Instant camera
An instant camera is a camera which uses self-developing film to create a chemically developed print shortly after taking the picture. Polaroid Corporation pioneered (and patented) consumer-friendly instant cameras and film, and were followed by various other manufacturers.
For digital cameras with built-in printers, see Instant-print camera.
The base of the technology is from a Hungarian chemist, Rott Andor. His invention, direct positive photography, also known as DTR (Diffusion Transfer Reversal) was patented in 1939. With the DTR process, the photographed surface or object immediately appears as a positive, which is an image corresponding to the dark and light shades of the original. When developing the image, the fixer and the developing material are present at the same time, and they immediately interact.
The invention of commercially viable instant cameras which were easy to use is generally credited to American scientist Edwin Land, who unveiled the first commercial instant camera, the model 95 Land Camera, in 1948,[1] a year after he unveiled instant film in New York City.
In February 2008, Polaroid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time and announced it would discontinue production of its instant films and cameras, shut down three manufacturing facilities, and lay off 450 workers.[2] Sales of analog film by all makers dropped by at least 25% per year in the first decade of the 21st century. In 2009, Polaroid was acquired by PLR IP Holdings LLC, which uses the Polaroid brand to market various products often relating to instant cameras. Among the products it markets are a Polaroid branded Fuji Instax instant camera, and various digital cameras and portable printers.
As of 2017, film continues to be made by Polaroid B.V. (previously the Impossible Project) for several models of Polaroid camera, and for the 8×10 inch format.[3] Other brands such as Lomography, Leica, Fujifilm, and others have designed new models and features in their own takes on instant cameras.
Applications[edit]
Instant cameras have found many uses throughout their history. The original purpose of instant cameras was motivated by Jennifer Land's question to her father (Edwin Land): "Why can't I see them now?" Many people have enjoyed seeing their photos shortly after taking them, allowing them to recompose or retake the photo if they didn't get it right. But instant cameras were found to be useful for other purposes such as ID cards, passport photos, ultrasound photos, and other uses which required an instant photo. They were also used by police officers and fire investigators because of their ability to create an unalterable instant photo. Medium and large format professional photographers have also used the higher end instant cameras to preview lighting before taking the more expensive medium and/or large format photo. Instant film also has been used in ways that are similar to folk art, including the transfer of the images/emulsion and image manipulation.
Script supervisors in film production used instant cameras (until superseded by digital cameras) as standard to aid visual continuity by photographing actors, sets or props, to take photographs that could be instantly referred to when a particular set or character's appearance needs to be reset and shot again, or recalled later due to reshoots or the out-of-sequence shooting schedule of a film or television production.[17]
The fashion industry relied upon Polaroid prints as a record of models or potential models.[18]
Instant photography was also useful in conducting a study about the perception of vehicle accidents.[19] The instant photos were used to document accidents to show medical professionals the condition of a vehicle after an accident.[19] Having this visual in turn changed how the physician viewed the accident their patient was in.[19]
With the advent of digital photography, much of the instant camera's consumer appeal has been transferred to digital cameras. Passport photo cameras have gone to digital, leaving instant cameras to a niche market.
Instant Cameras and Society
The introduction of instant camera technologies was important to society because it allowed for more creativity among camera users.[4] Instead of having to use a darkroom to develop photographs, users were able to explore and document their world and experiences as they occurred.[4] Instant Camera photography acted as an activity to some of its users.[4] Instant cameras were portrayed by Polaroid as being able to combine the activities of both taking a photo and viewing one, into a singular past time.[4]
In popular culture[edit]
Polaroid pictures are used extensively in the movie Memento.
The popular 2003 song 'Hey Ya!' by Outcast features the line "Shake it like a Polaroid picture", referring to the myth that shaking an instant photo makes it dry faster. In reality, shaking has no positive effect and can even damage the photo. As a result of the song, the Polaroid Corporation released a statement discouraging the practice.[24]
The name and app icon of the social photo sharing platform Instagram, founded in 2010, originated from the instant camera, with the 2010 icon directly resembling a Polaroid Land Camera 1000.
Instant cameras featured prominently in the 2015 video game Life Is Strange in which the protagonist, Max Caulfield, frequently uses one.
In 2014, American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift used Polaroids as the aesthetic for her fifth studio album 1989.