Lament of The Polaroid

August 29th, 2008

You know that old saying, “You never know what you have until it’s gone?” It’s true. Last February, when Polaroid announced that they would discontinue all of their instant film and camera products, we — obsessive users of Polaroid — took a step back and said, “Wait. What? WHAT!?”

Almost overnight, fashionmongers of all walks started scouring the city searching for the last remaining caches of film and cameras. Fast-forward to September 2008 and you can forget the rising price of gas… With supplies expected to be completely tapped by 2009, Polaroid Spectra has found itself a black market of sorts, boasting price increases of almost 200% for a measly 10-pack. Imagine gas going from the national average of $3.09/gallon in February to $9.27/gallon in September. Yikes!

As with any type of change, adaptation is key. Looking towards the future, PRODn has been experimenting with digital photography and different printing techniques in an attempt to replicate the raw and unadulterated nature of the Polaroid. Impossible? No. Irreplaceable? We think so.

Here’s to you, Polaroid.