Imminent Death
I hate to make a non-image post (especially when I haven't posted a photo in so long), but I thought I'd make an exception for this.
Polaroid film will probably be entirely discontinued within two years.
Here is the article:
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2008/02/08/polaroid_shutting_2_mass_facilities_laying_off_150/
"Polaroid also makes professional-grade films in Mexico, and its consumer film packs come from a factory in the Netherlands. All these plants are slated for closure this year. Polaroid chief operating officer Tom Beaudoin said the company is interested in licensing its technology to an outside firm that could manufacture film for faithful Polaroid customers. If that doesn't happen, Polaroid users would have to find an alternative photo technology, as the company plans to make only enough film to last into next year."
It's over then. After over fifty years of making the most unique emulsions ever dreamed of, Polaroid is giving up. Not that it was impossible to see this coming; with the advent of digital imaging technology, instant previews came out of the realm of pricy film and into the hands of almost every consumer. However, instead of looking for ways to capitalize on this new technology, Polaroid simply let it pass them by. This has certainly been their downfall, but now it becomes ours as well. Yes, Fuji does make the FP series of instant pack-films and they may license the technology to make integral film. But, the colors of FP-100C, while excellent, are very natural and not at all exaggerated. The Polaroid pack-films (669 and 690 in particular) had wild and vibrant tones with a very specific feel to them, far outside what any normal film was capable of. Now, these colors will die with the rest of what used to be one of the most innovative companies in photography.
This isn't meant to be a call to save the emulsions. Most intelligent photographers understood that the films were already on their last legs. I just sincerely hope that some company will fill the creative gap left by Polaroid, and give us the films that we have come to love over the last 40 years.
Thanks for reading
-Esten
Polaroid film will probably be entirely discontinued within two years.
Here is the article:
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2008/02/08/polaroid_shutting_2_mass_facilities_laying_off_150/
"Polaroid also makes professional-grade films in Mexico, and its consumer film packs come from a factory in the Netherlands. All these plants are slated for closure this year. Polaroid chief operating officer Tom Beaudoin said the company is interested in licensing its technology to an outside firm that could manufacture film for faithful Polaroid customers. If that doesn't happen, Polaroid users would have to find an alternative photo technology, as the company plans to make only enough film to last into next year."
It's over then. After over fifty years of making the most unique emulsions ever dreamed of, Polaroid is giving up. Not that it was impossible to see this coming; with the advent of digital imaging technology, instant previews came out of the realm of pricy film and into the hands of almost every consumer. However, instead of looking for ways to capitalize on this new technology, Polaroid simply let it pass them by. This has certainly been their downfall, but now it becomes ours as well. Yes, Fuji does make the FP series of instant pack-films and they may license the technology to make integral film. But, the colors of FP-100C, while excellent, are very natural and not at all exaggerated. The Polaroid pack-films (669 and 690 in particular) had wild and vibrant tones with a very specific feel to them, far outside what any normal film was capable of. Now, these colors will die with the rest of what used to be one of the most innovative companies in photography.
This isn't meant to be a call to save the emulsions. Most intelligent photographers understood that the films were already on their last legs. I just sincerely hope that some company will fill the creative gap left by Polaroid, and give us the films that we have come to love over the last 40 years.
Thanks for reading
-Esten