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B&H Photography Podcast

The Impossible Project and the Rebirth of Instant Film

B&H Photography Podcast

Jill Waterman

Podcast, Photography, Arts, Visual Arts, Bh, Photo

4.62K Ratings

🗓️ 18 August 2016

⏱️ 49 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

While digital camera manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to improve and increase resolution, dynamic range, frame rate, ISO, and…everything, a very strong counter trend has emerged that is turning back to analog, mechanical, and film techniques. Standing out among these “throwback” technologies is the rising popularity of instant film and instant film cameras. Fujifilm Instax has seen their sales soar but more interesting is the Impossible Project, who, in just a few years has become the go-to source for a wide variety of instant film and, recently, instant cameras, such as the new I-1 Instant Film Camera. On today's episode we talk with Patrick Tobin from Impossible and photographer George Weiss, who incorporates instant film into his portrait and wedding work. We discuss how Impossible began by purchasing the last remaining Polaroid film factory, how they refurbish cameras for re-sale and continue to tweak their instant film chemistry. Join us for an enlightening discussion on the intricacies of an upstart company that is finding success marketing “old” technology to new customers. Guests: Patrick Tobin and George Weiss Photograph: George Weiss www.georgeweissthethird.com www.bhphoto.com

Transcript

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0:00.0

You're listening to the B&H Photography Podcast.

0:04.1

For over 40 years, B&H has been the professional source for photography, video, audio, and

0:09.0

more.

0:10.0

For your favorite gear, news, and reviews, visit us at bnh.com or download the B&H app to

0:15.5

your iPhone or Android device.

0:17.7

Now here's your host, Alan White's.

0:20.1

Greetings and welcome to the B&H Photography Podcast.

0:23.5

Today's topic is the Impossible Project and the rebirth of instant camera photography.

0:29.1

Joining John Harrison, I, our Patrick Tobin, who is a logistics manager for the Impossible

0:34.4

Project, and George Weiss, a photographer who uses instant film photography in his wedding

0:38.5

and other commercial work.

0:41.1

I can honestly say that Polaroid has been part of my life forever.

0:44.3

Some of the earliest snapshots of me growing up were taken with my Uncle Jerry's Polaroid

0:48.4

Model 95, the very first Polaroid made.

0:52.1

And back in school, I often had an SX-70 or Polaroid 680 with me.

0:56.1

When I went pro, I had a Polaroid back for each of my camera systems, including a hacked

1:00.8

Nikon F3.

1:02.9

Then digital came along and Polaroid went, put along with a bunch of other analog and film

1:08.0

camera companies.

1:09.3

Film is dead, long live triax and instax.

1:12.9

And then you guys come along from Impossible.

1:16.7

What were you thinking?

...

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