Ruined Polaroid #27 © William Miller
Beyond the boast of "democratizing photography" (which the Brownie Camera did more than a century ago), one of Instagram's first signatures was its square format, and countless filters that nostalgically mimicked film types, flares, and early analog-only processes. Among these, its loudest nod was perhaps to Polaroid photography, in both its aesthetic and its instantaneous process.
In his recent book "The Camera Does The Rest: How Polaroid Changed Photography," Peter Buse, while providing a thorough history, likens the Polaroid to a Sony Walkmen -- an "expired technology that lives in the past." While this rings true on many levels, great work has been done to bring the medium into the present and future. For example The Impossible Project's reinvention of the film (and purchase of its factories) when Polaroid shut down production in 2008, and Land Camera/ Rare Medium's efforts to restore old Polaroid cameras and create a community around them.
So where does this leave photographers who are still making Polaroid specific work? How does "digital nativity" and seeing the world thru an app or phone-driven lens color or inform new Polaroid work. Is it possible to work within the medium without relying on nostalgia? For Humble's next open call, "Group Show #50: 'Roid Rage" we want to see Polaroid work made since 2010, the year Instagram launched.
Submission Details:
DEADLINE:
August 1, 2016
GUIDELINES:
1. Please submit your 50-100 word bio, statement and other information via THIS FORM.
2. Email five (5) JPGs at 1,800 pixels on the longest side to submit AT hafny DOT org with " 'Roid Rage Submission" in the subject line, and each image titled with your name and the number of the image (i.e. Andy_Warhol_01)
PLEASE NOTE: re: Fuji Instax and other instant film formats: We will accept your submission as long as your images are:
a) made with a Polaroid Camera
and/or
b) made using Polaroid / Impossible film.
i.e.: if you're making some kind of crazy camera-less work but still using Polaroid/Impossible film, you're ok. OR if you're using Instax/ etc film in a Polaroid camera, you're also good!
IMPORTANT: Please do NOT submit zipped folders of images.
ALSO IMPORTANT: Please do NOT watermark your images. We promise you, if we use them, we will give you proper attribution, but cannot take submissions seriously that include watermarks.
OPTIONAL:
Want quicker visibility on your submissions? Hashtag #HAFROIDZ and @humbleartsfoundation on Instagram after submitting via email.
FEE: None.
PLEASE READ:
All submissions must follow the above guidelines.
Jon Feinstein will select photographers to feature in HAFNY's online Group Show #50: 'Roid Rage," which will go live on Humble's website in September 2016, and potentially be shared on Humble's Instagram. We will announce selected photographers via our Instagram feed @humbleartsfoundation and through our mailing list.