Fujifilm Instax 99

 

Now that the Polaroid i2 is on it's way to a new home, it was time to fill a void.

As of now, this is Fujifilm's best analog Instax on the market - Mini99.

Compared shots with the EVO Mini which is a hybrid instant camera.

The 99 has a bit more warmth and depth to the photos.  The EVO shots do appear digital (clear and sharp).

Also took a photo with the Mint TL70 - had to attach an ND4 filter (2 stops) and stop down the lens to f/22.  Warm, excellent colors but heavy vingettng.

Each Instax mini has it's own pluses and minuses.

EVO - Digital capture = digital file.  Print when you want.  Looses that INSTANT vibe in terms of the image being a 1:1.

99 = Analog with some effects available.  Good performance.  Don't need filters to shoot bright outdoors.

TL70 = When you want to get serious.  Only wished there was a fully manual TL70 like it's big brother the TL70+

iTried.... iReally tried.... Polaroid i2...

 Well, the journey with the Polaroid i2 has come to an end.

It is on it's way to a new home in Massachusetts.  Sorta fits since Polaroid was based in Cambridge, Mass.

The limitations of it being a non-SLR, the lidar auto focus and the difficulty in just getting to do as I want, even with all the manual controls built in, I finally have said ENOUGH.

The Polaroid SX70s are still an engineering marvel and they are over 40 years old.  I am getting far superior results and the cool factor and immersive feeling from it makes me WANT to shoot it.

I got what I feel was a fair amount (since I use to dabble in the photo retail world for a few years).

In a way I was hoping this new generation of Polaroid and their flagship camera would have delivered the goods. 

It just came up a bit short.  

Starting to understand...

 I've never been the "sharpest tool in the tool shed" person.

I was trapped in that quest of the sharpest, most technically correct photograph with colors or shades that tell a story.

The quest ended up spending tons of money on gear over the years.  I had some of the very best that are out there but like a former photojournalist once told me.... "I've seen a lot of Leica images that frankly are crap".

Believe me I have had my share of crap from gear that is indeed perhaps some of the very best.

Another friend who worked at a camera store told me.... "don't ask what camera or lens, did you like the photo".  He was trying to educate me to go beyond this gear = photo quality.

Well it took me a long time.  I took the advice.  Looked at works.  Looked at paintings.  Look at art. Great works from the greats to those taken by enthusiasts who are accomplished.

I finally understood the importance of imperfection.  

AI is moving in a frightening pace.  In terms of images, it's getting so good, it's hard to know what's real anymore.

I was on a Flickr site devoted to SX70 images.  The rules for this group is that only photos taken with that specific series of Polaroid cameras are to be posted.  However a lot of posers.  You can tell because there is a look to a Polaroid and some of those images are just too perfect or are far beyond the scope of the old and current Polaroid films.

I digress....

The need for analog.  The need for the truth (in light of all the crap in our country right now).

I am still drawn to instant photography because it is TRUE.  Not manipulated.  Cannot be altered.  It's an artifact of that slice of time.

EMBRACE IMPERFECTION.  EMBRACE THE ART.  EMBRACE THE STORY.  EMBRACE THE FLAWS for all this is.... HUMAN.

Analog...

 

Cross the line...

 

FEEL...

 Still trying to get the feel of things.

No matter what camera the attraction is feel.

Notice the keyword here?  FEEL

Like driving not operating a car.

The feel of the car, the gear shift, the suspension, the vibrations of an engine.

With mechanical watches.

Same as a car.  Seeing gears and levers moving to precision to tell time.

Fountain pens.

The feel.  The art of loading ink.  The result that requires you to get some sort of skill (although my chicken scratch is far from desirable).

Manual typewriters

Hit the key too hard and you break the surface of the paper.

Strike the key too soft, not much there.

Get it right and even, bliss

I find people are becoming more and more like biological computers.
Don't think - DO
You have to keep up with the speed to the computer
Our masters now are technological stuff.

A recent medical study have found that the average human now has an attention span of 8 seconds

The art of strategy to tactics is going away

Everyone just reacts

Sorry - not this person.
My career was in tech but now I am trying to be human

Getting off my a*s and shoot...

 

During the days of stress and anguish (care for dying parents and a stressful career), I would use photography as a means to relax.  The saying is that Street Photography is great in that you never know what you will encounter.  If you get nothing that day, it's ok because you got some exercise and time.

I finally decided to go and shoot.  My old unofficial office - The Presidio in San Francisco.
Being a weekend, the food trucks were out and grabbed a pretzel (since it's Oktoberfest in Deutschland)

Thing about shooting Instant film versus Digital or film.... Damn it's hard.

Digital is so easy to do - even in manual mode.
Don't get me wrong... great results especially if you know how to use your gear and take time to work on the art and composition.  

It takes so much more to try to get a shot.  Clandestine Street Photography - forget it.  If I took out the TLR Instant I might get away with it but with an SX70, people notice and actually are friendly to it because of how unique the camera is.

The limitations of Instant film is the challenge.  You really have to understand the medium and know that to get a good shot will require a lot of problem solving skills that photographers use to get "the shot"

The shot above is nothing.  Just a grab shot.

One thing is for certain... time for this OG to get out and shoot more !!!