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Holgaroid – end of an era

"The Process"

Polaroid has recently announced that they are ending production of all Type-80 pack film, the kind of film I need in order to use my "toy" camera the Holga and its Polaroid back.

This is a real shame. A photographer with a Holga can produce some unique and, in my opinion, some interesting, images. I have found that the cameras stark simplicity coupled with its sometimes unpredictable behavior a very nice creative outlet. I love the "sweet spot" of sharpness the lens has and the vignetting it can produce. When I finally got a hold of the Polaroid back for it, I found a near perfect match for my needs.

The Holga (by itself) takes medium-format film, something which is increasingly difficult for limited users to have processed (unless I was to start processing it myself) and very difficult or expensive to scan. Prior to purchasing the Polaroid back, I found the Holga being used less and less.

The Polaroid back afforded me the ability to produce images with the Holga very quickly. Thirty seconds, or so, with Type-84 film and I would have a print. If I didn't like it, I would shoot it again.

Pack film isn't cheap but, like my exercise/photography project, there is value in being forced to slow down and think about ones photography.

I recognize that, in part, I am to blame for Polaroid's decision. The digital revolution has swept away a lot of the consumer (and professional) film industry. Entire companies have been lost in this change. I do really enjoy digital photography, but there was something so appealing about having a small print right there, developed right before me.

And so, I've placed what will likely be my last order for Type-80 film. I decided to buy just Type-84, the ISO 100 B&W offering. With it, I want to make at least one very good family portrait (I'll need someone to press the shutter button for me for that one), one good portrait of Nathan, and maybe a few decent shots in Chicago. After that, the Polaroid back will likely be added to my collection of cameras, where it'll remain unused.

The photo I've included in this post certainly isn't a great example of what the Holga + Polaroid can do but instead it's a reminder of the fun I had shooting with it. To some it may look like a complicated mess, but to me it was relaxing and enjoyable. It's still amazing to me that Polaroid would have produced a back for the Holga in the first place, and that it lasted as long as it has. I just hope that with my remaining film packs, I can produce images that complement both my photgraphy and the Holga.