2019 roadtrip, Polaroids

[robert blu]

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.

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.

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 !

 

[robert blu]

2019 roadtrip: day 0

2019 roadtrip: day 0

The night before, almost ready !

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!

 

[raid]

I will be watching this thread, Robert. It was a very enjoyable road trip.

 

[robert blu]

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

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

Both shots with my wife's Impossible i-1 camera on an old expired B&W film

 

[Guy Pinhas]

Bookmarked the thread!

 

[Godfrey]

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

 

[Fjäll]

Polaroids on trips are the best. I took 140 Polaroids (Fp100c) last winter. Gave all of them away.

 

[robert blu]

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...

Emotion doesn't require perfection 🙂

 

[dave lackey]

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!😛

 

[Godfrey]

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. 😀

G

 

[robert blu]

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....

 

[robert blu]

A road trip means a lot of time in the car ...

Driving north...

 

[robert blu]

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”

 

[robert blu]

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

Copenhagen, Tivoli: did anyone dream to fly?

Both shot with the i-1 camera on an expired B&W Impossible film.

 

[raid]

These are beautiful shots by you, Robert. The outdated Polaroids (I am assuming) look great and make the two images very abstract.

 

[Black]

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!

 

[robert blu]

When you are on the road sometimes you need gas...

2019 roadtrip, somewhere by robert, su Flickr

and sometimes you need to take care of your car

2019 roadtrip day7 by robert, su Flickr

 

[Guy Pinhas]

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.

 

[robert blu]

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 !

 

[raid]

Good luck with your upcoming exhibition, Robert. This is fantastic. I wish I could attend it.