Polaroid Film Faces Extinction

by Jarrett Martineau | February 8, 2008 at 04:19 pm
1600 views | 12 Recommendations | 2 comments

Photos

Polaroid self-portrait (circa 2002)

Polaroid self-portrait (circa 2002)

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uploaded by Jordan Yerman

Several years ago, I bought my first (and only) Polaroid camera at a thrift store for $2. I was excited to try out the medium and play around with instant analogue picture-taking. But I had no idea that 10 packs of Polaroid film cost almost $20 each. After a few expensive months of documenting random people and parties, I curbed my film spending in order to put it toward smarter purchases...not that I remember what those might have been. Beer maybe?

Then, this week, for some reason, I had the urge to get back into the quick pic taking game. Seems I'll have to act fast on my impulse...before 'shaking it like a polaroid picture' becomes a remembrance of things past.
Polaroid, famed for photographic prints that develop within moments, is getting out of the film business.

The company is shutting down two plants in Massachusetts used to make film for professionals and artists this quarter, The Boston Globe reported Friday. A similar plant in Mexico and one in the Netherlands for making consumer film packages will close by the end the year, and the company already has stopped making instant-film cameras, Polaroid said.

The Massachusetts-based company is interested in licensing its film technology to others, but if it doesn't happen, its film will likely run out in 2009.

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Rob Peters
Rob Peters
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 16:25 on February 8th, 2008

Jarrett Martineau, you're alright.

Jordan Yerman
Jordan Yerman
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:21 on February 9th, 2008

I wonder if Polaroid will continue to service the film and television industry, as has makers of Betamax equipment... instant photos are manna for continuity supervisors, effects coordinators, and all-important makeup artists: this is where digicams fail. Ever tried to use an inkjet printer on location? Yuck.

Also, you can snap a Polaroid and rub the latent with the edge of a coin- the results are awesome.

 

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Rob Peters
First Flagged at 4:25 PM, Feb 8, 2008 by Rob Peters
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