The first 15 years of my life have been documented with a Polaroid Camera. My Grandpa loved having his camera within reach, ready to capture his grandchildren blowing out the candles of their Birthday cake, opening Christmas gifts, or being silly at family picnics. If I were lucky, my Grandpa would let me take a few pictures. Mesmerized, I watched the image I photographed come to life, deepen in contrast, and pop. I am still thrilled by Polaroid’s ability to capture rich color with its Spectra film, as well as the immediacy of a fully developed and printed photograph.

Edwin Land invented Instant Photography; inspired by his three-year old daughter who once asked him why she couldn’t see the photo he had taken of her right away.  In 1948 he sold the first instamatic camera to the public. One no longer needed to wait for their film to be developed and printed with Land’s new patent. The new Land Camera spit photosensitive plastic sheets out of its mouth, infused with chemicals, functioning as both film and photograph. Watching your image develop within minutes of snapping the picture made the new Polaroid cameras all the rage and an overnight success.

Polaroid Pictures make me think of documentation, family, and domestic spaces. It holds for me a similar nostalgia that square black and white Brownie prints hold for my parents. Just as the Kodak Company has ceased making 220 film to fit the Brownie Cameras, Polaroid has just announced that they will stop producing film for their instamatic cameras. They will only produce the film this first quarter of 2008, and then it will be gone-left in the hands of e-bay where the prices will soar as long as the expiration dates are current.

I have been feeling the death of the 20th century strongly lately. It began with the announcement that Coney Island was being bought out by developers who plan to build beachfront condos. (This will be the last year that Coney Island will be open and running, so don’t miss your chance to be a part of it’s history.) It now continues with the death of Polaroid film and its replacement-digital cameras. I am enamored by digital technology as much as anyone. I am thrilled by 13 mega pixels and the ability to shoot raw. But my roots are in the black and white and color darkrooms, hand developing and printing, alternative processes, and plastic cameras. Polaroid film has given a solid run and inspired the masses for 50 years. If you can’t find Polaroid film in your local store, chances are, I’ve already beaten you there. R.I.P Polaroid Film.