Some my older shots of watches. These were all taken with a camera that Nikon describes as a “prosumer” camera which is a nice way to say, “consumer camera with some cool features.” Basic 3meg JPGs and in each case what makes them stand out, aside from some cool watches, is the lighting. The best thing about lighting, it’s free to anyone with a camera. All you have to do is meet is at least meet it halfway and try, if not to control it, to harness it towards your goal.

My point is that it doesn’t matter what the object is to be photographed. Sure, it helps if it’s a magnificent edifice or a famous person but failing that you can still do magic with everyday, ordinary things. It’s in the approach to the item. Sometimes a straightforward illustrative take on a visual is the right thing to do. Sometimes the right thing to do is to force your viewer to look at the hidden, intrinsic qualities of an object.

Polaroid announced that as soon as they have produced enough film to last through 2009 they will cease production of their legendary instant film. For more than sixty years Polaroid has been the name in instant photography.

I’ve owned a half dozen or so Polaroid cameras over the years. Given my penchant for instant gratification photography, Polaroid was the only answer. I love Polaroid.

Four exposures on one sheet of film shot with the Minolta Instant Pro

I think what many people miss about photography, not snapshots but photography is that it is an abstracting medium. I think people assume that since it’s not paint or pencils, it’s just a matter of reproducing something from real life. Just grabbing a moment in time is a snapshot. Understanding the level of abstraction possible in with a given photographic tool is part of photography. A great photograph is both more than real and not real at all. Polaroid was a wonderful tool for great photographs.

The Minolta Instant Pro. I’ve owned three of these and I quite literally shot them up until they wouldn’t shoot anymore.

I have a 12x18x12 box full of Polaroid sheets. Thousands of images taken, mostly with the Minolta Instant Pro (above) and a small percentage with the Polaroid ProPack (a later version of the venerable Polaroid 150, folding, sheet film camera).

This is sad on so many levels I’m not really sure where to take this. It’s sad that an American business is going away. It’s sad that a great product is disappearing. It’s sad that photography is taking one more step away from mechanical and chemical processes.

Matthew Sweet performing at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz, California in 1993.

There are millions of moments in time captured on Polaroid but come 2009, that will end.

Goodbye old friend and thanks.

A very tolerant and patient Sarah McLachlan on the day her “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy” album was released.