PX 70 Giveaway: Show us your “burning house” polaroid
Polaroid Week is just around the corner, and I’ve got instant film on the brain. Aside from the aesthetic advantages of instant film and the camaraderie of other instant shooters, I think many of us enjoy polaroids (intentional lowercase “p” to include modern instant photos made with Impossible and Fuji films) because the prints, as objects, inspire a sort of nostalgia that mere pixels cannot.
Isn’t it magical?! The PX 70 photos above are by the spectacularly talented Anne Bowerman
(a.k.a. Anniebee from The Impossible Project).
I’ve been totally fascinated with The Burning House, a fantastic Tumblr blog that asks just one question of those who submit for publication: If your house was burning, what would you take with you? Scrolling through the posts, you’ll notice almost everyone includes photos in their lists. And many, many specifically include polaroids.
This comes as no surprise, yet somehow it’s noteworthy. It gives me hope for the longevity of instant film.
So, to celebrate Polaroid Week, the spirit of instant photography, the folks at The Impossible Project who are working so hard to keep the instant fires burning, and everyone who has actually read this far … Let’s have a little giveaway. Actually, let’s have TWO giveaways. This is the first one, for a pack of the new PX 70 film, courtesy of The Impossible Project. I’ll announce the second one later this week.
To enter, you must answer this prompt in the comments:
Show us your “burning house” polaroid. It could be a vintage photo from your childhood, or a favorite instant image that you or a friend captured recently. It doesn’t matter … Just a share a link to the ONE polaroid you’d save if your house was on fire and you could only save one. Don’t think too much, just answer it.
I can’t wait to see all the photos! When I announce the winner, I’ll share some totally nerdy vintage polaroids of yours truly. I’m wearing dorky 80s glasses. You will NOT want to miss it.
Here’s the fine print for this fine giveaway:
To enter, you must comment here and use a valid email address. You must be currently subscribed to The Impossible Project’s weekly-ish email newsletter (sign up here) AND to the Analog Adventures infrequent email newsletter (sign up here). The winner will be randomly selected, and the email address will be cross-checked against the subscriber list for both newsletters. Film will be shipped directly from the Impossible USA office, but may be shipped (no charge) anywhere in the world. International entries are welcome. The Impossible Project will see your email address, and of course I’ll see your email address, but otherwise it will not be shared, and you will not receive spam from either organization. The Impossible Project is supplying the film for this giveaway, and I occasionally receive test/promotional film to sample, however, TIP has not paid for this post/giveaway and all opinions expressed here are my own.
More about PX 70:
The newest version of PX 70 can be used in an SX-70 or 600 camera, with careful adjustment of the lighten/darken wheel. Learn more about the film here and here, and see examples in The Impossible Project Flickr group.
Update: I just realized I didn’t put a deadline to enter … Let’s say Thursday, July 7 at 8:00 a.m. (USA Eastern Time).
Another Update: Comments are now closed. Thanks to everyone who participated!
82 comments
Kat White
July 5, 2011I didn’t even know you had a blog Jessica! I clearly haven’t been paying attention
I’m now subscribed! x
Jess
July 5, 2011I don’t post here as often as I should … So it’s very easy to overlook.
Thanks for subscribing!
Wouldpkr
July 5, 2011http://www.flickr.com/photos/wouldpkr/5828949374/in/set-72157626197048619
Jess
July 5, 2011Nice! You’ve done a great job of pulling light from expired film.
Claire Helene
July 5, 2011I would say this polaroid of my dear friend and his son/my godson, but I gave the original to them. Instead I choose this one of the little village I’ve called home for the last 4 years.
Jess
July 5, 2011Both are so wonderful, Claire! Nothing like capturing favorite people and places on instant film.
Kim
July 5, 2011This is a wonderful giveaway and I love the film.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/momentscaptured/5776175961/
The email used to subscribe to the TIP newsletter is my business email. Kim at unscriptedmomentsphotography dot com .
Jess
July 5, 2011What a sweet moment!
rebekah
July 5, 2011http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebekahjaswa/5141670868/
this one.
Jess
July 5, 2011Ooh, 669 … one of my favorite films.
qnadam
July 5, 2011http://qnadam.hu/blog/index.php?showimage=442
i simply like it.
Jess
July 5, 2011I can see why you like it! Those colors are lovely.
Kristi Evelyn
July 5, 2011http://quelrat.tumblr.com/post/7285399689/immmmpossible-lighthouse
….from that time i climbed to the top of the lighthouse on montauk island.
Jess
July 5, 2011I love lighthouses! That’s a gorgeous landscape.
dm witman
July 5, 2011http://dmwitman.com/
all of them!!! they were all shot with Polaroid Type 55!
Jess
July 5, 2011I can see why it’s hard to choose … Type 55 is so special! Do you know about the New 55 Project?
Jon Duenas
July 5, 2011If I had to pick one, it would probably be this one.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/claphammedia/4700549778/
Jess
July 5, 2011Cannon Beach … sigh. I recently added it to my “favorite places in the world” list.
Jon Duenas
July 6, 2011I’ve been mentally planning to go back there soon.
Kat White
July 5, 2011I’d def save this polaroid of my Grandad that I took on ANZAC Day just a few months ago. I look up to him so much, and plan on making a nice big print of this sometime soon
http://flic.kr/p/9CWG4F
Jess
July 5, 2011WOW — I missed that one before. I’m so glad you posted the link! Such a wonderful portrait.
Kat White
July 5, 2011Yeah I feel pretty lucky to have captured that moment. Only just started getting into taking photos of friends and family, so it’s a good starting point
Sheila Devlin
July 5, 2011I left a piece of my heart in Praha, CH. I’ll never let go of this pola…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheiladevlin/4285450364/in/set-72157623352293394
Jess
July 6, 2011Those shadows are lovely!
kathryn
July 5, 2011This one for sure…
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gdffOkGWMXTrbCKo8HAssfp3V89V6ol3J8zfOdMdaD8?feat=directlink
Not just an image, an aura.
Jess
July 6, 2011I can almost hear the music.
Andrew
July 5, 2011I would probably say this photo: http://flic.kr/p/9TL7Nb
Its taken with a pinhole camera I converted out of a Polaroid colorpack because when i bought it the shutter was faulty.
Jess
July 6, 2011Wow, that’s awesome! I love pinhole cameras and would love to make a polaroid version someday.
Suki
July 5, 2011Hi Jess — fun idea! In reality, if the house were on fire I’d take all the letters that my grandma and grandpa wrote to one another from 1938 til my grandfather returned from war on Christmas of 1945. But if I had to choose one of my analog snaps, it would be this one — one of the very first I took with my very first instant camera
)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/techpolicygirl/4412455543
Jess
July 6, 2011Nice work for you first instant photo! (And yes, this hypothetical question assumes that all loved ones and pets are out of the house, and anything more important than a polaroid — if there is such a thing — has been secured!)
Snacky
July 5, 2011Man it’s so hard to pick just one and if you asked me tomorrow it would likely change. But today i pick this one from last year on Martha’s Vineyard. My first time there and anxiously awaiting going back at the end of the month for vacation.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21030966@N05/4994561533/in/set-72157617809770686
of course by best polaroid is the one i haven’t taken yet so i would really grab all my film
Jess
July 6, 2011What a great composition. Hope you have an awesome vacation!
Alberto D'Agostino
July 6, 2011http://www.flickr.com/photos/homespun_hero/5720957342/in/set-72157626725134862
One of the very first Polaroids I ever took.
Jess
July 6, 2011Nice! I love windowsill photos … I think I shoot my plants more than I water them.
Tim Vancouillie
July 6, 2011My best shot, i realy like the colours
Jess
July 6, 2011Ooh, I love the colors, too. And the textures.
Tanja
July 6, 2011http://www.flickr.com/photos/tanjatiziana/4656834661/in/set-72157604774634663
A pair of polaroids i shot a little over a year ago, the day i got to know a wonderful young woman who offered me her cafe for an important exhibit i was having a hard time securing a space for. she passed away a couple days after the hugely successful opening night. she will always have a piece of my heart, and I’d “save” these if I could. I keep them in a tin of important photos that’s easy to grab and go.
Jess
July 6, 2011Oh how sad … It looks like such a lovely cafe.
Pascal
July 6, 2011It’s difficult because I love all my poloaroids, but this one’s special. (one of my best friend who passed away two years ago)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heddofone_audiotronic/2598198188/in/photostream
Jess
July 6, 2011It’s a beautiful portrait … a memory you can hold.
Greg
July 6, 2011This was my first shot using TIP film and is still my favorite!
http://flic.kr/p/7Rtshj
Jess
July 6, 2011Those first TIP shots are so special, aren’t they?
Julien
July 6, 2011My sister and I in 1993: http://darkslides.tumblr.com/colors
Shot with a Polaroid Impulse AF with Polaroid 600 film by our Dad.
Jess
July 6, 2011How cute. That makes me smile.
jojonas
July 6, 2011nice blog you got! I signed up but I can’t confirm until later, mail is acting up
anyway, here’s my “burning house” shot:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonasfx/4453162629/in/pool-1460708@N25/
first shot with a TIP branded film of my most favorite thing in the world<3
Jess
July 6, 2011I love Fade to Black film! What a fun portrait.
Pamela Herrick
July 6, 2011It would have to be this photo, of the little man. And, I assume the polaroid would be in one fist and his little fist would be in the other. http://www.flickr.com/photos/photege/5889118495/in/set-72157626937542615
So happy to find your blog after following on flickr!
Jess
July 6, 2011That face! So adorable.
Ever
July 6, 2011this photo of my friend Anna:
http://stillicidiousstars.tumblr.com/post/6464343009/anna
Jess
July 6, 2011I definitely need to take more polaroids of my friends. This is a great reminder.
Steph Faye
July 6, 2011This is an abandoned diner / gas station on a small island in northern Ontario, Canada. I don’t know why abandoned / rundown things inspire me so much.
Shot on some very expired TZ Artistic film. I was surprised the battery still worked.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephanieannefelicityfaye/5017776097/in/set-72157625018987200/
Jess
July 6, 2011Abandoned things make perfect polaroid subjects, I think.
ale di gangi
July 6, 2011http://www.flickr.com/photos/ale2000/894859226/
it’s the shot that really changed something to me…
Jess
July 6, 2011I have the same ice cube tray!
Michale
July 6, 2011I suppose I would save this shot: http://www.flickr.com/photos/michales/5790937353/in/set-72157626870815060/
It seems iconic to me. It would be something I include in my overall body of work.
Jess
July 6, 2011Iconic, indeed! Nice work.
Rachel
July 6, 2011This one of my boyfriend Sean, who hates getting his picture taken.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelcarrier/3672024265/in/set-72157608453511472
Jess
July 6, 2011He he. He doesn’t look unhappy about being photographed in this shot!
Lizzie
July 6, 2011http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizzie-staley/5146229679/in/set-72157622166984414
I think I would take this one from our 3rd anniversary
Nice blog
Jess
July 6, 2011Looks like a fun anniversary!
Briana Morrison
July 6, 2011I honestly couldn’t bear to leave any behind but this photo just brings back so many memories from my childhood… http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianamorrison/5794794072/in/set-72157606700694437
Jess
July 6, 2011That’s so cute. You can’t beat vintage polaroids.
Rachel
July 6, 2011I’d take “Cherries” http://takenwithpolaroid.com/polaroid/sx-70/117.jpg.html – Marcel is holding my other favourite Polaroid is his hand. Win win!
p.s. If my name is drawn, you can give the film to someone else. I just felt like taking part.
Jess
July 6, 2011The reds, the blues … Oh my gosh, I love that photo so much!
Abe
July 6, 2011Wow! so many great shots posted here!
I’ve take some that I’m more proud of, but this shot on expired TZ Artistic gets me every time:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8838/5879070679/
Jess
July 6, 2011I can see why! I love the TZ Artistic colors.
April Howe
July 6, 2011http://www.flickr.com/photos/againstcotton/3509106090/in/set-72157606116297163
I would reach for this Polaroid of the back country road I grew up on in rural southwest Michigan; it reminds me of childhood summers spent riding my bike.
Jess
July 6, 2011That light is delicious.
Nicholas
July 6, 2011http://www.flickr.com/photos/nmisciagna/5908229761/in/photostream
I would take this one. I only recently found this one from the 90’s. This was taken in my Grandmother’s house in Brooklyn with my 2 uncles and brother. I miss that house.
Jess
July 6, 2011I love finding family polaroids!
JL Pictures
July 6, 2011http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlamphoto/5614152753/in/set-72157626207238577
double exposure shot i did, my fav shot all time.
Jess
July 6, 2011That is, seriously, breathtaking. Wow.
Kristin
July 6, 2011It honestly took me a few minutes to decide just which lone polaroid I would grab if the house was burning and I would have to say this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristinrandall/3934539438/. The reason probably being because out of all the various experiments I’ve done with filters and whatnot, this was by far the greatest success and the end result still just amazes me even though it was nothing more than something so ordinary as a pile of mulch.
Jess
July 6, 2011I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes light and luck and effort combine in the perfect amounts to create something fantastic. I love surprising myself with my own photos.
McFortner
July 6, 2011It would have to be this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcfortner/5232763735/in/set-72157625371034017
I snapped it on one of my daughter’s visits and I really like it. I think it captures her quite well.
Jess
July 6, 2011What a sweet smile.
Brian Thompson
July 6, 2011Jess, it’s been a while!!! My What Would Edwin Do? postcard is still on our fridge! Here’s my entry! My wife (right) and her sister on our wedding day. One of my first polaroid’s ever taken – before I knew how to scan properly! Taken with a polaroid SX-70 Sonar with an ND filter mod with expired 600!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bdtphotography/5910935348/in/photostream
Jess
July 6, 2011What a beautiful bride.
And YAY for Edwin!
Mia
July 6, 2011Hi Jess, this is quite a challenging question! I was looking through my polaroids, and geeeeeeez it’s so hard to choose one! I am sure that I would regret not saving this one:
http://www.polanoid.net/jump/?to=pictures&pid=284654
Jess
July 7, 2011Mia, I hadn’t seen that photo before … It’s beautiful!
Jodi
July 7, 2011what a lovely idea! if i could save one thing from the fire it would be….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodidisaster/3041507733/in/set-72157603589846502
driving across country, starting a new life, memories of adventure and anticipation.
Jess
July 7, 2011Road trip!
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