Polaroid Week - Day Two

Polaroid Week, or I should call it Fall Polaroid Week, since we already had one in May, kicked off yesterday. Yes, it is technically called 'Roid Week but the picture that brings to my mind isn't pretty... I look forward to trying new things during Polaroid Week and this time around I got out a Sears Special One Step Land Camera with it's retro rainbow striped goodness. This camera came out about 1977, for $39.95. I bought it at a thrift store in 2009 for $10. Not sure if it worked, but Oh Baby, it does. It takes SX-70 film, and I just happened to have 4 packs that expired late last year. Whoopie! Now if only I could do the impossible and photograph the lovely little camera with itself... oh wait, I just got am idea for tomorrow's photo...


Today I made some natural light photos of my youngest daughter on my bed beneath a series of Polaroids (on the wall) of her older sister kissing and hugging my belly when I was pregnant with her. This camera used a strip of flashbulbs for illumination (wow, how many of those are in landfills now?) so I am forced to use natural light. These exposures were long, and I didn't even check for a tripod mount. I like how the camera shake and colors of the SX-70 film makes this look like an impressionist painting...

Polaroid Images by Tiffany Teske

For 10 ideas in how to display Polaroids see this previous post...

Film Check...

I had to check an old film pack in an old camera to make sure it worked. There were only a couple shots so I decided to shoot my little ones. Emmanuelle is sporting a Hurley sleeper from grandma (the shot is not clear enough for you to make out the total 80s print), and Quin is photographing me with her 35mm Kitty Holga K202, that I ordered about the time she was born, directly from China. When she pushes a button, the kitty meows and red lights blink to make people smile (or to drive mom crazy...)

Back from THE ROAD

Victoria Beach August 2009 Holgaroid Image by Tiffany Teske

Wow, three weeks go by fast! I realize I still need to post one more in my Kiki's wedding series, which I shall do by the end of the weekend. It will include the letter to my friend, whom the series was made for. The above image was shot a few days ago, as my family left the cottage we were staying in at Victoria Beach, Manitoba, on Lake Winnipeg. It is a unique and idyllic place where you must park in a lot and then walk or bike to your cottage. The only vehicles allowed past the gate are Victoria Beach taxis. It makes it a safe place for kids to run wild and experience that necessary freedom of childhood. And it makes everyone more physically fit. I was able to shoot several images of this rare place and will post them in coming days.

Hello from Olympia, Washington!

We are at our friend's home in Olympia, enjoying the spring warmth and their generous hospitality. We only have two days to see a ton of stuff, so I will do my best to post some updates but it may have to wait until we reach Kelowna next week. I have been experimenting with a new film in my Polaroid back of my Holga... wish I had a scanner so I could post them. More soon...