Santa’s Visit

Santa gave me Olive so that I could take lots of instant photos of her.

What are you asking Santa to put under the Christmas tree this year? Hopefully it’s something Polaroid! One item in particular, and often overlooked, is Polaroid’s #191 cable release. This is one item worth keeping in a camera bag. When used with a Polaroid Land Camera mounted on a tripod, long exposures can be easily achieved.

Polaroid #191 Cable Release

(Keep in mind that not all of Polaroid’s Pack Cameras can be mounted on a tripod.)

I especially enjoy using a cable release during the Christmas season in order to photograph indoor and outdoor lights. Because of Fuji’s low sensitivity to available light, expect to wait a number of seconds for the Polaroid’s shutter to close. The photograph of my house lights took nearly 30 seconds. In fact, I thought that maybe the shutter had closed and I had missed the audible click of a shutter closing. Using Fuji’s no

This was taken using Fuji FP-3000 with a short exposure time.

longer manufactured FP-3000 black and white film will cut down exposure time considerably. The cable release is also useful in conjunction with the #583 close-up kit. Camera vibration is reduced considerably. Again, a tripod comes in handy.

This indoor photo was taken with my Polaroid 250 and was at least a 30 second or more exposure.

DIY web sites demonstrate methods for making one’s own cable release. Check this one out for an idea of what’s involved. Here’s another example of how to make a cable release for a Polaroid Land Camera. The #191 cable release is readily available on the web, but its price varies. I bought my some time ago and can’t remember what I paid for it. In fact, I might have bought it along with a few other accessories. Still, try not to pay much for one of these since it’s not an accessory that gets a lot of use on a consistent basis. Some places worth checking out are Polamad, The Film Photography Project, and Option 8.

Again, I mounted my camera on a tripod and took this photo just before sunset.

This photo was taken after sunset. The original shows more detail in the sky.

May Santa and the Christmas Spirit bring you much happiness and joy! Don’t forget to get out there and take some photos. Let’s send a message to the instant film manufacturers to keep on making more film. Also, please take the time to visit my Facebook Page and submit your instant photography with or without the use of a cable release!

A Quick Update

Wow! This week flew by rather quickly. I thought I might have a couple of new posts by now, but life got in the way. I did want to share with readers a few items from my To Do list. I managed to start a Facebook page dedicated to Polaroid Land cameras. While there are a few other Polaroid Facebook pages out there, I thought I’d add to the bunch with one of my own. I don’t have a clear mission yet on how I’d like to utilize the page. However, I’ve been trying to repost items of interest from around the world. Some of it will show up in my Flipboard magazine as well.

A Naked Lady Lily from our backyard.

If anyone has suggestions regarding ideas for future posts please email me or leave a comment. Traffic for this blog has started to pick up by a small amount and I’d like to keep the momentum going. In a future post I want to share how I’ve been framing some of my Polaroids using a float frame. It does require a mat-cutter, but the results are worth it.

Olive in a Basket

This photo of my daughter was taken using what’s left of my Fuji FP3000 film. I used a Polaroid 100 with a Polaroid flash gun (model #286 no less). I have a stockpile of M3 blue bulbs that I’ve been trying to use up with my black and white film. I get a little bit down with every photo I take using this beautiful instant film. I still can’t believe that Fuji has discontinued making it. Our only hope is that someone some day will come to our rescue. I plan on buying a few more boxes before the price goes past the $25 mark. I’m sure it won’t be long before it does. Please remember to keep on shooting color film!

The Polaroid Self Timer

The Polaroid Self Timer #192 complete with directions on the back of the box.

Ahhhh! The Polaroid Self Timer model #192 described by one user as the sound of a swarm of angry bees. What I love most about this Polaroid accessory is its close resemblance to something from the Apollo Astronauts’ space suit circa 1969.

This all mechanical and all metal device (Made in Japan) fits snuggly over the shutter button of a Polaroid 100 – 400 series folding pack camera. Turning the small knob sets the mechanical timer for anywhere from 5 to 15 seconds. That’s just enough time to race across the room, sit on the couch, smile, and adjust one’s hair before,

For use with all Polaroid Color Pack Cameras except with the Model 180. That’s why I’m holding out on buying a Polaroid 180.

click!

These timers show up all the time on eBay, Amazon, Etsy, and just about anywhere else selling used camera equipment. Their prices vary so don’t pay a lot for one. You might give Option 8 a try as well. I purchased mine through eBay complete with the cardboard box and plastic case. I don’t remember how much I paid, but it’s had some use as can be seen in the photos below.

Just as I sat down, my sons and I bumped heads at the same time the shutter clicked. This is one of my favorite photos.

My wife and me not long after moving into our house and finding out we were pregnant with our daughter Olive.

Our family. Olive is 19 weeks old in this photo.

Polaroid Accessories

Before I start this post I would like to share with all seven of my readers to go see Spike Jonze’s new movie, Her. The cinematography is beautiful and the acting incredible. The sets and wardrobe are equally pleasing to the eye because of their minimalist nature and simplicity. Theodore, the leading actor who falls in love with his computer’s operating system, uses an oversized safety-pin on his shirt’s breast pocket so that Samantha can constantly view the world through the smartphone’s camera lens. It is a subtle, but unique detail that makes me want to see this movie again and again. There are a lot of hidden messages and metaphors for life (and relationships) throughout this movie. Go see it!

The Polaroid Portrait Kit #581 is my most frequently used accessory.

Okay, on to more important matters. What are some of your favorite Polaroid accessories? Although Polaroid made a number of them for their cameras throughout the years, only a few were made for the pack-cameras that us normal folks are able to afford. Like other Polaroid users, my favorite and most used accessory is the portrait lens kit. There are two distinct kinds of these portrait kits with one made for the Zeiss Ikon view finders (#581A/#471) and the other for the standard two-window view finders (#581). (What is the proper name for the two-window view finder?) Both of these perform the same function. They allow the photographer to take a close-up of their subject. Their range is anywhere from 19 to 42 inches. That’s not bad considering the fact that without the portrait kit one can only get within about 3 1/2 feet of what they’re photographing. Included with the portrait kits are a flash diffuser to be used with Polaroid’s #268 flashgun. Apparently variations exist within the portrait kits offered and sold by Polaroid, but I won’t go into those details. Just keep in mind that the portrait kits written about in this post only fit a few of the Polaroid pack-cameras.

The Polaroid #581 Portrait Kit fits my model 100 camera.

As many of you know, the portrait kits for the 250 model sell at a far greater price than those for the 100 model. Somehow I was able to get both kits at what I consider affordable prices. However, the flash diffuser for my 250 is a bit off and won’t quite fit the flash head. I’ve warmed it up over an open flame in the hopes that I will be able to get it back to its original shape. So far I’ve not had much luck. It’s okay, though, since I use an electronic flash most of the time. Getting back to the cost difference, users can always swap out the Zeiss Ikon finder for the 100’s two window finder. I know, that’s blasphemous and I should be exiled to using integral film only. Still, it’s a viable option and one that can save some money.

In addition to having the portrait kits, I have a close-up kit (#543) for the 100. This one is a bit trickier to focus and the camera should probably be mounted on a

Polaroid’s Close Up Kit. “All right, Mr. Demille, I’m ready for my close-up.”

tripod. Depth of field is critical so I would recommend shooting in bright sunlight for as small an aperture as possible. The range of distance for this kit is an incredible 9 to 15 inches! I’ve used mine for one picture, but haven’t found much other use for it. What are readers’ recommendations? If you use one of these close-up kits what do you use it to photograph? Flickr has a group dedicated to Polaroid accessories, but I haven’t found any groups dedicated solely to the Polaroid portrait or close-up kits.

This Polaroid of Boy Cat was taken with the 100 and the Portrait Kit. I’ll write more about the ways in which I display my Polaroids in a later post.

I have several other Polaroid accessories that I’ll write about in future posts. Please feel free to share your favorites along with examples.

Fuji Film

Soon to be discontinued Fuji FP-3000b film. I have 6 packs in the refrigerator with seven more on the way.

I started shooting Fuji’s instant film when I photographed with 120 film using a Hasselblad 503cx. I used it to help me determine exposure, framing, and composition. Quite honestly, it was just plain old fun to use. However, with a Polaroid back and a medium format camera I was only able to capture images that measured 2 1/4 x 2 1/4. To me it was like a passport photo. Back then (and not too long ago), Fuji was still manufacturing 4 x 5 sheet film, color film with a silk finish, and places like the Impossible Project had sepia film along with several other choices. In addition, The Film Photography Project offered up a few different kinds of instant films. Those were glorious days for instant film shooters. Today, Fuji has stopped production on their 4 x 5 sheet film and silk finished color film. They recently announced that they will stop production on their black and white film, FP-3000b. What a sad day it is for those of us who love using this 3000 speed film.

By carefully saving the peel-away “negative”, users of this film can scan, manipulate, and produce an excellent electronic

This example of scanned goop demonstrates the endless possibilities of Fuji’s film.

copy of their photos. Users of this technique call the throw-away part of Fuji film, goop. Flickr folks have a dedicated page for this stuff called The Polaroid Goop Pool. Check it out because there are some excellent photos to be seen.

While I would like to believe that Fuji will reconsider their decision to stop producing this film, I seriously doubt that they will even give it a moment’s thought. Not all hope is lost, however. There is a “Save Fuji FP-3000b Film” page. Michael Ash Smith has started a petition by way of Change.org to keep this film alive. I would encourage everyone to sign this petition. In fact, beg your friends, family, and neighbors to sign this petition as well. Maybe, just maybe, Fuji will reconsider.

We’re having a baby so I want to save a lot of my black and white film for that very special day.

In the mean time, I will continue to stock up on as much Fuji film as my budget and refrigirator will allow. Unfortunately, a lot of places have raised the cost of this film from the $10.00 a box we were paying a year ago to upwards to $17.00 a box today. Keep in mind that this is for 10 photos. It does cause me to take pause and consider what I’m photographing. My wife and I are expecting a baby in May. You can imagine that I will want to use this film for baby and family photos. I also have a couple of other projects in mind as well. By the way, I was able to score some film from Freestyle Photographic Supplies at $12.00 a box. It has now gone up to $15.00 and they are out of stock until April of 2014. Just before the holidays Adorama had Fuji film for $12.00 a box, but it was back ordered as well. I went ahead and bought some, but I have no idea as to how long it will take before it arrives if ever!

There is still expired film to be had and it’s all over the internet. Other than the sepia film, of which I still have one pack, I’ve never shot with expired film. It seems to me too much of a risk, especially considering what the film cost. The results I’ve seen are mixed. I do love the vibrant colors of Fuji’s FP-100c film. For me, the picture comes to life and is reminiscent of days long ago. Strangely enough, every time I shoot with Fuji color film I’m reminded of movies shot in Technicolor. The expired films have what I consider a Wes Anderson look to them. The colors are a bit more muted and dreamy like.

I would be interested in hearing about other’s experiences and use of expired film. Is it worth the cost? From where do you purchase your film? Do you have any hints or suggestions when using expired film? I know that there are a lot of

My remaining pack of Polaroid’s sepia film. I regret not purchasing more of this film when I had a chance.

photographers out there who have hordes of expired film, namely those shooting with large format cameras! Anyone still have some Polaroid type 55 film? I’d love the chance to shoot with some of this due to the positive/negative it produces.