2019 roadtrip, Polaroids

robert blu

quiet photographer
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Spring 2019 my wife and I decided to join our friend Raid and his beautiful family for a road trip towards north Europe.

21 days, 5.700 km, 6 countries.

We drove from Italy to Berlin where we met Raid.

I shot with the M10 and with two Polaroid cameras (one was intended to be used by my wife) : an old Polaroid SX70 and an innovative Impossible i-1.

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The photos with the M10 were intended to be developed as B&W and I'll need more time for this work, therefore I'll start to show a selection of the Polaroid.

Because for me shooting Polaroid is not to document what in front of us or around but is more an emotional experience I used many different films, included old expired or defective ones. And of course being ready to accept the result.

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These photos have already been posted in the gallery anyway I decided to group then in an unique thread to make easier to...repeat the emotion of the journey.

I hope you enjoy :) and feel free to comment !
 
2019 roadtrip: day 0

2019 roadtrip: day 0

The night before, almost ready !

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Maps and camera (I only used on lens on the M10) a Molskine, a few pens and pencils, a bag...the essentials ...

One of the difficult things for us was to decide which garment to bring, weather and temperature forecast was very variable...we experienced the change from 10 °C in Norway to 34 °C in Germany when coming back!
 
2019 roadtrip: day 1

2019 roadtrip: day 1

Day 1 was about a transfer, much time on the road.

With a few breaks to rest

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First leg Nürnberg, just outside the town I saw this country scene

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Both shots with my wife's Impossible i-1 camera on an old expired B&W film
 
Excellent, robert! I've subscribed to the thread too.

I'm on a nice little 10 day trip now. I decided to go utterly minimalistic: A Polaroid SLR670a with four packs of film (3 B&W, 1 color) and my iPhone 8 Plus along with the wide and tele Moment lenses are all the camera gear I have with me. Fitting the trip into 32 exposures, max, of Polaroid photos is a challenge and a lot of fun.

I've made 13 photos so far. They're all charming and fun, I've given two away too. :)

Halfway through the trip: This is working well.

G
 
Polaroids on trips are the best. I took 140 Polaroids (Fp100c) last winter. Gave all of them away.
 
2019 roadtrip: day 1

2019 roadtrip: day 1

On the way to Nürnberg, between Lindau and Ulm.

Shot with the old sx70, the mirror is a little dirty therefore a few spots around, mainly in the sky. I could easily clone them but I prefer to leave as they are, it's part of the Polaroid signature...

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Emotion doesn't require perfection :)
 
Hah!:)

Just found this thread by accident. Robert, this was a great idea you had for the road trip!

Now I get to enjoy the results as if it were a slide show. Love it!

I only wish this forum had "Like and Thank You" buttons!:p
 
Lovely shot, Robert!

Still traveling. I'm down to one shot of B&W left, have given three prints away. I have one pack of 8 color shots left, and three and a half days to expose them. The Polaroid SLR670a and films have been working flawlessly.

There is joy in this acceptance of constraint. :D

G
 
I understand what you say Godfrey !

A few years ago I spent two weeks on the Ischia Island and I had only 6 packs of Impossible films = 48 shots ...

It was a liberating experience....
 
A friend asks me why take the photo of a few fishes on the side of a motorway, I answer with the words from Robby Müller, mythical photography director who worked with Wim Wenders, Jim Jarmusch, Peter Handke, Peter Bogdanovic and other movies authors.

“There is a beautiful landscape but we have already seen it on a calendar. Look here: a small tree and a rock. Sad, but they say much more. Let’s film them”

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2019 Roadtrip: ay 3 and day 6

2019 Roadtrip: ay 3 and day 6

Sometimes when traveling is worthwhile to look up...

Berlin Postdamer Platz, a great work by Renzo Piano and his group

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Copenhagen, Tivoli: did anyone dream to fly?

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Both shot with the i-1 camera on an expired B&W Impossible film.
 
These are beautiful shots by you, Robert. The outdated Polaroids (I am assuming) look great and make the two images very abstract.
 
Also enjoying this thread, Robert. Whilst I like the "car's eye view" images, I'm a lot more invested in the "out and about" shots. Keep 'em coming!
 
You know, I really like these threads. They are inspiring. I really liked Petronius' thread with his 'Rollei 35-One year' project and yours Robert. So yeah, keep 'em coming.
 
Hot and wet summer afternoon, too got to go out to take photo...

Decided to print a few polaroids from my trip...

work in progress #1 by robert, su Flickr

printing on A3 Hahnemuehle Bright White Paper. Maybe I'll try a different paper, more textured like watercolor or William Turner...as a first test I'm quite satisfied of the result.

Attention: please do not look at the mess I have again in my studio LOL You can see here the prints, the image on the monitor and the small origina Polaroid !

work in progress #2 by robert, su Flickr

I like the small format of the Polaroid photos but sometimes it is nice to hang a larger version!

work in progress #3 by robert, su Flickr

I'm experimenting different things as preparation for an exhibition of my Polas I'll have next november...

The photos in this post have been taken with my 8 years old Leica x1 !
 
Good luck with your upcoming exhibition, Robert. This is fantastic. I wish I could attend it.
 
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