Turn Those Machines Back On

3 years, 1 month ago Blog, photo 1

Play this now: “Satan Polaroid” – Idlewild

My sense of timing is impeccable. I figured now that Polaroid has stopped making any kind of instant film, now would be an awesome time to get a Polaroid back for a toy Holga camera when I saw it for cheap on Craigslist. A “back” allows you use Polaroid film with an existing camera. I knew Polaroid film would start getting scarce. What I didn’t know was how scarce. The Holga+Polaroid (or Holgaroid) takes a slightly older format of Polaroid film called Type 80.

Type 80: It’s a delightful little “square” three and a quarter by three and three-eigths inches. It’s been called the size of perfection. For every twenty examples of Polaroid 600-series instant film, I’ve found only one source for Type 80. The last batch was made in 2007. No wonder the back was so cheap.

I picked up a measly six packs of film. Sixty possible photos. And, I wrecked two whole packs while I was fumbling around figuring out how it worked. I cursed the seller for dooming me. My friends can attest to how whiny I was as I muddled through, I cursed Polaroid for being so esoteric. Of course, that’s secretly why I wanted to try it at all.

So now, I’ve got it working. I love it, of course I do. Of course I do. I can even do double exposures with it.

I’ve got thirty-five Polaroid pictures left to take. That’s a difficult concept to wrap my head around. I’ve taken thirty-five pictures in ninety seconds before. Will they be good? Will any of them be keepers, these blessed thirty-five? Who knows. Will I even have the guts to pull the trigger on my last pack? The thing about Polaroid peel-apart films is that they won’t last. They go bad quickly. There’s no point in saving it.

I can be sure of one thing: Shooting these last photos will be an interesting experience. I should learn something about finding the key moment. I should learn a little something about myself. Let’s go!

P.s. Just don’t shake it!