Polaroid used to be a material photographers used to secure the exposure, but it also gave us an opportunity to use it more artistically.

It came in 3 1/4×4 1/4″, 4×5″ and 8×10″ size. But also in 20×24″ built for very special Polaroid cameras. I used Polaroids frequently and also made Polaroid transfers. The image was then transferred on to other papers, films etc. I held workshops at Photokina in Cologne and various other places to show how to do.

My images with the 20×24″ camera were made in Stockholm using one of the very few Polaroid cameras that were traveling the world. It never went anywhere without an assistant. To be prepared for the event I made my sketches in 8×10″ on my studio floor. However, the Polaroid camera was huge and I had to nail and glue all my still lifes on a board leaning it to a wall. I just couldn´t tilt it as much as my 8×10″ camera. When you see the camera you will understand. I think the transfers I made with this camera are rare.

That was many years ago, but I still remember it like it was yesterday. During a day I made a total of 4 images. The image above with a selection of postcards after my grandmother. Original image size 20×24″ is 52×62 cm!

I will be back to show some more Polaroid images in other formats and styles that I made.

Polaroid also produced the SX-70 camera, but that is another story.

😊 Pelle