She Hit Pause Studios

Just rediscovered one of my favourite Polaroid photographers after he popped up on my Twitter feed. For fans of grungy and dreamy imagery, do yourself a solid and spend some time at She Hit Pause Studios.

Memories from the Polaroid tin

Ask people to pose for a Polaroid and they almost always smile. What's not to love?

Ben Shewry (Attica) and Christian Puglisi (Relæ), Attica, Melbourne, March 2012

 Clare Valley, South Australia, February 2012

Hendrick's Theatre of Curiosities, Sydney, April 2012

 

Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, New Zealand, July 2011

MAD 2012 Polaroids

In keeping with the retro photography theme of this blog, here's a selection of Polaroids from my recent trip to Denmark for a friend's wedding and the MAD 2012 Food Symposium. I'm slowly coming around to the new Impossible Project film, but expired original Polaroid material is still number one in my heart and worth shelling out the extra bucks for.

A man walks in to a bar...

And writes about it as his new role as bar reviewer for The Sunday Times in Perth.

Sometimes, at any rate.

I'm not going to lie, following the footsteps of Andrew Bennett - now bar manager at North Perth's The Classroom - would be a daunting prospect for any scribe. If you're looking for a high water mark for West Australian booze journalism, Andrew's set it, and over the years his eloquent prose has both educated and entertained.

In terms of a first review, it seemed only fair to set guidelines for what I reckon makes a good watering hole. Truth be told, my criteria boils down to a single yardstick: service. Having a back bar packed to the rafters with pricey booze is all good and well, but it's those places that make guests feel truly welcome - places that understand hospitality isn't just an industry but an attitude - that stand the best chance of going from casual acquaintance to regular haunt. Helvetica - as depicted by this Polaroid of its wall mural from the ridiculously ill Perth artist Yok - understands this all too well. This Howard Lane speakeasy really is a no-brainer when I find myself thirsty (or lonely) in the city.

Bar Fly reviews are published every Sunday in the STE magazine in the Sunday Times as well as mirrored online on Mondays.

Bar Fly: Helvetica

Today marks the start of my daily Polaroid project. Wish me luck.

Today marks the start of my daily Polaroid project. Wish me luck.

Don't leave Polaroid cameras in your car

Especially when Perth's summer weather starts.

After wondering where my Polaroid 230 was, I spied it in the back shelf of my car where it had been (I'm guessing) for at least two weeks. Suffice to say the two shots of expired 669 in it were well rooted.

Coupled with the cold weather in New Zealand sending my SLR680 into "hibernation" in July (simply ejecting dead film pack and replacing it with a new one did the trick. Looks like it was just a case of weather being too cold for battery pack to work properly), 2009 hasn't been a good year for Polaroid photography versus the elements.

An old pack of 779

Expired in 2002, this pack of 779 was more miss than hit but I still managed to coax a handful of acceptable shots out of it.

Hope fellow Polaroid photographers enjoyed the recent 'Roid Week festivities.

Some Artistic Time Zero sneak peeks

I love the sepia-like tones of Artistic Time Zero film, but the fact that the colour in the film starts shifting to green in just a matter of months is a little worrying.

None the less, it is fairly memorable film. Enjoy the shots!

'Roid week imminent*

In the past, 'Roid weeks have blown right past me but thanks to a tweet from a twitter friend, I'm all prepared for this latest Fall (spring here down under) 'Roid week.

I'll try and post a few of my favourite shots (I took a fair few today up at Quinns and in Mt Lawley) but the best place to catch all the shots is on my flickr stream.

Best of luck to all the other Polaroiders taking shots for 'Roid week!

Flight of the Concordes

As per usual, sorry about lack of updates.

I've changed the URLs around so now the only way to get here is via the maxveenhuyzen.blogspot.com address rather than my name URL.

Lots of changes in my real life that I won't bore you with, but fingers crossed I'll now have more time to pursue creative endeavours.

For now, enjoy this Time Zero snap that pays homage to the wonders of vinyl.

I ♥ 500

I recently acquired some 2007 expired Polaroid 500 film at a good price and was thrilled to find that it still produced some pretty good shots - even in a relatively basic camera such as the Joycam.

In my mind, the (relatively) wide aspect of the film makes it perfect for minimalist shots while lending itself to more conventional composition than the square-format 600 and 779 integral films.

Can't wait to shoot more of this film and might even take some with me to the Blues and Roots festival tomorrow!

One month of shooting one Polaroid a day!

Today is officially one month since the start of my task to shoot a different Polaroid each day.

Of course, in some instances circumstances have dictated that I've had to upload old shots.

Today, sadly, was one of those days after I spent the afternoon having my body wracked after some dodgy Vongole pasta (basically, pasta with clams, chilli, parsley and tomatoes - can you guess what the trouble ingredient might be?).

It was just gross, gross, gross and after four hours after getting home, I'm starting to feel okay now.

But none the less, today's milestone is a special one, so it demands a special shot, shot on special film.

Pulled out of my big shoebox of shots, this was taken a few weeks back where I shot about four packs in the space of an hour when an entire convoy of classic Australian vintage and muscle cars was lined up on the foreshore around the corner from our place.

One month down, 11 to go!

To check out the first month (and counting depending on when you see this post) just click the picture above or click here.

The end... of daylight saving

This latest daylight saving trial - which ends today - has been an interesting period for me.

Initially, I was staunchly opposed to it: Perth is bloody hot enough without the need for more daylight hours at the end of the day, but it's been a good summer with plenty of time spent at the beach and in the surf.

The trick is to stay away from "beautiful people" and crowded parts of the coastline and just enjoy nature in more laidback surrounds free of posers and young punks.

I've always felt if you want more daylight, why not do it in winter?

Also, the patriotic part of me has always hated the fact that we'd shift our clocks forward an hour just so we'd be "closer to the Eastern States": like most West Australians, I hate the thought that we're so "behind" our sophisticated east coast compatriots.

We all go to vote in the referendum some time in May (I really should know as I interviewed premier Colin Barnett for an opinion piece on the whole affair - did you know that for the same amount that it'll cost to hold this referendum, the State government could have built almost two new schools? Thanks Matt Birney and John d'Orazio!) and I'm pretty sure I'll be no-voting, but not too plussed which way it goes to be frank.

I feel sorry that the people who do want it will be affected by the, say, 60 per cent of people who are completely indifferent and will probably vote no just because we fear change, but that's the breaks.

Though to be honest with you, I wouldn't at all be surprised if a new bill pops up further down the line tweaking the daylight saving question and changing the period.... but that's just my guess. I'm no Robert Harvey!

In other photography related news: my first Polaroid book should be out soon'ish! I'll be spamming the usual channels but watch this space of my flickr for more details.

I'm waiting for the proof to come back and trying to organise some sort of launch, so maybe May'ish? Just in time for my 30th!

Day six... and a half

This is an alternate take on the day six shot of my "A year in the life of a Polaroid photographer" project on flickr.

It was a close decision between whether to upload this shot or the eventual day six shot for Friday the 13th but I eventually went with the other because of its "mistakes".

However, I like this for its 669-like colour shifts, plus because there's no shadow across the bottom from a neighbouring building.

Much love to Queensland!

This arrived in the post for me today, courtesy of the one and only one blue wren.

Seriously, if my Polaroids or this blog interest you in the slightest, be sure to bookmark and fave Ash's at once because it is the bomb.

Anyhow, in addition to one EE33 square shooter that she sent me in exchange for film (long story that, hello Australia Post), she included one of her awesome prints and also left one shot in the camera which ended up being picture number five in my "A year in the life of a Polaroid photographer" challenge which I've recently started.

Love your work my blue-hued friend!

Tweet, tweet

Got Twitter?

Feel free to add me by clicking here.

If not, no worries - enjoy this scanned Polaroid goodness instead!

Look who's started a 365-day Polaroid challenge

Yup, you read right.

For no real reason other than I felt compelled to, I've decided to start a one-Polaroid-a-day mission for the next year.

If all goes according to plan, "A year in the life of a Polaroid photographer" will end after I submit my last image on Sunday March 7, 2010.

There may be some days where I won't be able to update shots if I am out of town and without access to a scanner, but rest assured I'll still be snapping away those days.

I have updated my feed on that links sidebar to the right ("PEOPLE I NICK IDEAS AND WEBSITES THAT ARE NOWHERE NEAR AS CRAP AS MINE") so that it indicates whenever I've uploaded an image to my 365 set rather than my stream in general.

Here's to the next 364 days of Polaroid photography...

Watch for it, watch for it...

I have caved into pressure and decided to add a Followers box to the blog (see: 'PEOPLE BORED AT WORK' section under the sidebar) blog. I won't mention any names - oh Hi CDR! - but let u pray ardent/reluctant fans join soon so I don't look like a Nigel No-mates.

In other news, I realise my email systems have been down but that's all working hunky dory now, so feel free to send mail away.

But please don't bother if you're peddling Viagra or have discovered vast sums of money in Nigeria that belong to me, I'm a very busy person don't you know!

Blog promotion

According to M Veenhuyzen.

All you need is an SX-70, some Polaroid film, a handful of Star Wars figurines and some imagination.

And they say marketing is difficult. Pffft.

They'll let anyone on the Internet these days

In a world wide web (over)populated by so many super-talented artists and designers, this writer and worker of words feels like the outsider - the Gaijin, if you will - wandering into foreign territory.

Wish this poor sod luck.