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The Impossible project has been made possible thanks to a dedicated team of ex-polaroid employees who we have to thank for new technology that supports the old. Keeping Analogue alive I can only encourage you to support this project and in return gain huge fulfillment that you can continue using your polaroid cameras that are laying dormant and gathering dust on your shelves. Thats right you can now buy film to use in cameras like these:

Polaroids taken on Land camera by Ben Innes (2006) using original polaroid film

The Story:

In October 2008 The Impossible Project saved the last Polaroid production plant for integral instant film in Enschede (NL) and started to invent and produce totally new instant film materials for traditional Polaroid cameras. In 2010 Impossible saved analog instant photography from extinction by releasing various, brand new and unique instant films. Therewith Impossible prevents more than 300,000,000 perfectly functioning Polaroid cameras from becoming obsolete, changes the world of photography and keeps variety, tangibility and analogue creativity and possibilites alive.

Impossible started with a small team of the very best 10 former Polaroid employees who shared our passion as well as the belief in our Impossible dream. Every single one of them has a long time of expertise in the field of instant film production - more than 500 years accumulated experience and knowledge.

The Impossible project is the result of the hard work of Dr Florian Kaps, who has dedicated the past eight years to instant photography. He set up Polanoid.net, the biggest Polaroid gallery online, and the first ever Polaroid-only art gallery in Vienna, called Polanoir.

As the film produced by 'The Impossible project' is not identical and a re-interpretation of original Polaroid film the colours and outcome are slightly different. There are some mixed responses in the commments online but I think its overall a beautiful re-birth, the Impossible website is highly informative of potential outcomes and the factors that these will depend on. i.e. the temperature and conditions the film is stored in or developing in, the lighting and such. You have a choice of two types of film to play with Silver shade or Colour Shade. The results can be quite experimental which adds to the intrigue and suspense of watching them develop in front of you. If you need any more persuading the galleries on site give great examples of each film outcome.

Examples taken from the Galleries of new polaroid film made by 'The Impossible'

Not only are the impossible project producing polaroid film they are pushing some great projects such as their Ghana edition of scrap recycled polaroid cameras...with an amazing story to go with it:

'Many years ago the Polaroid SX 70 camera captured the attention of the world. Even in Ghana this legendary camera is a cult object. In the streets of Accra an employee of our agency Heine/Lenz/Zizka discovered this remarkable replica of the SX-70 camera. An incredible homage, a work of art proving that something can be created out of nothing. With imagination and skill teenagers in Ghana have created this amazing object out of nothing but old scrap metal. The Impossible Ghana Edition shares the playful spirit of the Ghana artists. With their version of the SX 70 camera the artisans in Accra have achieved something that engineers can only dream of: they reduced the weight of the original from 800 g to only 170 g and made the construction even more compact. The downside? Optics, mechanics and everything else necessary to shoot a photo are missing. But that's a small sacrifice, THIS camera allows you to create fantastical images that can only be created with the mind's eye.

You can purchase one of the exclusive IMPOSSIBLE GHANA EDITION Polaroid cameras and all proceeds will support "Chance for Children".

The Impossible project has also become an answered prayer to those campaigning against Polaroid deciding to end the production of film in 2008, and now is a great resource for fans to exchange and celebrate their new found medium that can continue their long lasting relationships with their beloved cameras.

www.the-impossible-project.com

Photography

Posted by — Aurelia Lange

February 2012