In today’s world of smartphones and digital photography, it’s easy to forget where it all began. The definition of “instant photography” has certainly come a long way. Now, with images generated through electronic processes, the way we perceive them has radically changed.
This book (image below) covers all the cultural perceptions and scientific discoveries that made Polaroid something truly special. For Buse, Polaroid is not just an object of nostalgia — it’s a catalyst tied to the massive changes we see in technology today. Here are five Polaroid technological innovations that changed the way we think about photography.
Buse Polaroid
Before entering the camera business, reclusive inventor Edwin Land was busy in the 1930s researching polarizing filters, mainly for military goggles and 3D movie glasses. In 1947, he first demonstrated his camera invention, turning popular science into a spectacle and setting history on a course that would lead us to the great convergence of art and science — and, eventually, the selfie.
His product aimed to compete with the popular Kodak Brownie.
“In the not too distant future, people will take pictures with their eyeballs and tweet them with their thoughts. If Edwin Land’s goal was to remove the barriers of speed and distribution between taking a photo and holding the finished picture, we can say that we have realized his vision.” — from The Camera Does the Rest
Polaroid Model 20 Swinger: 1965
The Polaroid Swinger weighed 600 grams and cost $19.95. Made of plastic and featuring a wrist strap so it could be worn as an accessory, it reassured users they had the right exposure when the grid inside the viewfinder lit up with the word “YES.”
Polaroid SX-70: 1972
In 1972, Dr. Edwin Land introduced the first single-step instant camera — The Polaroid SX-70 — a fully automatic, motorized device. According to a short promotional documentary by Charles and Ray Eames, the SX-70 was designed from the ground up to break down “the barriers between the photographer and the subject.” In Eames’ words, it was “a system of novelties.”
Polaroid Spectra: 1986
The Spectra was a high-quality system, with accessories including special effect filters for motion blur, red central spot, starburst flash, and multi-image. Its sturdy body moved away from the fragile folding bellows and featured a complex Quintic lens and sonar autofocus. It launched with a new line of film cartridges, with an image area 10% larger than that of the SX-70.
By the 1990s, film was advertised for improved sharpness and reduced grain. Eventually, it was branded as Spectra HD for “high definition,” at a time when digital resolution was still an abstract concept.
Polaroid Captiva: 1991
By 1980, Polaroid was well aware of the approaching advancements in electronic imaging. Smaller, more agile companies were quickly filling the market, but that didn’t stop Polaroid from filing patents for an electronic camera that used a charge-coupled device (CCD sensor) and tape for data storage. On the back, they envisioned a preview screen giving the user the ability to print, reject, or save the image.
It’s easy to see how this design modification foreshadowed a new mode of photography, and how Polaroid innovations changed the very act of taking pictures as we know it today.
