can't share yet. Luckily though, I had a few of my cameras in my truck that morning and was able to snap two shots between takes. 

The top image is Impossible Project PX 600 Black Frame "Poor Pod," shot on an SX 70 Sonar using an ND pack filter. The bottom, an expired Polaroid Sepia Type 100 shot with a Polaroid 250.

Enjoy.

Impossible Project PX100 Orange Flash - More of Chicago

Here are a few more of the Impossible PX 100 Orange Flash images that I took while in Chicago. You'll notice quite a bit of difference in some of the images in respect to how much of the orange is coming through.

These two top images were taken the last day downtown, which happened to be one of the nicer days. It was a little warmer out than the previous couple days, and that brought up a little more of the orange color in the photos. Below,  are two of the images I took on the first day in Chicago... which happened to be pretty cold and slightly rainy at points. You can see the orange is less, and, I noticed with these that for quite a while they took on a strange look right out of camera. They looked like solarized images, all of the darks were bright blue as if they were not developing. What I thought was a waste of a frame, though, ended up continuing to develop over time and came out closer to a black and white image.

And finally, just to wrap up with the Orange flash images from this trip, here are two more  from the architectural boat tour... including the Willis Tower, which, some of you might still refer to as the Sears Tower.

Impossible Project PX100 Orange Flash - Marina City

Here are the first two images from this past weekends trip to Chicago. Both are of Marina City, two towers that take up an entire Chicago city block. I've always loved the look of these buildings and it was very cool to stand there and see them in person after having seen them in so many movies, TV shows, album covers, etc.

Both images were taken with my Polaroid SX 70 Sonar and the Impossible Project PX 100 Orange Flash, which, I get wildly different results from every time I shoot depending on available light, temperature and the amount of time the film has been loaded in the camera. The top image was taken from the opposite bank of the river, and the second taken from a boat during a Chicago architectural tour (which if you've never done, I highly recommend as a great way to see the city.) 


More from this trip soon, including some sepia, black frame and sooner or later my 35mm scans...

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 PX100 Orange Flash - U.S. 26

Just a few orange flash shots from this past weekend. I didn't get a ton of shooting in, but I got a few decent shots. These three were all taken with an SX70 Sonar and Impossible's PX100 Orange flash along U.S. Route 26 in Fairview, PA., just outside of Erie.

The top two are what looked to have been an old school house at some point, but oddly enough he awning actually say's something about it being a floral shop. The one below is from one of the many, many fascinating motels that surround Erie.

More updates coming soon. I'll be off to Chicago this weekend for the first time to attend a wedding. Considering I've never been there I'll be taking quite a few cameras and look forward to updating upon my return.

Impossible Project PZ680 & Expired Polaroid Sepia - Kinzua Dam

While in Pennsylvania for Labor Day weekend we made our way up to Warren, PA., and the Kinzua Dam for a few hours. I had been to the Kinzua before, but from a different access point. Kinzua damn was completed in 1968 and is one of the largest dams in the US east of the Mississippi River. It provides flood control, power generation and creates the largest lake in Pennsylvania - the Allegheny Reservoir or Kinzua Lake. 

The photo at top was shot on a Polaroid Spectra with Impossible Project PZ 680. I love this film, this camera and how great the colors are coming along... The bottom two photos were taken with a Polaroid 250 using some of the expired Polaroid Type 100 Sepia that I picked up from one of Impossible's big film sales. The film originally expired is '09, and, so far I am getting many different results from just one pack. These specifically are very warm/sepia toned while others have been much closer to a black and white.

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.

Polaroid Softtone Type 1200 - An Affinity for Signs

This past Tuesday Aperture had their second polaroid walk. We traveled the Ohio City area as a group, shooting all kinds of instant photos along the way. I had a bit of trouble this time around finding things that inspired me to shoot. In fact I often find it difficult these days to shoot an entire pack of film at once... partially because I'm picky, partially because of cost.


Anyways. I did get these couple photos that I liked, and, both happen to be of signs. No surprise to me really, as I often find signs to be interesting and have taken photos of many signs over the past couple years. I love that they are often all that remains of original buildings, businesses, etc. There's just some kind of an affinity I have for signs I guess.

On another note, you'll probably notice that these photos are a little different for me for another reason. This is some 2009 expired Polaroid Softtone Type 1200 film. I shot it using a Polaroid Spectra QPS, which is one of the new cameras that I picked up from the supposed "junk," shop in Erie this past weekend. The Softtone is a great film, but almost too accurate for me. It's sad to see these types of films dying out, but I'm glad that I've gotten the chance to shoot so many of them before they are gone completely. I'm excited to shoot Impossible's new PZ 680 to see what else I can get out of this camera...

Fuji FP-3000B - Another weekend away

I haven't posted any new photos in a while. The recent gallery show over at Aperture took up a lot of my time as I rushed to get everything ready. Following that I had the art sale to get ready for. Then I realized I hadn't even taken any photos in two or three weeks, which is a quite a while for me since I started shooting film. So, even though I was away this weekend, I managed to sneak in a few photos.

We left late Friday night after a successful art sale and headed up to Erie again for the weekend. Water slides, cookouts, babies, the usual great stuff an Erie weekend consists of. Finally, Sunday morning we landed in "Midtown," Erie to browse a local junk shop because I can never have enough junk. And that's where all of these photos took place.

Midtown is a prime example of what I love about small towns. There is always an area that never seems to change. It almost hangs on too long. Buildings are fading and repurposed. Billboards advertise products you can no longer buy. Spray paint is the decoration of choice. But still, you can see the charm of the place. For what it is and what it used to be. Midtown isn't necessarily all of these things, it was actually quite active for a Sunday morning, but the images it created definitely portrayed that feeling to me.

As for the junk shop... It served me well. I arrived back in Cleveland with 10 new cameras. Mostly polaroid.

Photograph Info:

Location: Erie PA

Camera: Polaroid Land 250

Film: Fuji FP-3000b

Impossible Project PX 70 Color Shade - Big Grill

As I mentioned earlier, this week is Polaroid week. In honor of the event, Aperture had a little Polaroid walk last night with about 10-15 people. We pretty much walked around town, with a few planned stops, and took some really great photos along the way. 


Almost all the film used throughout this first walk was from the Impossible Project. This triptych was made with an SX70 and the new PX 70 Color shade from Impossible. The film is definitely a nice step forward from the earlier PUSH!, with much more color, very little artifacts or spotting, and a touch less sensitivity to light. I would like to mention though, as with the PUSH! before, that this film does still seem to have a bit of a reaction to heat which can still be used to your advantage to pull extra saturation and contrast from your photos (which makes sense considering heat usually plays a roll in any chemical process)


Overall, I think this film is great. Grab a pack, turn your lighten/darken wheel all the way to darken, shade the film and enjoy the final product.


More coming soon!

Photograph Info:

Location: Cleveland Ohio

Camera: Polaroid SX70 Sonar

Film: Impossible Project PX 70 Color Shade

Rollei Retro 400 - Yashica D

I recently got back some medium format negatives that I had developed over at Aperture (since they now offer film processing, printing, etc.) These particular images are of an old trike that I picked up from an antique mall...which you might remember seeing from an earlier post.

Both of these were shot on a Yashica D using 120 Rollei Retro 400. This is the first roll of film that I've had processed from this camera, and, the first roll of Rollei that I've ever shot... I have to say, I absolutely love the images that I got from this film and this camera. The tonal range of the Rollei is beautiful.


Be sure to check back in the next day or so for a couple more images from this roll.


Photograph Info:
Location: Parking lot, Cleveland OH
Camera: Yashica D
Film: Rollei Retro 400

Impossible Project PX680 First Flush - Cleveland Guardian

One of Cleveland's Guardians. These guys sit poised on the ends of the Lorain-Carnegie (Hope Memorial) Bridge. The Guardians have been around seemingly forever, making them some of Cleveland's most recognizable landmarks. The original Lorain-Carnagie Bridge was finished in 1932 at the cost of 4.75 million. In 1983, the bridge saw renovations and was renamed the Hope Memorial Bridge after the family of Bob Hope whose family was a group of Cleveland stonemasons. This bridge is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Photograph Info:

Location: Cleveland OH

Camera: Polaroid SX70 Sonar

Film: Impossible Project PX680FF w/ND pack filter

Polaroid 100 Chocolate - Ferris Wheel

Another image from my visit to Waldameer park in Erie, PA. Expired Polaroid Chocolate shot on a Polaroid 250.

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

Hemingway

Another from Key West. This is from inside Ernest Hemingway's lofted writing studio.

There was actually a gate at the top of the stairs to stop people from going all the way in, so this was shot with a long lens from quite a distance. Unfortunately, that mixed with low light means this photo has a touch of motion blur.

Photograph Info:
Location: Key West, Florida; Ernest Hemingway House
Camera: Canon Digital Rebel Xti
Lens: 75-300mm
PostProcess: Levels adjustment/burn and dodge/Curves adjustment/sharpen

Wicker and Wood

If you've never been to Key West, bikes and scooters are pretty much the preferred way to travel for many of the people around town. You end up seeing every kind of bike imaginable... rentals, custom choppers, tandem, etc. This particular bike was shot from the patio of the bar Willie T's late on my second night there. I thought it was an interesting, old bike. It wasn't until I got home and started working on this photo that I realized the entire body of the bike is actually wood with wicker accents.

There's something I really like about this photo. The colors are really nice, much more saturated then most of my photos. I actually shot this with my white balance in the wrong setting and decided not to adjust because I really ended up liking the blue hues in it. I think the reflecting lights in the street and shadowing up top add some nice dimension as well.

Photograph Info:
Location: Key West, Florida
Camera: Canon Rebel XTI
Lens: 18-55mm
PostProcess: Curves adjustment/burn and dodge/Sharpen

Arcade Americana

A photo from Geneva-on-the-Lake taken sometime last year. If I remember correctly, it was actually winter, and I wanted to get out of the apartment for a weekend, so I made the long haul up to the edge of Ohio. Besides a few local people eating in the one breakfast cafe that was open, I think I was the only person in the whole town.

Not a great photo, but I like old americana imagery and yesterdays ferris wheel post reminded me of this shot.


Photograph Info:
Location: Geneva-on-the-Lake
Camera: Canon Rebel XTI
Lens: 18-55mm (@ 55mm/F5.6/1/1250s)
PostProcess: Contrast adjustment/curves adjustment/saturation adjustment/crop/burn and dodge/noise