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A photographer-friend was showing me some of the shots that he was taking with an old Polaroid 350 Land Camera (circa 1970) and I just had to rush out and acquire one of my own. It took me a few packs of film to grasp how the camera works (including how to load the huge film packs) and how to gain control of the images that I was producing, but I finally got the knack and I’m loving this thing. I’ve been carrying it around with me for the past two weeks and snapping photos here and there. I also took the camera on my road trip to Arizona and was able to convince one of the models that I was shooting to let me photograph her with it.
I scanned a few of my favorite prints and included them below. You’ll notice some subtle differences in the representation of colors, which is from my experimentation with different film types. I know that this is a little different, so I am anxious to hear what people who like my other work think of them.
Priscilla in Arizona
A Day in Santa Monica
LA Grass and Whatnot
you know i’m pretty sure i have one of these sitting up in the garage somewhere. i picked it up long ago at a yard sale or flee market just because. you are so wonderful and such an inspiration. keep up the awesome work and keep having fun with it… that’s key right? i think i might pull out my old minolta, heck and if i really get the bug, ill pull out my enlarger too…lol
beautiful pics
lil herrera
I think this new toy is not very good. Images look washed out and old. Sorry, but that is the reality.
(see comment above)
Is he serious? lol
I love the LA grass. good for you & keep up the good work.
peter, peter, peter,
this is the kind of comment you get when everyone in the world carries a digicam in their pockets via camera or cell phone. it’s not all about the sharp, clear image when it comes to art peter. but keep shooting you’ll learn to enjoy and find how stress free and liberating the art of photography can really be
just me again…Lillie
Haha…oh Peter, you have so much to learn.
Wonderful pictures, Wil ! I love the Primary colors in the Pigeon shot.
Great work!
-J’
Who’s this Peter guy…..?? LoL…he has no idea what he’s talking about…GREAT work Wil…
Keeps getting better and better everytime I get on here…..
Very cool Wil!
I love Priscilla’s shot. What type of film did you use?
I’m now playing with Fuji B&W and really like it.
Thanks for commenting on my site this morning, Pam. I really appreciate the feedback!
For that shot, I was using Polaroid 669 pack film and I used 690 for the shot of the pigeons. Fuji pack film was used on the grass shot. I like the different levels of saturation in the color films and have yet to play around with any B&W pack film for that camera. Do you have any of your shots with the Fuji film online?
I totally love your work! And I’m jealous! I love it out West and have always wanted to visit Arizona. You’re awesome!
You guys are soooo funny. You are all in the artsy crap and assume that I do not know what I am talking about and of course use a digital camera point & shoot. God if you only knew how far off you are you wouldn’t be so smug. My opinion is I did not like it. What is wrong with an honest opinion? I think you all have more to learn.
Couple of things to bear in mind. I just finished running my first pack, Polaroid 667 B&W (ISO 3000!) through my 350 (acquired at a Goodwill) and there are a few things I’d like to point out, especially to Peter. My test shots with the 350 were variable until I learned how to work with the camera’s metering device (quaintly called “electric eye” in the manual). The camera can still be capricious with exposure, which may be why “Priscilla in Arizona” looks a little faded. The camera, with a 3-element glass lens and top-notch Zeiss rangefinder, does produce tack-sharp images, as my first good shots demonstrated. When I posted one of them on my own blog, however, it looked rather ordinary. Non-professional scanner, reduced file size for posting and the variabilities of different monitors.
Digital point-and-shoots can give you outstanding images, especially if you bypass all automated controls and run on full manual, and keep your file size at its maximum parameters. Perhaps Peter could show us some of his own images, and tell us what makes them good.
Mark, Mark, Mark,
Its just an opinion. Apparently you do not like things that disagree with your way of thinking. I am sorry. As a photographer and writer for publication I do know what I am talking about. There are many things that make a good image, all of which are subjective. To me I did not like it. That is all there is to it. Please feel free to contact me and I will provide whatever links you may like to see what a good image is. That way you too will learn.
where did you get the film and how much is it? I just a camera like this this weekend on a yard sale and would like to try it. it looks in perfect condition.
Sara
I like the Fuji film saturation and grass composition. I just got a 4×5 film holder and 4 boxes of the 100B45 film. Going to experiment on emulsion transfers and some other things. Also have a back for my Mamiya RZ 67 Pro 2. I normally proof with the film, but sometimes you end up liking the shot’s qualities and use it in a different purpose.
Keep trying things, we only learn from our mistakes. Don’t be so hard on Peter. Art is what we like, and he’s entitled to like or dislike whatever strikes his fancy. As experiments, your images are interesting. Now go out and be mindful in your creativity.
Wil;
Numbers #2-3 are keepers! Love number two, compositionally strong.
If you work in Photoshop, there is a great filter pack that can simulate this and other film stocks. I highly endorse it. Some purists may not like it, but it works if you want a particular feel to an image.
http://www.alienskin.com/exposure/index.aspx
I think the Polaroid shots made it look almost like a print or drawing. Had sort of a sepia like tinge to the contrast & other things. Very interesting. The one of the LA Grass was striking, hard to believe the colors weren’t manipulated, like for some modern-day post card shot. Cool that the lower clouds were shaped like the grass. How do you catch this stuff??? (Skill!!!) Looks like you are having fun.