Never say Impossible. New Color Film for Polaroid 600 Cameras!

blog by Michael Raso

For those of reading who do not know, Polaroid stopped making instant film in 2008, ending their 50+ year reign as the one and only instant photography kings.

Fujifilm in Japan picked up the ball by producing “some” instant film for older Polaroid “pack cameras,” but a huge void was left as no company was producing film for the millions of Polaroid SX-70 and 600 cameras in the world.

Enter The Impossible Project, a group of ambitious entrepreneurs who purchased the Polaroid factory in Enschede, Netherlands and hired some former Polaroid engineers. Their promise - to produce new integral film for existing Polaroid cameras.


above: The Impossible Project announce film for Polaroid cameras – NYC March 22, 2010 / photo by Michael Raso

Impossible has made good on their promises and has introduced the first new color film for Polaroid 600 cameras since Polaroid closed their plants in 2008.

Called PX 680, this new film will be available to the public this spring. A select number of “beta testers” shot with this special new film. One such person was Teryn Brown, who I met when she e-mail me about my podcast (The Film Photography Podcast).

Teryn generously offered to share her new instant film experience with me (once Impossible Project publicly announced their new film) and I’m happy to share her film experience.

"tell me how you got into shooting instant photography"
Aside from playing around with a Polaroid 600 One Step Close-Up camera as a kid and during college, I got started shooting instant photography about a year ago. During my time at Illinois State University as an art major I primarily shot medium format (film). After I graduated I kept shooting but being away from the photo lab and not being able to make my own prints on a regular basis sort of slowed down the whole process.

I started taking a different camera with me each time I went out including my Polaroid 600 One Step Close and my Polaroid 320. From that point on, I was hooked! Since then, I have ordered a Polaroid SX70 (which I found in mint condition for $15 dollars on ebay after months of searching for an affordable one), a Polaroid Spectra, a Fuji Instax 100, a Polaroid back for my Mamiya RB67 and tons of instant film.



"When did you start shooting Impossible film"
I found out about the Impossible Project when I was looking on ebay for some film. Someone was selling a pack of Impossible PX100 and I thought to myself "what the heck is that" so I typed it into "THE GOOGLE" and thought I had struck gold!!!!

"How did you become a Beta Tester for The Impossible Project"
After a few months of shooting Impossible Project film, I noticed that on their website they were allowing people to submit their best PX70 (first flush color film) shot for a chance to be chosen as one of twenty to help test their new films. I had already shot a pack of that film so I went back to my images and selected the VERY FIRST photo I had ever taken with PX70, it was my favorite and I thought I might as well give it a try. A month or two later they emailed me back with the good news!!!


above: Teryn's winning image "Boxing Gloves" on left.

Here is a link to the newsletter announcing the twenty photographers mine is the photo of the boxing gloves on the wall : http://shop.the-impossible-project.com/newsletters/?date=2010-10-21&start=20

"Were you excited or nervous to be a beta tester? What cameras do you use to shoot Impossible film. Tell us about your Beta Test experience."
I was extremely excited when I found out that I was going to be helping out with film testing. However I was a bit nervous when I found out it was going to be film that was optimized for Polaroid 600 cameras. The only 600 camera that I had was the 600 one step close up which I love but I primarily use my SX70 with Impossible Project film because I love the manual focusing, the closer focal length and as a fan of natural light I am given the option to not use flash if I don't want to. I don't have a neutral density filter for my sx70 so I went ahead and used the one step close up which turned out just fine.



I think the PX 680 Color Shade Beta Test Film has a ton of great features. The color is great, (as you can see in the image above) and the film has an overall yellowness to it but the range of color representation is much wider than any previous Impossible color film.



A great thing about the film is that it is much less sensitive to light. You can still see the difference between film that is left out in strong light and film that was kept in the dark for processing but no matter what, you still get a great image. The film is also not as sensitive to temperature. One drawback is the white spots that are all over the image (in the beta test film). Overall, its great stuff and I would encourage any Impossible Project fans to give it a try!


Teryn Brown is a graduate from the Art Photography program at Illinois State University. She primarily shoots with medium format film and instant integral or pack film (polaroid, fuji, impossible).

Teryn on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51981876@N05/

Teryn’s Webpage
www.terynwbrown.com


I host The Film Photography Podcast (Internet Radio Show). The show is a 90 minute, bi-weekly Internet radio program, exploring a wide range of topics relevant to the experienced and aspiring photographer using film as a medium. Host Michael Raso and guests enthusiastically dissect and debate the pros-and-cons of film formats, do-it-yourself techniques, digital technologies, and vintage and contemporary cameras and accessories in a thorough, informative and casual manner.

Produced in the United States, the Film Photography Podcast is broadcast around the globe via iTunes and direct stream from http://www.filmphotographypodcast.com

Impossible’s PX film for Polaroid cameras

When Polaroid announced that they were discontinuing production of their film for SX-70 and 600 cameras, a group of independent entrepreneurs calling themselves The Impossible Project purchased the defunct Polaroid factory in The Netherlands and started producing new monochrome film for the millions of Polaroid cameras still in the world. The first film PX 100 (for SX-70 cameras) and PX 600 (for Polaroid 600 cameras) was released earlier this year.


Self-Portrait
Polaroid SX-70 Alpha camera / Impossible Project PX 100 Silver Shade (First Flush)

Today I received a Flickr-Mail from Ryan, a Film Photography Podcast listener in St. Charles, Missouri USA asking about the PX film.

“Yesterday I got a couple of Polaroid OneSteps from a thrift store, and I'm looking at PX-600 film from Impossible. I'm trying to decide which version of the film to buy, since the First Flush is super cheap. However, the Internet says that First Flush (and even later editions) are ridiculously unstable, and I wanted to know what your experience with it has been. Obviously they look great coming out of the camera, but I'm interested in displaying the actual prints. Have your PX-600 shots been devoured by these crystals that come with humidity? Have they completely faded away like some people are talking about?

The Internet is filled with so much hyperbole in general that I wanted to get a more level-headed assessment from someone I can trust. Thanks!”

Yours in analog,
Ryan Croson


pictured: James Jankiewicz
Polaroid SX-70 Alpha camera / Impossible Project PX 100 Silver Shade (First Flush)


pictured: Joe Kolbek
Polaroid One600 camera / Impossible Project PX 600 Silver Shade (First Flush)


Ryan,

I've boxed most of my PX 100 and PX 600 shots from earlier this year so I'm not sure if there are any fading issues (I guess I should take a look at them)

I consider the Impossible film to be experimental and therefore, any quirks with the emulsion is part of the charm (killer crystals and all).


pictured: B-Movie star Ruby LaRocca
Polaroid One Step 1000 camera / Impossible Project PX 100 Silver Shade (First Flush)

My experience has been a real mixed bag but I have always achieved an image and have always been pleased with the results.

Sometimes I feel that all the whiney Impossible complainers on-line should just go buy a digital camera (laugh)! The Impossible Project has always been very upfront about the nature of their films. The PX film is an artist's medium, period.

If you're looking to save a few bucks, go with the First Flush. I’ve had nothing but fun shooting with it.

Here are some images from my limited experience:


Thanks for writing and listening to the show. Hope to hear from you soon.

Michael Raso

Links:

The Film Photography Podcast
http://www.filmphotographypodcast.com/

Ryan’s Flickr Photostream
http://www.filmphotographypodcast.com/

The Impossible Project
http://www.the-impossible-project.com/

Ruby LaRocca
http://rubylarocca.net/

Note back from Ryan:

"Hey man,

Thanks for the quick insight. I think I'll roll the dice on first flush. I love the way the material looks and I'm on board with the unpredictability of it. I'll probably hang my prints in front of my dehumidifier to dry them out and hope for the best. Regardless, I'm super stoked to try it out. I've dabbled with instant stuff in the past, but I haven't been particularly taken with it until I saw the stuff that Impossible was doing. Now I can't wait to get my hands on it!

RE: Impossible/new Polaroid haters: I tend to take internet whining with a grain of salt; the people with an axe to grind are always more vocal and visible than satisfied customers, so it can be impossible to tell how many people are legitimately having problems with something."

Rocking and rolling,
Ryan

Episode 9 - June 15, 2010 – SHOW NOTES

The gang reviews the new Polaroid 300 Instant Film Camera, Ukulele rocker Henrique Couto’s 35mm project, Lomo-Like results with a vintage Kodak cameras, 35mm film and Polaroid 600 camera giveaway and more!!! Hosted by Michael Raso and Duane Polcou and special guest John Fedele.

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On June 15th, we shot our First-Ever video of my Polaroid 300 camera review.



Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVTgYTQsyVk

Here’s a Flickr Set of some Polaroid 300 images taken in the last 30 days



More at
http://www.polaroid.com/

****************

Duane Polcou chatted a bit about Marty Forscher.
“His best-known invention, patented in 1982, was the Pro-Back, a Polaroid attachment for a 35-millimeter camera that gave photographers an immediate proof print, letting them test a shot without having to wait for the film to be developed. Mr. Forscher also created an early compact motor drive for still cameras.”

Sadly, Mr. Forscher passed away in 2009.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/nyregion/11forscher.html

****************

Podcast listener Clifford Davis suggested the Black Cat Exposure Guide for picking your exposure without using a meter.
http://www.blackcatphotoproducts.com/guide.html

Here is another exposure guide at WikiBooks
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Photographic_Exposure_Guide/Exposure_tables

****************

Ukulele rocker Henrique Couto was our extra special guest. He just released his first CD. Folks who purchase his deluxe album get an exposed “mystery roll” of 35mm film. Henrique discussed his music and this odd film project.



http://ukeordie.com/

****************

Brian Duffy, whose photographs helped define the mood of the Swinging Sixties, has died aged 76. Together with David Bailey and Terence Donovan, Duffy formed part of the trinity of photographers who became as famous as the models, musicians and film stars they worked with.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/jun/05/photographer-brian-duffy-dies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Duffy_%28photographer%29

****************

The Trackman called in to see if his Dad’s Ansco Clipper arrived at the FPP studio. The Anco Clipper camera was made in the 1940s in the UD and uses type 616 film.



I was able to locate an additional 616 spool, so I rolled 120 film to the 616 spool in a film changing bag.

More on the Clipper at Camerapedia.
www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Ansco_Clipper

below: Image shot with the Trackman’s Ansco Clipper



****************

Get Lomo-Like images at a fraction of the cost of a Holga with a vintage Kodak – the Kodak Holiday Flash



These cameras are very, very inexpensive on e-bay and if you’re lucky, you’ll get one with a “lagging” shutter – which will produce this dreamy effect. (Image Below)



****************


We’re giving away a Polaroid 600 One Step Close-Up Camera this month! Winner announced on the July 15, 2010 Film Photography Podcast.

To enter send an e-mail to FilmPhotographyPodcast@gmail.com
Give us your name, address and tell us a little bit about yourself.
Please get entries in by July 5, 2010

****************

We’re GIVING AWAY film too!



Matt Haines / http://www.camerasandfilm.com/
donated 18 rolls of gently expired Kodak Portra 400 35mm film
Send us an e-mail if you’d like to try one! (Good while supply lasts)
Send an e-mail to FilmPhotographyPodcast@gmail.com

****************

Only 6 months left to shoot and develop Kodak Kodachrome film



12/31/2010 is the last day that Dwayne’s (the only Kodachrome processor in the world) will process this discontinued stock. If you are committed to shooting a roll of 35mm Kodachrome, please send me an e-mail. If I have any left in my private vault, I’ll shoot a roll out to you.

http://filmphotographypodcast.com/

Episode 10 is just two weeks away!

GET HAPPY (with Polaroid!)

Even before purchasing the cute, little Polaroid 300 camera I’ve been dabbling in Polaroid instant photography. Only in the last month or so has it become all-out Polaroid Mania.



Using “The Google” I researched Polaroid present and past, making a list of various cameras that I would like to test. I was amazed to find THOUSANDS of used classic Polaroid cameras on-line.

My latest discovery, next to the SX-70 type cameras and the new Polaroid 300, was the 1960s Polaroid “Pack Cameras.” They’re wonderful cameras and all use the readily available Polaroid 664-type and Fujifilm FP-100/3000 films.

There are millions of Polaroid cameras out there all finding their way to e-bay each hour. Most are very reasonably priced (so many under $50.us) and, in fact, so inexpensive that I’ve purchased a few to be given away on the July 2010 Film Photography pod cast.


Inner Athlete Trainer James Jankiewicz / 2006 One600 camera – Impossible PX 600 film


Actress Erin Russ / 1969 Colorpack II camera - Polaroid 667 film

In case you don’t know, The Polaroid instant camera is a type of camera with self-developing film. The invention of modern instant cameras is credited to American scientist Edwin Land, who unveiled the first commercial instant camera, the Land Camera, in 1947, 10 years after founding his Polaroid Corporation. The cameras were hugely popular in the 1970s through the 1990s.



In 2008, Polaroid discontinued their instant cameras and film. After a public outcry, Polaroid has admitted that maybe they were a bit hasty in their decision and launched their 300 camera this past April. The oddly-shaped camera produces wallet-sized color images.



A re-visioning of the “classic” One Step camera is slated for release late this year and independent entrepreneurs The Impossible Project single-handedly released their own film for Polaroid cameras this past March as well!


The Impossible Project Press Conference March 2010 / NYC


Rob DeSaro gives a Polaroid smile!

The most AMAZING thing about shooting any Polaroid is the reaction on people’s faces wherever I go to shoot with these cameras. Faces “light up” as the image magically appears. It’s as if the whole digital world has forgotten about the magic of this special film.

This past Saturday I attended the Digger Film Group's New York premiere of their horror documentary “Under The Scares.” I screened their inspirational documentary and took Polaroids with my all-new 300 camera.



Many asked “What’s that camera!?”, marveling at the odd shape and awesome business-sized images that it instantly produced.



In this hi-tech digital world, people still want to hold a print…have a souvenir…and smile.

Smile, Polaroid is back.

In 2009, I launched The Film Photography Podcast, an hour-long, monthly Internet radio program exploring the passion of film photography, covering a wide range of topics relevant to the experienced and aspiring photographer using film as a medium.
http://filmphotographypodcast.com/

Digger Films
http://www.diggerfilms.com/

The Polaroid 300 Camera
http://www.polaroid.com/

The Land List (Polaroid Catalog On-Line)
http://www.rwhirled.com/landlist/landhome.htm

Classic Polaroid Camera Repair and Sales
http://www.instantoptions.com/

The Impossible Project
http://www.the-impossible-project.com/

Top photo © Maxime Juneau
http://maximejuneau.wordpress.com/

All other photos © Michael Raso
http://michaelraso.blogspot.com/

Glorious Days with Impossible PX Film

I can’t remember a new film stock being invented in my lifetime as unique and extraordinary as the new line of PX films (for Polaroid SX-70 and 600 cameras). The film was introduced earlier this year by an Indie company called “The Impossible Project.”

What's The Impossible Project?
“A group of engineers and enthusiasts who leased an old Polaroid film factory in the Netherlands announced Monday 3/22/2010 that they had successfully reinvented instant film.


above: The men behind The Impossible Project in NYC this past March. Marwan Saba, Andre Bosman and Florian Kaps

The news gives new life to some old Polaroid cameras. The Impossible Project, will sell film for SX-70 cameras made in the '70s as well as more recent cameras that take 600-series film.”
- AP News

The film has certainly given new life to my Polaroid cameras. A few cameras were hidden away in my studio, namely a Polaroid One Step and a 1977 One Step 1000 camera.



The energy and enthusiasm behind the Impossible staff and other photographers using the new PX film has also influenced me to purchase additional Polaroid Instant cameras. Film Photography Podcast co-host Duane Polcou called me “fanatical!” Absolutely!

I’d like to share some images taken on the new PX 600 film stock.


above: Self portrait with the Polaroid One600 Classic Camera and PX 600 Silver Shade Film. A Cokin +2 filter handheld over the lens gave crispness to this dreamy film.




above: My parents were kind enough to let me shoot surreal portraits using the PX 600 film

The film stock will yield a different “look” based on temperature and distance from hot lights or flash.




Two portraits above are “that Inner Anthlete guy” and pal, James Jankiewicz
http://innerathletetraining.com/ Polaroid One600 Classic Camera and PX 600 Silver Shade Film


above: Filmmaker Joe Kolbek
Polaroid One600 Classic Camera and PX 600 Silver Shade Film


above: Photographer and Film Photography Podcast co-host Duane Polcou
http://www.modelmayhem.com/160195
Polaroid One600 Classic Camera and PX 600 Silver Shade Film

I’d call the unpredictable nature of the film remarkable. In a society filled with “stamped out” corporate packaged goods, its nice to play with something really, really different.

Read Sarah Gilbert’s Daily Finance on The Impossible Project here:
http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/company-news/picture-this-the-impossible-project-that-kept-polaroid-film-ali/19314730/

Listen to The Film Photography Podcast
http://filmphotographypodcast.com/

Blog / All Images © 2010 Michael Raso

The camera has arrived!!! YES!!!!!

On the April 15th The Film Photography Podcast (Internet Radio Show) gave away a Polaroid 600 Camera. Chris Nielsen from New Zealand was the lucky winner!

Today, I received the following correspondence from Chris:

4/26/2010 (via FlickrMail)

Hi

The camera has arrived!!! YES!!!!!

It's very exciting to have my first Polaroid camera, and the photos look awesome!!! I took it with me over the weekend on a couple of trips and took some photos which I've posted.


Raglan, New Zealand / Polaroid 600 image by Chris


Taitua Arboretum, Hamilton NZ / Polaroid 600 image by Chris

I also found out the fun of giving Polaroids away! There was a group of loud guys at the kids soccer game that thought a Polaroid of them was just the best thing ever!!! I also gave a photo I took of my friend's 10 year old to him after our flight in the weekend (I took him and his mum to the beach for lunch in a small plane). I think he took the photo with him to school to show all his friends !!!!

Anyway, thanks again! I'm so excited about this I'm like a little kid :-)

Thanks guys!
Chris

Chris’ Polaroid set can be seen on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dirtyolechris/sets/72157623809995913/

The Polaroid Giveaway happened on the April 15, 2010 Film Photography Podcast. Listen here or go to http://filmphotographypodcast.com/

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About the Film Photography Podcast
Launched in October of 2009 by Michael Raso, the Film Photography Podcast is an hour-long, monthly Internet radio program exploring a wide range of topics relevant to the experienced and aspiring photographer using film as a medium. Hosts Michael Raso and Duane Polcou enthusiastically dissect and debate the pros-and-cons of film formats, do-it-yourself techniques, digital technologies, and vintage and contemporary cameras and accessories in a thorough, informative and casual manner. Regular features include “Book of the Month”, interviews, a listener-generated Q&A, and film/camera give-aways. Produced in the United States, the Film Photography Podcast is broadcast around the globe via iTunes and podbean.

Writing a new Chapter in the History of Photography - IMPOSSIBLE INSTANT FILM (for Polaroid cameras)

New York City, March 22, 2010.


425 Broadway, NYC – March 22, 2010 – The Impossible Project conference
Image © 2010 Michael Raso / Polaroid One Step / Polaroid 600 Instant Film

After 17 months of research and development, The Impossible Project announced that it succeeded in its task of re-producing a new analog Instant Film for traditional Polaroid cameras.


Image © The Impossible Project


The Impossible Project – March 22, 2010 conference
Florian Kaps – Founder & Head of Marketing, Andre Bosman – Founder & Head of Research, Marwan Saba, Founder & Head of Finance
Image © 2010 Michael Raso / Polaroid One Step / Polaroid 600 Instant Film

Containing more than 30 newly developed components, Impossible today introduced a new, monochrome Instant Film - the PX 100 and PX 600 Silver Shade - and is therewith saving millions of perfectly functioning Polaroid cameras from becoming obsolete (as Polaroid discontinued its instant film production early in 2008).


Florian Kaps – Founder & Head of Marketing
Image © 2010 Michael Raso / Polaroid One Step / Polaroid 600 Instant Film

Impossible has beyond that started collaborations with international photographers, who were invited to work with the new film material and therewith created a base for The Impossible Collection – a growing archive of contemporary Instant Photography artworks.


The Impossible Project Collection - Image by Brian Henry


The Impossible Project Collection - Image by Boris Zuliani

A grand Impossible Project‘s Space, hosting a shop as well as a gallery, will open on
April 30, 2010 at 425 Broadway in New York City – celebrating the magic and the
bright future that analog Instant Photography is now facing.


Dave Bias – Vice President Impossible American Corp (Interviewed by Film Photography Podcast host Duane Polcou)

PX 100 and PX 600 Films will be available online at www.the-impossible-project.com
in a limited, First Flush Edition from Thursday, March 25th onwards, and shortly
thereafter at selected premium retail partners all over the world.

In summer 2010, Impossible plans to present its first PX Color Film.

March 22, 2010 gallery on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelraso/sets/72157623674914774/

Interview with Dave Bias available on and after April 15, 2010 on The Film Photography Podcast.

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http://filmphotographypodcast.com/