Polaroid 450 Bleached Negatives
September 3rd, 2011 - 13:55I’ve got hold of an old Polaroid 450 Land Camera – the kind with the peel-apart film – it’s really wonderful to see what it can do – especially since compatible film is still made by Fuji – at a not too extortionate price!
Interesting things happen if you keep hold of the throwaway part of the peel-apart film… It’s a bit sticky, and you have to transport it in a careful manner – but once you get it home you can tape it down onto a piece of glass and use ordinary household bleach to carefully remove all the black emulsion on the back of it… what results is basically a large format negative that can be scanned like any other.
The result of the bleaching and scrubbing leaves the edges dirty and mangled, and adds scratches, texture, and a generally rough effect that – to me anyway – looks rather wonderful.
I’m treating this like vintage digital camera! You get the small Polaroid print straight away and can use it as a preview to see how your shot will come out – then you take the negative home and work it up into something special.
Fun times! This selection were captured on holiday in Normandy this summer. More to come soon!
