When I was little my Grandfather was the family photographer. He took all of those photos with an instamatic camera. In a digital age where most photos never get physically printed I feel like an instant camera has more reason to be appealing. Two professional photographers walk us through their use of the instant camera in a modern world.
For a while, things looked pretty bleak for the instant-film-loving community. Films that were once mainstays of the film shooter’s arsenal (like Fuji FP-3000B) were discontinued and instant camera equipment production slowed to a crawl. Fortunately for us though, like other formats and kinds of film, instant film photography is seeing an unprecedented resurgence (both in niche, hard core film communities and popular culture).
This guide is for you, the digital film guy, who’s been sitting on the fence and wants to see what all the buzz is about. In this article I teamed up with two of the coolest instant-film-shooting photographers today, Robert Timko and Sandy Phimester.
Sandy is a prolific Alberta, Canada based portrait photographer who primarily shoots 135 format black n’ white film. Meanwhile Robert is a digital junkie based in Boulder, Colorado whose work has been featured in Runner’s World Magazine and Le Petite Voyeur, and always makes a spash in the Fstoppers Facebook group.
Both of whom incorporate instant film in almost every shoot. The two were kind enough to sit down for a brief chat to explore what instant film resonated for them and how they’ve worked it into their individual workflows.
What do you use instant film for?
Sandy:
I think in the past instant photography was perhaps more for testing light or testing a concept, visually, and in a sense maybe that’s what I like to use it for as well, although I honestly feel like instant film IS the perfect compliment to 35mm and 120 film.
No matter what shoot I’m doing, I always have a pack or two of instant film with me, it has been quite enjoyable and I couldn’t see myself without it in my bag. I have used polaroid stuff exclusively for a shoot, but once twice, normally it is something I mix into the rest.
Robert:
Most of the time, I use Instax as a fun value-add. On portrait sessions, clients love to go home with an Instax. In about 10 minutes post-session they always post a photo of the Instax to Instagram [NSFW]. I’ve begun stamping the bottom of them with my contact info!
For example, I recently shot 22 Olympic athletes for a shoe company. After each portrait I took an Instax shot of them doing a goofy face. More than half posted the photo to social media immediately after the shoot.
I also take it out with me when going out with friends. Most of the bars/breweries in town have a bunch of my Instax on their walls from goofing around with friends. It’s a great conversation starter!
For the rest of the article head over to Fstoppers
Source: Fstoppers
