THE IMPOSSIBLE PROJECT INSPIRES POLAROID® TO RELAUNCH INSTANT CAMERAS!


THE IMPOSSIBLE PROJECT
INSPIRES POLAROID® TO
RELAUNCH INSTANT CAMERAS

Read the about this and how the Impossible Project is proceeding with the development of Polaroid film here .

 

Polaroid instant films to make a comeback!!


This is great news and they are looking for your support. Check out the impossible project website where you can learn more and how to show your support for this awesome venture!

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POLAROID TO QUIT MANUFACTURING ALL INSTANT FILMS!


I had a feeling that someday this would happen after I witnessed the demise of Polaroid SX-70 film in March of last year. What I didn't expect then was for this to happen "across the board" and so soon! By deciding to no longer make ANY of their instant films, Polaroid has in essence made obsolete a number of art forms including the image transfer, the emulsion lift and many other alternative process applications that require the use of these films. Furthermore, the instant print that so many photographers STILL rely on for light testing and settings, quick snapshots for clients, passport prints, etc, etc will now have to say goodbye forever to these applications.

This is devastating news for many of us who have embraced instant photography for years and still use it in our art making. As a photography teacher who has already had to phase out SX-70 manipulations for my students in my classes, I will no longer be able to include any of the other Polaroid processes in my curriculum. I am also out of luck for my own art as well.

The only good news (if you can call it that) is that Polaroid is "seeking a partner to acquire licensing rights for its instant film, in hopes that another firm will continue making the film to supply Polaroid enthusiasts." This means that there is a slim chance that someone with a lot of money might be willing to bail us all out of this predicament.

There is a petition you can sign to encourage Polaroid to continue making these films available by clicking here .

I would also like to make a public plea for anyone who might know of some Polaroid "enthusiasts" who might be interested in this undertaking to contact me. Maybe, with enough support we can save our art and take over where Polaroid has left off. Please contact me if you have any info at scott@scottwittenburg.com

You can read the entire press release here

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Now Available: The Story Behind The Images!


Part coffee table book, part how-to manual, The Story Behind The Images is now available directly from the publisher. Whether you are an aspiring photographer or just like to look at photos, this book features my best work in the past twenty years plus has a how-to section describing in detail how many of the images were created. For more info, go to www.scottwittenburg.com or directly to the publisher . Thanks for your support!

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Tue - March 16, 2004

A new year and a new addition...


Unfortunately, our beloved Pookie lost her battle with cancer last December. Putting her down was truly one of the hardest things we've ever had to do. As many of you know, pets become virtual members of the family and losing one is always very difficult. For some reason, for me anyway, it's even harder to see an innocent animal that you love have to go away than a human - they are so powerless and uaware of what's happening to them. But Pookie still lives in spirit via our new puppy, Parker! Parker is a Bichon, like Buffy (see "Pookie and Buffy," 10-4-03.) and was only 4 months old when we got him. He's just as hyper and crazy as Pookie was and has managed to really cheer things up around the house. Weird as it sounds, Buffy has taken on some of Pookie's traits (like barking at potential invaders to our space or bringing a bone to you when she greets you at the front door - she never did either before) and Parker is almost like a reincarnation of the Pook with his goofy, non-stop spontaneous activity. He's also a snuggler, just like Pookie was. Although Pookie is sadly missed, it's nice to know that she's still kicking around through the antics of this awesome pair of kids we have!

Posted at 09:17 PM     Read More  

Sat - October 4, 2003

Pookie and Buffy


Introducing Pookie (the border collie) and Buffy (the bischon). I was in our solarium today working on SX70 manipulations and when I saw these two strike this pose, I scrambled and had just enough time to snap them. We've had Pookie for around seven years and adopted Buffy last year. Pookie was recently diagnosed with cancer and had a kidney removed - that was about four months ago. She wasn't supposed to make it much longer than a couple of weeks but she has fooled everybody! She is seemingly as healthy as a horse and as hyper as always. Buffy is a real trip and never fails to entertain us with her "death thrashing" of nylabones and constant "tinkers" (kisses that stink to high heaven!) I can't imagine what life would be like without our girls - unconditional love and endless companionship!

Posted at 10:28 PM     Read More  

A Dead Tree Become Art


There's a local guy who runs a lawnmower sharpening shop who sculpts with a chainsaw in his spare time. This dead tree in Selby Park (Worthington, Ohio) became a work of art as this guy proceeded to turn the trunk of this tree into these awesome eagles. This lawnmower sharpener/artisan is a true artist in that he only uses a certain kind of wood for his works (I can't remember what kind) and he only does jobs he feels like doing. I snapped this shot using a Polaroid SX-70 camera today and was very happy with the nice blue sky in the background. The eagles get more rustic looking as the wood continues to weather and age with time. Now this is what I call art!

Posted at 10:16 PM     Read More  

Wed - October 1, 2003

Digital vs. Traditional


O.K. I don't know about you but I'm getting tired of hearing this debate over and over. As a former pro photographer (and practicing photo teacher and artist) I've finally come up with my answer to this "competition" between digital and traditional: It makes no difference which you use as long as the end product says something (is it ART?) I have spent kajillions of hours shooting black and white film, color film, Polaroid film, small, medium and large format, and out of all of these hours and toils I still only have a fistfull of images that I'm truly proud of. Ditto with digital images - I've shot digitally, scanned scads of photos into Photoshop, manipulated, resized, composited, toned, copy, pasted, printed out and still get the same result. Only a few of these images are what I would consider "nearly awesome." In spite of all of the time I've spent with my favorite visual art over the last thirty five years or so, I will still look at a single image by Ansel Adams or Dorothea Lange and wish that I could create something that even comes close!

Posted at 09:54 PM     Read More  

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