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TIPS ON HOW TO USE A POLAROID CAMERA

Is this the first time you use a Polaroid camera? Well, here you have some basic tips to consider when shooting with your new (or old) instant camera.

  • The first thing you have to do, after having a Polaroid camera stored for years in the closet, or after buying it secondhand is: clean the rollers. These may be stained with chemicals and it would be annoying if they stain your photos. To clean them, it’s as simple as opening the compartment where you put the cartridge, put alcohol in a cotton ball and rub the rollers until you consider they are clean. Ideally, you should do this every time you change the film. You can see how it is done in these videos:

Polaroid 600: 

Polaroid Land camera: 

  • Once you have put the cartridge in and closed the compartment, the black sheet that comes with the reel, so the photos aren’t overexposed, will be automatically ejected from the camera. If the camera has flash, you will hear a very low beep and (depending on the model) a small light will be lit, this is because it was activated when you inserted the Polaroid film because that’s where the battery is.
  • Adjust the exposure wheel to the light. It's that little wheel that the camera brings, that's half white and half black. Impossible Project Sx-70 cartridges are more sensitive to light than older Polaroid ones, so photos will tend to come out a bit clearer. Therefore, in situations where there is enough light, it is advisable to turn the wheel 1/3 towards the dark side. If you are going to use the flash, then it is advised to leave the wheel in the middle. Remember that the flash is usually not effective beyond two and a half meters. 
  • ATTENTION: This doesn’t need to be done with Type 600 or Spectra reels
Impossible project polaroid
  • According to Impossible Project, the ideal temperature for your photographs to be perfect is between 13° and 28°. The more significant the difference in temperature, the longer it will take for your photographs to develop and we’ll find greater color differences in our pictures. Pictures will be less colorful below 13°. Over 28°, pictures will have yellow and reddish tones. One tip for taking photos in low temperatures is to take them as close to your body as possible and then store them somewhere in your clothing (an inside pocket of the jacket, under the shirt...) to keep it warm as it develops. If, on the other hand, we take the photos in higher temperatures, it is recommended to put them, as soon as possible, in the refrigerator while they are developed or in an air-conditioned room (although we know that this is not always possible...).
  • Impossible Project films are very sensitive to light when they are being developed, so it’s recommended to store the photo as soon as possible and cover it from the light as soon as it leaves the camera and while it is developed (10 or 15 minutes for black and white film, and 40 minutes for color film). One option is to incorporate the Impossible Project Frog Tongue. When you put it on the camera, you will be protecting the photo for the first few seconds it’s revealed. The new Impossible formula allows you to take the photo without worrying so much about covering it quickly

impossible project accesories

  • This type of film shouldn’t be shaken to develop it. Actually, this may harm the developing process.
    • Store the pictures in a non-humid place. Humidity is the enemy of Polaroid pictures; in just a few months, it can fill them with mold. We recommend using hermetic tapers, the ones that can be bought at any supermarket.
      • Remember that, since Bronkey, you can buy leather cases so your Polaroid looks brand new. You can find them here
      • Lastly, the most important tip is to simply take pictures, write down all the possible errors, and improve for next time. Trial and error. 

      Info about the post

      The heading picture was designed by Freepik and you can download it for free here. This article was written in Spanish by our friends from Analog is Different, you can check their online store here,for more info. This article was edited and translated by the Bronkey team.

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