Most Polaroids reproduce in print very well, and a handful of well-edited books published or reissued in the past two years shows off the extraordinary range of subject matter, imagination, and pathos that professional and amateur photographers have captured in six decades of shooting Polaroids. All of these volumes are nicely proportioned to show off the majority of prints at actual size.
Right: Lucas Samaras, “Photo Transformation,” December 28, 1973.
The Polaroid Book (published by Taschen)—We can’t know for sure, but this anthology of nearly 300 pictures, selected from the 23,000 images in the Polaroid Collections, is likely a balanced representation of the medium’s numerous subjects and styles, ranging from very arty to fashionista to journalistic to experimental. (Oh, and lots of nudes.) All the well-known Polaroidists are included, of course, like David Hockney, Andy Warhol, Duane Michals, and Rosamond Wolff Purcell. A surprising omission is Walker Evans, who experimented beautifully with SX-70s in his last years. Other surprises are reasons to consider picking this book up: an extreme close-up of a boy with the darkest brown eyes ever, by the master abstractionist Aaron Siskind; Bill Burke’s 1979 picture of two mustachioed gents smoking in the doorway of a San Francisco barber shop called El Artista; and Sachiko Kuru’s wild (fashion?) shot of a woman dressed in a crimson tunic and cap, half-hidden behind a mound of earth, with the hindquarters of a jet-black dog in the foreground. Whatever it’s selling, I’ll take it.
Right: Andrey Tarkovsky, Myasnoe, Russia, September 26, 1981.
Instant Light: Tarkovsky Polaroids (Thames & Hudson)—A small paperback full of personal images by the seminal Russian director Andrey Tarkovsky. While somewhat domestic and limited in scope compared to his luminous cinematic meditations on the nature of time and our relationship to it, many of these interiors, landscapes, and family portraits from Russia and Italy do cast a mesmerizing spell.
Right: Mike Slack, Untitled.
OK OK OK (The Ice Plant)—Michael David Murphy, whose interview with Mike Slack appeared on the F’log earlier this week, has since noticed another recent article in which Mike identifies things he tries to avoid taking pictures of:
“funny-looking bushes; chain link fences; street signs; arrows of any kind; empty parking lots; painted brick walls; weeds; stairs; shadows; doors; rain gutters; tools; words; hats; the backs of people’s heads; trash; trash cans; empty roads; plush toys; food; loading docks; telephones; cracked sidewalks; shopping carts; manhole covers; water towers; inanimate objects that resemble sex organs; airplanes; shoes; telephone wires; water puddles; clouds; stray dogs; ugly office buildings; brightly colored flowers; the ocean; empty hotel rooms; long hotel corridors; birds; air conditioners; fire hydrants; curtains; framed paintings; crashed cars; cell phone transmitters; and sofa cushions.”
Hmm. I might as well give up now. From the evidence in OK OK OK, Slack sometimes gives in (an entire bed of brightly colored flowers; three painted arrows; two empty roads, for starters), and we’re very lucky he does. His deadpan eye for tightly cropped, almost airless details of the places we encounter between here and there extinguishes the banality of all those subjects on his list—and makes them sing.
Right: Found by Anonymous. Found near the Columbus School for Girls in Columbus, Ohio.
Found Polaroids (Quack!Media)—The professional collectors at FOUND Magazine have done it again: they’ve amassed a brand-new treasure trove of photographic detritus—this time, Polaroids found in the gutters, Dumpsters, condemned buildings, used books, weed patches, and motel rooms of America. One picture, of a whiskey bottle on top of a red coupe, was found in a Michigan parking lot stuck to a giant oak tree. Mostly it’s anonymous, sometimes shirtless folks doing funny, dumb, embarrassing, or sad things. Essential.
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94 Responses to “Polaroids on the Page”
pixietart @ 2007-03-18 09:17:45 AM says:
i worked on this mapplethorpe book this year where we reproduced some of his polaroids from the 70’s and i thought they came out looking great! :)
pixietart @ 2007-03-18 09:18:26 AM says:
here is the book - looks like i can’t post images, oops!
http://www.teneues.de/teneuesshop/view_product~id~79168.htm
cate @ 2007-03-18 09:33:44 AM says:
thanks for this andrew.
deenfrente @ 2007-03-21 05:07:20 PM says:
cambiar color
deenfrente @ 2007-03-21 05:09:30 PM says:
To change the color of the fotolog
fran_marce @ 2007-03-21 09:34:33 PM says:
wenu q mas decir q me encanta juajua
hapyska_ @ 2007-03-22 01:41:11 PM says:
ps aber k pasa
Naiana @ 2007-03-22 01:56:19 PM says:
yeah yeah.
priky @ 2007-03-22 01:59:15 PM says:
hola?
priky @ 2007-03-22 02:02:53 PM says:
Holaaaa..
lucii @ 2007-03-22 03:30:27 PM says:
Holaaa
=)
fotolog.com/lc_lu
Tico @ 2007-03-22 03:40:52 PM says:
Voces usam o WORDPRESS néééé!!!!!
Porque não disponibilizar o serviço BLOG tambem? Com edição de Lay, e tudo mais….
;D
Lucas @ 2007-03-22 04:01:17 PM says:
buen libro!
lindas ilustraciones…
paula @ 2007-03-22 06:07:00 PM says:
(l) polaroid
Ramiroº @ 2007-03-22 06:33:53 PM says:
ESTA pAgInA eS ChEvErE
Y tU TAMbIEM Lo eReS
victor @ 2007-03-22 07:14:44 PM says:
cerrar mi fotolog
eL bEttOH @ 2007-03-22 07:36:01 PM says:
http://www.fotolog.com/bettoh pasen ii agregen f/f ii iio los agrego ttambiien
andrethitaa. @ 2007-03-22 09:18:11 PM says:
chid0o.–
/diana_ramone @ 2007-03-23 02:26:09 AM says:
no no me vengas con colores aca!
(?)
tammy_reggae @ 2007-03-23 01:20:42 PM says:
aca te mando un saludillo maona me caiste muy bien espero verte pronto y posteame tu tb de vez encuando suerte en todo.
ojala nos veamos por ahi en el mana o si no en cualquier otro lugar
Alvaro faria @ 2007-03-23 02:23:45 PM says:
so mulheres boas!!!!
lolloll
fikem bem pessoall xuuuuaaakkkk!!
Alvaro faria @ 2007-03-23 02:24:31 PM says:
elizzdavis @ 2007-03-23 03:56:53 PM says:
traducimeloooooo
krlos @ 2007-03-23 04:21:10 PM says:
waa…. q s sto… m da lata leer asi q a puro acptar!!
esu!!
xau!!
camilA @ 2007-03-23 08:59:16 PM says:
HOLA TE QERIA DEJAR ESTE MENSAJE YO NO TENGO MUCHA IMAGINACION PA ESTO PERO…….
YO TE APRENDI A QERER MIENTRAS ESTUBISTE AQI Y AORA Q YA NO ESTAS IGUAL ES RARO Q NO VENGAS Y Q TOMES TE CON NOSOTROS
YA Y ESO .
XAU
CAM
PARA
PAME
kuter @ 2007-03-24 08:03:46 AM says:
ahojja
lucas,yo de 2do2da @ 2007-03-24 08:52:03 AM says:
hola day soy luks,sos re buena onda y,naa re buena y linda,lastima q reptist vos y no lulu,bueno chau.
nozeeehR @ 2007-03-24 12:09:24 PM says:
n o z e e h r x core
isssa!!!! @ 2007-03-24 12:12:06 PM says:
K SPAS K M CAES DA BUTI XABL Y K TKM…………….ENGA 1 BSAZO Y SIGUE ASI AM,RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~N.M.O-N.T.O~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ISSS@AND MARTA 100%
Priscila @ 2007-03-24 12:18:43 PM says:
Hellou! Me add
Ian Carlos @ 2007-03-24 01:26:30 PM says:
me add!…
me gusto mucho lo de polaroid…book…
mmm saludos ati …
suerte
ian
pitufina @ 2007-03-24 02:58:59 PM says:
hola
mil saludines
nos vemos
besititos
chusss
nazhawon @ 2007-03-24 03:54:37 PM says:
cvvv
gamasiel "gamy" @ 2007-03-24 04:31:03 PM says:
oye esta bien mendiga tu pagina
dangerpaws @ 2007-03-24 05:58:54 PM says:
“To change the color of the fotolog”
that’s poetry
lu i daa, @ 2007-03-24 07:50:48 PM says:
jaj qe es estoo chee, re dioo
francisca @ 2007-03-24 11:17:10 PM says:
tsss ke paja
unetartelette @ 2007-03-25 04:50:20 AM says:
tengo el libro de taschen y es una maravillaaaaaa
***
zone_ferra @ 2007-03-25 10:22:02 AM says:
bueno eso es
daniela @ 2007-03-25 10:40:28 AM says:
PASEN POR MI LOG ES DEDICADO AL ANIME DE CANDI CANDI
la dany @ 2007-03-25 01:20:37 PM says:
jjajaj puxa k wenita onda puxa nada k decir saluos xaussss
piko_crew @ 2007-03-25 02:17:05 PM says:
el piko crew ax
piko_crew @ 2007-03-25 02:17:59 PM says:
piko el de la crew ax
sofi coti vicky @ 2007-03-25 06:13:56 PM says:
nos encantan los animales
asahel @ 2007-03-25 07:08:09 PM says:
HOOOLA.. AMO LAS POLAROIIID.. ! =)
karol__19 @ 2007-03-26 03:22:05 AM says:
como postar???? nao consigo
dante @ 2007-03-26 11:01:06 AM says:
hola soy dante aunque no te conosca bien me agradas bueno no se que decir amiguita bueno chaoooooo!!!!!!
d
a
n
t
e
olindito @ 2007-03-26 02:35:58 PM says:
hola q tal como estas me opareces una buena amiga
little_pigeon @ 2007-03-26 04:04:06 PM says:
Hola!!
Como puedo poner el color a mi fotolog?es que no encuentro el lugar.
Muchas gracias
liha @ 2007-03-26 05:05:59 PM says:
aalO!!*
lO qe pasa esqe nOpuedO cambiarle
de letra ami flOggie
mnO t djO
thanks
cddtee
bebis @ 2007-03-26 05:13:47 PM says:
la bebis
humberto @ 2007-03-26 05:23:18 PM says:
ni idea
monica @ 2007-03-26 11:00:43 PM says:
hola
Kukitaah @ 2007-03-27 01:16:00 PM says:
Ohhh ziruu
Beijoooo
*
Amu.t MICA
chiara @ 2007-03-27 02:55:56 PM says:
hola agus! gracias por dejarme escribir en el fotolog
bueno nose que decir chau
gush_07 @ 2007-03-27 09:21:20 PM says:
hola a todos
maxi autiero @ 2007-03-28 09:08:06 AM says:
esta muy bueno menos unas cosas
kamui_x1990 @ 2007-03-28 10:59:29 AM says:
como cambiar el color
STRaNGeR @ 2007-03-28 08:47:47 PM says:
PEROOO, SI TIENEN UNA PAJA USTEDES!
www.FOTOLOG.COM/EXCARCELADO
.COM/VIOLADORESDELEY
stella @ 2007-03-28 10:39:34 PM says:
nhaaaa
comenta la …
FELIPE @ 2007-03-28 11:12:49 PM says:
NO SE SI POR AQUI SE PUEDEN HACER RECLAMOS PERO IGUAL, NECESITO QUE ACTIVEN LA OPCION DE PERSONALIZAR EL TITULO CON UNA IMAGEN, EL BANNER NO LO PUEDO PONER ME DICE QUE NO SOY GOLD SIENDO QUE SI LO SOY! ESTOY NPAGANDO Y NO ESTAN CUMPLIENOD VEAN ESO GRACIAS.
nando @ 2007-03-28 11:32:03 PM says:
vixxxxxxxx
sei lá o q e isso aki
huhuhuh
…………………….()
JOJO @ 2007-03-29 01:17:31 AM says:
ei chido jaja no se k pedo pero chido
aja bye
alexis @ 2007-03-29 05:16:27 PM says:
nel ta todoO jashoO
kevin @ 2007-03-29 06:08:39 PM says:
eres muy linda y no tengo mas palabras para decirte lo bella que eres
xliizeeteex @ 2007-03-29 08:49:06 PM says:
slds :D
xliizeeteex @ 2007-03-29 08:49:33 PM says:
oliiii :L
agregenmeee :S
Lii.zhee.tee@hotmail.com
carolina @ 2007-03-30 09:39:47 AM says:
holi como te yamas? que estas haciendo en estos momentos?
kaRenn @ 2007-03-30 01:14:40 PM says:
Hmmmmmmmmm…ekiZ jajaja xD…
cris @ 2007-03-30 01:20:32 PM says:
pasen ;)
Alison @ 2007-03-30 01:42:31 PM says:
http://www.fotolog.com/l_i_t_h_a
rozipp @ 2007-03-30 04:12:11 PM says:
pazen x mi flog
plizzzzzzzzzz
www.fotolog.com/larosy
twes @ 2007-03-30 05:20:26 PM says:
hola…saludos ..
FFC..
SIGOLD.FOTOOLOG.
SALES
lulyto @ 2007-03-30 06:02:33 PM says:
mirenlo sta de pelos
lulyto
tengo 18 años
santigo de chile…maipu
dianne @ 2007-03-30 06:20:37 PM says:
hola mi msn es dbmiau@lalalla
en fin adioz
victor! @ 2007-03-31 10:06:48 AM says:
POLAROIDS ROX!
roiter100 @ 2007-03-31 10:25:22 AM says:
hola
bueno esta espectacularmente bueno
bueno
bebe
n chao
cuidate
ezequiel @ 2007-03-31 11:55:44 AM says:
no se como se hace un flog.
mjbox @ 2007-03-31 03:12:11 PM says:
Hello Fotolog :P hehehe…
I did a fotolog group for the THE POLAROID BOOK called http://fotolog.com/thepolaroidbook So maybe you can put my group in this page on the ALL CATEGORIES! If you want of course.
Well, thank ya…
Bye :)
delfiina @ 2007-04-01 12:30:25 PM says:
POLAROIDS ROX!
morena @ 2007-04-01 06:39:34 PM says:
polaroids rock!
eugee @ 2007-04-01 09:38:31 PM says:
qee eso esto?
no entiendo nda!
alguien qe me expliqe?
pandarojo @ 2007-04-02 04:17:02 AM says:
Polaroid rulz! ^^.
aguuuuuu @ 2007-04-02 09:55:40 AM says:
ke onda gatos?
Lucia @ 2007-04-02 02:52:47 PM says:
que onda chotolog?
motittta @ 2007-04-02 04:41:06 PM says:
saludos xD
CAMILO Nervion KMIZA @ 2007-04-02 05:05:02 PM says:
ajajaja
que he esto viejoooo
bueno espero alguien me responda no comprender nada
he para ponerle colores que wea jajaja ia chaooo
y funciona todo esto¿?
CAMILO Nervion KMIZA @ 2007-04-02 05:05:49 PM says:
yapo respondan buuuu
f
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yo quero ponerle coloresss
ajoaaojajo
a
oja
joajo
aoj
ajo
ajo
aoj
ajoajo
a
joajo
a
oj
chaooo
yo .. @ 2007-04-02 05:34:38 PM says:
jajaj
hay q ser un boludo
barbaro
pr tner flog.
y n saber
cambiarle el color
jajaj
idiotas
fabby @ 2007-04-02 07:26:31 PM says:
hola!!!
estan bien chidas la imagenes que pusiste en esta pagina.
espero que te la estes pasando muy bien ya que te das el lujo de disfrutar de ese hermoso paisaje en donde vives
te deceo suerte en tus estudios y cumplas con todas tus metas.
espero que aunque estuvimos separadas spor un buen tiempo no ayas olvidado los momentos que pasamos juntas en nuestra niñes.
atte
tu prima que te quiere
poliithax! @ 2007-04-02 09:34:06 PM says:
olaah!
necesito gold !!
=D regalame gold!
xD
aRiU.x!
posteen
ALONSOJAVIER @ 2007-04-02 09:36:43 PM says:
hola como esta si puede para fiesta pero amor fiesta si hablando persona ella pero si amigo persona
hasta voy vemos adios
alonso.javiermacuer@gmail.com
www.fotolog.com/ALONSOJAVIER
bira @ 2007-04-03 12:29:04 PM says:
si que lo cambien esta mejor
sebastian @ 2007-04-03 03:30:58 PM says:
sos re buena amiga ,espero que no te cambies de cole .