The legacy of Polaroid isn’t dead yet. An Austrian artist, businessman and Polaroid obsessive name Florian Kaps has swooped in to save the day.
Last February when Polaroid announced they would stop making the iconic film, enthusiasts of the instant cameras were distraught at what seemed like the end of an era. But Kaps has devised a plan to re-open the currently dormant Polaroid factory in Amsterdam and begin manufacturing film again. Kaps is also the founder of Polanoid.net, (the biggest Polaroid gallery on the web) and Polanoir, the first ever Polaroid-only art gallery in Vienna.
The Independent reports:
Now he plans to save the film. “The project is more than a business plan; it’s a fight against the idea that everything has to die when it doesn’t create turnover,” said Mr Kaps.
Dubbed “The Impossible Project”, the development of new film for Polaroid cameras launches today. Working with the Manchester-based black and white photography company Ilford, the machinery is in place to produce film of two exposure types, each compatible with both the classic SX-70 cameras popular with artists and the more modern 600 series.
Work has begun on a prototype. By hiring 11 of the original Polaroid team from the factory floor, Mr Kaps aims to mass produce both colour and black and white film under the Impossible label by December, coinciding with the projected date that existing stocks will run out.
The Independent: “Smile! Polaroid is saved”
[via Arkitip]
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Not that impossible!!! It can´t vanish. It has always been so much fun looking at the old pics to discover they have changed. I love the new impression you get while they get older and change.
January 30th, 2009 at 6:01 am
I think Polariod still has life it in yet. There is almost too much possible with digital these days, sometimes it’s good to keep things simple. What’s more, you can trust a Polariod – you can’t photoshop!
January 30th, 2009 at 9:20 am
The Polaroids used in the blog above are beautiful, but the photographers should be credited!
Pat Sansone snapped the photo of the old ‘Saturn Bar’ sign last March in New Orleans with his SX-70 using 779 film.
We’re hoping the Impossible Project proves itself otherwise…we’ve got a room full of hoarded Polaroid film with many boxes coming up on their expiration date*
http://www.flickr.com/people/sansonic/
March 10th, 2009 at 8:41 pm