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Smile! Polaroid is saved

A businessman plans to rescue the abandoned format for the sake of art. Emily Dugan reports

For a generation, the Polaroid camera gave near-instant pleasure to millions of users around the world, chronicling everything from births and weddings to the downright explicit. But when digital photography came along in the 1990s – with instant images and the ability to edit and delete pictures before they see the light of day – Polaroid was doomed, its iconic white-framed snaps apparently defunct.

When Polaroid announced last February that it would stop production of its instant film, it seemed the much-loved camera was gone forever. But within weeks, a group of users had started a global campaign for the format to return. And now, thanks to an unlikely saviour, their pleas have been heard.

If all goes to plan, the Polaroid factory in Enschede, Amsterdam, will soon be making film again thanks to its new owner, an eccentric Austrian artist and businessman named Florian Kaps. Mr Kaps, 39, has dedicated the past five years to instant photography. He set up Polanoid.net, the biggest Polaroid gallery on the web, and the first ever Polaroid-only art gallery in Vienna, called Polanoir.

Now he plans to save the film. "The project is more than a business plan; it's a fight against the idea that everything has to die when it doesn't create turnover," said Mr Kaps.

Dubbed "The Impossible Project", the development of new film for Polaroid cameras launches today. Working with the Manchester-based black and white photography company Ilford, the machinery is in place to produce film of two exposure types, each compatible with both the classic SX-70 cameras popular with artists and the more modern 600 series.

Work has begun on a prototype. By hiring 11 of the original Polaroid team from the factory floor, Mr Kaps aims to mass produce both colour and black and white film under the Impossible label by December, coinciding with the projected date that existing stocks will run out.

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Comments

Great News!
[info]oneeyedman wrote:
Sunday, 18 January 2009 at 11:22 am (UTC)
OLE, OLE y OLE!!
Weblink
[info]trafficjan82 wrote:
Sunday, 18 January 2009 at 04:06 pm (UTC)
Since the link is missing...the official website of the project is
www.the-impossible-project.com
God bless you Mr. Kaps
[info]canadi_anna wrote:
Sunday, 18 January 2009 at 06:34 pm (UTC)
I wish the Impossible Project all the luck in the world. Because we need this. I eagerly await the first batch to arrive in Canada. :)
[info]simplystardust wrote:
Sunday, 18 January 2009 at 06:35 pm (UTC)
THANK YOU!!
[info]meaganini wrote:
Sunday, 18 January 2009 at 09:07 pm (UTC)
EXCITING!!!!
yay!
[info]tomates wrote:
Sunday, 18 January 2009 at 10:14 pm (UTC)
I would love to see polaroid film come back! I have a polaroid camera myself and one pack of film left so im doing whatever to try to conserve the best i can.
amsterdam
[info]nait_sir_hc wrote:
Sunday, 18 January 2009 at 10:14 pm (UTC)
amsterdam is a country?
Re: amsterdam
[info]crendice wrote:
Monday, 19 January 2009 at 05:21 pm (UTC)
geography FAIL -_-
[info]phonograffiti wrote:
Sunday, 18 January 2009 at 11:12 pm (UTC)
that's amazing!
[info]poorangryanie wrote:
Monday, 19 January 2009 at 01:31 am (UTC)
how cool
What's comes after the Polaroid?
[info]ianmtl wrote:
Monday, 19 January 2009 at 08:47 pm (UTC)
I work for a company called Tiny Pictures (http://tinypictrues.us) and we've been following this story for a while. In fact, the founder of Tiny Pictures often talks about the evolution of photography and how the service we're building was born from this evolution.

Although I've never owned a Polaroid camera, I clearly remember my parents snapping photos at Xmas and handing them out to the family. There's something really cool about being able to share those photos in the moment.

For those of you who have grown past Polaroid or are too young to remember it, I invite you to try Radar (http://radar.net) which is our approach to sharing photos in real-time, only we do it using the cameraphone. Give it a try and friend me if you like (http://radar.net/people/ianmtl).

I hope to see your project work! Best of luck.

Ian
Fantastic
[info]dostoyevsky01 wrote:
Wednesday, 21 January 2009 at 02:29 pm (UTC)
I read the announcement from Polaroid last year and was sad. The same thing almost happened with Kodak and Super 8 a few years ago, but now there are new Kodak Super 8 films which are proving successful.

Film still rocks over video and digital.
[info]orientalspooge wrote:
Thursday, 22 January 2009 at 07:27 pm (UTC)
this is sooo amazing.
I could cry I'm so happy!
[info]shannon_munro wrote:
Thursday, 22 January 2009 at 09:00 pm (UTC)
I am a twenty seven year old woman, living in Vancouver Canada. Three Years Ago I found three of my parents vintage Polaroid cameras. Polaroid shots were a huge part of my Parents and my childhood. Since finding the cameras, I have taken over 700 shot and have had two art show with a selection of these shots. Just before the announcement of Polaroids shut down, I was working on a Calendar and Magazine using strictly Polaroid photos. It broke my hear, and others involved. I even had one artist who used Polaroid strictly, break down crying when we were talking about the loss of the film.

It's not just the film, and it honest and dream like quality... It's the ritual and anticipation that comes with the one shot you get, and excitement of the results. I have never been as satisfied with a digital camera. I even went as far as to go on a Road trip across BC and buy out any existing film wherever I could find it. When I was on a vacation in San Fransisco last June, I bought out all of the film in the tourist Camera shops on Fisherman's Wharf. I have 50 shots left,and I hold on to them like gold.

I Applaud and and thank you with all my heart Mr Kaps. i will be forever a faithful customer.

Good Luck!

Shannon Munro
THANK GOD
[info]runbeliever wrote:
Saturday, 24 January 2009 at 05:40 am (UTC)
I send Polaroid a pretty harsh e-mail, and i just got 2 antique polaroid cameras and one brand new one to add to my favorite one that i decorated and have been using since day one. I am so glad there's going to be new film! so glad and thankful i love you!!!
Wwwwhhhaaatttt?!
[info]tteske wrote:
Sunday, 25 January 2009 at 06:54 pm (UTC)
REALLY!! This is AMAZING news :) Thank you, thank you!!
[info]msredkitty wrote:
Monday, 26 January 2009 at 10:40 pm (UTC)
please let type 55 be saved also.
Petters
[info]nikky817 wrote:
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 at 02:07 pm (UTC)
I thought Polaroid went bankrupt when ponzy schemer Tom Petters was arrested as he owned Polaroid here in the US (Minnesota)? I am confused. Does anyone else have any information as I could be mistaken. I know what I have heard from the news stations/radio that have been following his trial. He owes a lot of people a lot of money.
Medium and large format
[info]f8create wrote:
Thursday, 29 January 2009 at 05:55 pm (UTC)
That is cool! What about polaroid for medium and large format????

You know, its almost the same as digital, but its right there, in your hands! Although the old polaroid instant film lost color after a couple years, maybe they will develop a more efficient, environmental, almost archival quality polaroid film. Heck, how about IR polaroid! Lol... seriously. That would be way cool!
Medium and Large format
[info]f8create wrote:
Thursday, 29 January 2009 at 05:57 pm (UTC)
That is cool! What about polaroid for medium and large format????

You know, its almost the same as digital, but its right there, in your hands! Although the old polaroid film lost color after a couple years, maybe they will develop an efficient, environmental, almost archival quality polaroid film. Heck, how about IR polaroid! Lol... Seriously though..
Well well
[info]anynamewilldo56 wrote:
Sunday, 1 February 2009 at 02:57 pm (UTC)
I am delighted!
When we moved house five years ago we lost our much loved Polaroid camera in the
furore that is a house move.
I've wanted one ever since.
So good on ya Mr Kaps.
The next drinks on me.
Anna
x
Is it realy or not?
[info]giovanni67 wrote:
Thursday, 5 February 2009 at 01:48 pm (UTC)
Dear,
my name is Giovanni and I'm from Italy.
I'm a member of a group of lovers Polaroid istant film and i want ask you a question this article is really the polaroid film is saved?
Because all in the world know the position of Polaroid film. dec 2009-10 all the reserve of film ended but if this Mr. Kaps continue we are very happy polaroid never end in our hearts.
Best wishes

Giovanni
Polaroid Creative Film Reprieve
[info]billsx70 wrote:
Sunday, 8 February 2009 at 05:29 pm (UTC)
Excellent News! Now... Aside from purchasing, what can we do on our end?
billsx70
Oh how wonderful!
[info]phalange wrote:
Monday, 9 February 2009 at 02:52 am (UTC)
This was the best news I've heard so far this year!!!!
Happy Bunny!
[info]emmagoose wrote:
Thursday, 19 February 2009 at 08:58 pm (UTC)
Now as a 25 year old, I feel I was too young to fully appreciate the Polaroid... and was of the school of thought that the cameras "weren't that cool" as a kid. But I had recently decided to buy one as, everyone else says, nothing beats the special moment they create.

I was saddened to hear It wasn't worth buying one now (as i can't find film) but may now buy a camera and wait for the fabulous Mr Kaps to launch his stock! I'm so pleased Mr Kaps can pursue this project in the face of commercialism and apparent waning demand... I'm sure his efforts will be rewarded with a loyal, steady and larger than expected client base.

And now to raise awareness!!!
Whoop!
[info]senry wrote:
Tuesday, 17 March 2009 at 08:20 pm (UTC)
that is amaizng news!if we ever find any we snap it up at trhe moment! we love it!
Polaroid is Saved
[info]genekosinski wrote:
Monday, 23 March 2009 at 06:01 pm (UTC)
Fantastic!! I wish Mr. Kaps the very best. I collect Polaroid cameras, and it
is still an amazing technology. I'll be making room in my refrigerator tonight!

Gene
[info]meganwysocki wrote:
Friday, 5 June 2009 at 01:55 am (UTC)
thank goodness.
Printers
[info]catfishspy wrote:
Monday, 8 June 2009 at 03:56 pm (UTC)
Ink Worldwide supply ink cartridges, inkjet cartridges,printer ink cartridges, ink toner cartridges and compatible ink cartridges for Epson, HP, Brother, Dell, Canon, Lexmark ink cartridges and other leading printer manufacturers.
Polaroid Camera
[info]grandmag50a wrote:
Thursday, 16 July 2009 at 03:52 pm (UTC)
I have very old camera anybody interested? grandmag50a@aol.com
R.I.P.olaroid
[info]nationofartists wrote:
Saturday, 24 October 2009 at 08:11 am (UTC)
Great news for me - check out the video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzNywS5sLd0 - was wondering what would come next!
[info]princessspower wrote:
Friday, 30 October 2009 at 05:15 pm (UTC)
This is fantastic news. I remember my rich Auntie had a Poloroid in the eighties and I used to love playing with it. She once had a fit as I used nealy a full thing of film in one go :) There were pictures of the ceiling, the floor, my face and every part of the dining room from every angle. Poloroid have just released a new version for digital printers, it looks really good. Donna ColoursavePrinter cartridges

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