Category Archives: Polaroid

What is art?

A good and eternal question. A very talented artist, Ernst Billgren, has written two books about it. A great, funny and interesting read. In one of the articles he writes “that many things can maybe be considered art, but perhaps not a wrench”. Note! He does NOT say that it isn´t art, and that is about the wrench itself. How, if you use a wrench in your art? Then perhaps the wrench becomes art. Or part of.

I realise that over the years I have photographed many wrenches in many different ways. Art or not, that was nothing that I have ever given a thought. Here is a small selection of images, and perhaps I can produce an exhibition with just wrenches in the near future.

My father had a garage and that was where I grew up around cars, tractors, lorries and lots of tools. I did not become a mechanics like my father and brother but I have always kept en interest in and love to, especially, old tools. I have also taken care of the tools after my father in law. They often becomes items in my photographed still lifes. I am sure my background has something to do with this.

More tool and wrench art is to come.

If it becomes an exhibition I will be happy to write to Ernst Billgren about it…😉 Pelle

Now I have also started painting them. This is made with watercolors.
From a calendar project in 2000. No. Vlll = 8

More Polaroids

8×10″ Emulsion Transfer

I promised to show more Polaroids, and here is another selection.

You could also lift the emulsion from the Polaroid and transfer that to another material. Like here. It was tricky, using warm water and soft brushes. You had to be VERY careful not to destroy the emulsion because it is so very thin.

I became a digital photographer very early. It was not planned, but circumstances had it that way. I never regret that, but I sometimes miss the analog days. Like when I see these images. These are all 8×10″ made with my Sinar camera and lots of patience.

😊 Pelle

polaroids, big and small

Stille life with old postcards

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

The team from Polaroid and me in the middle.
Me and the assistant working on a transfer. I am so sorry I don´t remember his name.
Still life with old school books and film stars