Polaroids, with their saturated colors and blow-out flashes, have always been a favorite of mine. So when, a year and a half ago, it was announced that Polaroid film would no longer be produced, I shed a metaphorical tear and reflected on the fact that technological progress can sometimes be a very, very bad thing. Sure, we’ve all moved to a digital photo world where every ball game or vacation consists of hundreds of snapshots, most of which will never be looked at again, much less printed and framed. Digital cameras with their LCD screens that immediately show you the photo you’ve taken have replaced that Polaroid draw and maybe in some ways became the new Polaroid. But, for lack of a better or less whiny rebuttal, it’s just not the same as having that plastic photo developing in your hands. It’s just not the same.
Well, thanks to some thoughtful Aussies who have acquired a Polaroid film factory in the Netherlands, the fantastic film may once again be on drug store shelves. Hey, ya!
In the meantime, enjoy virtual Polaroid with iPhone apps Polarize and ShakeItPhoto, both which, in agreement with my personal taste for the Polaroid aesthetic, make your digital iPhone snapshots look a whole lot better.
