polaroid

Locked Down

Having completed my triptych journal I decided that it should be bound into a book.

My journal is printed on fine art matte paper and the cover is made from Nepalese Lokta paper that has been waxed to give it an aged look. Finally it has been hand- bound with Japanese stab binding. I have made stab bound books before, but the challenge this time was to make a hard backed version with a flexible spine.

Here are a few sample pages.

Hard back Lokta paper cover and stab binding in linen thread

Vellum sheet

Title page

Introduction

Chapter Introduction

One triptych page from Time Management chapter

One triptych page from Emergence chapter

If you wish to see the contents of the book then please scroll through my previous blog posts.

Thank you so much for looking at my blog. I hope you have enjoyed it.


Lockdown 2020

During this period of isolation with time on our hands, I have decided to continue exploring the potentials of the Polaroid. Subsequently, I have found myself in a rather strange place, which is rather fitting considering our new ‘normal’ at present. I have resurrected a 1966 Polaroid 250 Land Camera and ventured into the realms of pack peel-apart film. My first batch is FP3000b - super speedy instant Black and White prints . This pack expired in 2012.
Apart from the nauseous smell and bouts of light headiness from the chemicals, it has been a slow and interesting experience. Each piece of film is precious, they aren’t made anymore so supply is limited and cost is high. So like our lives right now I have slowed right down, given thought to how this beast of a camera and its film operates, thought about the images I wish to make and celebrated each of the random, bizarre outcomes. Everything that emerges from this camera is a surprise to me. The out-of-date film has a life of its own, my limited knowledge creates uncertainty and together the weird and unpredictable is formed. Now that really appeals to me!

I don’t like anything going to waste, so all elements of the Polaroids are being explored. In the case of the peel-apart pack, it’s the negatives I’m particularly excited about. The actual prints allude to hidden secrets, so once the negatives have dried I dive straight in. Here are my first three attempts, they do get better after this!!!

First attempt with scratched title. Used straight from the fridge - error #1 - too cold and pulled apart far too soon.

Error #2 turned the exposure knob too far over to the darken side and peeled apart too soon. Looks like an under-exposed X-ray.

Result! Loving those light streaks, where did they come from?. Error #3 touching the wet negative leaves a fingerprint - actually I don’t really consider that an error, it adds a personal touch.

Self portrait 1966 Polaroid 250 expired film.

Really looking forward to see what else this beast of a camera produces.

Submerged #3

I made a big discovery with my latest batch of submerged Polaroids - heat. I hadn’t quite appreciated the intense heat we had in the summer played quite a major part in the ‘cooking’ of my previous Polaroids. They bubbled away for 3 months, while the chemicals did their thing…

Well, my cold winter batch barely changed despite the addition of bleach, followed by white spirits, turpentine and finally after my patience got the better of me - oven cleaner. The changes were still minimal. On reflection, I wish I had stopped there. Too late - within seconds - two images virtually perished in the microwave, I would have continued but the flames were quite worrying.

So, next it was the turn of the oven. Not a bad result - initially - but I got distracted… they are quite crispy now and pretty far gone. Interesting though.

Not to be deterred, I have revisited these Polaroids and have been rewarded with something quite interesting, but you will have to wait until the next post.