Hope for the Istamatic

For those of you who have mourned the passing of the Polaroid Istamatic and all the happy goodness it inspired, I've discovered that Instamatic-compatible film is on the horizon.

Tech Digest reports "Hold onto your old Polaroid camera: film's coming back" (January 2009)
The Telegraph reports "Polaroid cameras to be produced once again" (October 2009)

Technology Live reports "CES: Polaroid film cameras come back" (January 2010)

But, the roll out has been delayed a bit:

Boston Herald reports "Instant film for Polaroids delayed" (February 2010)

And for those of you who can't wait for them to get that film made, here's a link which gives instructions for transforming your digital images into Polaroids using Photoshop, so that you can create images like this:

Another link for transforming an image into a polaroid.

Polaroid Gallery v.1.01

I came across this and thought it was cool:
Polaroid Gallery v.1.01. Developed by Christopher Einarsrud.

Each virtual polaroid can be moved and, if you double click on it, gets larger for a better look.

It seems like a fun and interesting way to display pictures in your portfolio.

More on Polaroids

I've done some more ruminating on Polaroids.

Photo by Kris Krug

To quote Lamott:

"You can't -- and, in fact, you're not supposed to -- know exactly what the picture is going to look like until it has finished developing. First you just point at what has your attention and take the picture."

I find it a little sad that in today's digital age, the wonder and mystical sensation attached to Instamatic images will become something that people can't relate to. Polariod stopped manufacturing the instant film in 2008. It lost its appeal to mass consumers before that because of the cost of the film - I remember it was something like $1 a picture (and then you didn't know what you were getting until it was done). Who wants to spend that much money on film when now you can get the same effect with a digital?

But there's something to be said for that memory - of waiting for the image to develop. Of having to yank to free the film from the camera. Of shaking the picture so that it would develop faster. Tearing back that foil to reveal an image that was slightly undone but 'cooked' right before your eyes. The anticipation of waiting for it. The thrill of the magic. The innocence and simple joy of youth.