Polaroid, 1982 --- Fauxlaroid, 2009

In the early eighties, I worked as a manager in a camera store in Harvard Sq, Cambridge, Massachusetts. I had lots of photo pals and access to the latest equipment, plus cheap photo processing and a discount on all things photographic. I was only 22 years old and I was having a blast.

Here comes the bit about Polaroid. My boyfriend (now husband) worked for Polaroid at the time, and was able to borrow equipment and get free film on occasion, which we would enjoy over a weekend, creating a visual chronicle of events. You can imagine how much I enjoyed the use of the camera, and sharing the results at work and with our friends. Polaroid was still in full swing back then, doing very well in annual sales.

Here comes the bit about Polaroid. My boyfriend (now husband) worked for Polaroid at the time, and was able to borrow equipment and get free film on occasion, which we would enjoy over a weekend, creating a visual chronicle of events. You can imagine how much I enjoyed the use of the camera, and sharing the results at work and with our friends. Polaroid was still in full swing back then, doing very well in annual sales.

 The photo on the left features my old photo pal, Jennie, with my boyfriend, Rick, and me on the right. We're in my store, Underground Camera-you can see lighting displays and camera bags, etc, on display behind us. I loved being there. Ask me about the time a Cambridge Cop saved me from being accosted by a thieving, crazed street person. Speedy response saved my you-know-what.

Now I shoot with a Polaroid Spectra, purchased about 8 years ago, originally to be used at community theater auditions for on-the-fly head shots. I like to bring it along on vacations; it evokes carefee summers and fun times for me when I use it. These images are from last summer at our rental in Truro. Great retro feel to these, I think. Brings me back to summers on the Cape way back in the 60s.......

My passion of late is creating digital "Fauxlaroids". I use digital photo software which can be found on theweb, (often for free), or an iPhone application called"Polarize", or I make it from scratch in Photoshop. It's a blast to play around with the software, using my own images, and manipulating them into retro and grungy works of art. Both of these images are digital files originally shot on my 35mm DSLR; the left was taken in a hotel room bathroom in Amsterdam, the second was taken in Waltham, MA, of a back porch directly adjacent to my school's parking lot.

If you've got a Polaroid camera around, pull it out and see if they still make film for it, QUICKLY. Polaroid has stopped making many of the standard films that have been available for the past decade-plus. Run some film through it for old time's sake. If you are into photography, jump onto one of the links above and try one of your images out as a Polaroid. You may very well get hooked.