A Couple of Fuji Instax Wides

[JoeV]

I was in the Nob Hill district of Albuquerque this morning with my Fuji Instax Wide 210 camera, here are a couple of scans. I've been having lots of fun with this camera, with a good keeper ratio from careful consideration prior to each shot.

I find the 100-shot, 5-pack specials on Amazon are a pretty good bargain at about 80 cents per shot (no connection with seller, just the best price I've found).

Enjoy.

~Joe

 

[matthewm]

Great images, Joe!

My wife has the 210 and it's a neat little camera. I have the old Polaroid Mio that I bought from the Ritz Camera I worked at for like $1.25 or something. It accepts the little Instax Mini cartridges and is a lot of fun to play with.

Enjoy shooting with it. I'd love to see some other images when you get some more posted.

Best
Matthew

 

[JoeV]

More from the Fuji 210, this morning on east Central Avenue in Albuquerque, photographing some of the old Route 66 motel signs that are still standing.

~Joe

 

[Harry S.]

Love the "always smooth" photo!

 

[FalseDigital]

^^ Pretty cool. So are the buildings still there too or just the signs?

 

[JoeV]

The Hiway House, Desert Sands and Tewa Lodge are still open. The Luna Lodge building is standing but fenced off, to be condemned to the bulldozer, like many other of these motels. The Zia Motor Lodge is just a sign in front of an empty lot.

My favorite of these old motels was the Aztec Motel, which I've documented in my blog, and is now just the sign in front of a dirt lot, the building having recently been razed.

Albuquerque has had a sign ordinance for years that prohibits tall signs, in an attempt at improving the visual appeal of the landscape. But they have a major loophole, a grandfather-clause that permits older signs, that would otherwise fail the ordinance, to remain standing and be reused. So the net effect is that often these older properties are worth less than their sign, which has future commercial appeal.

There's the site of an old bowling alley, a sign with a giant bowling pin and ball, probably over 50 feet tall. A Staple's and Guitar Center moved into the lot, they kept the sign, just modified it slightly, but you can still make out the ball and pin shape.

~Joe

 

[JoeV]

Love the "always smooth" photo!

Thanks, Harry. The backstory to this picture is that the car parked under the sign was once a county sheriff's patrol car. The department auctioned them off and got cars with a bit more aggressive look, rather than the friendly white and blue paint job. So some folks purchased these older cars and still drive them around town. The area of town this is located is the now known as the "International District," but used to be colloquially known as "The Combat Zone." Anytime you see a "Cops" program featuring Albuquerque, it's in this area of town.

~Joe

 

[FalseDigital]

Such a shame that they probhibit large signs to be built now. I hate all those community boards that outlaw all interesting things. Like a mini mall with the same lame ass signs and cardboard cut architecture would be any less of an eyesore to the landscape than these signs would. To be honest I wish they'd bulldoze half of America and rebuild it with crazy themed architecture like they did in the old days.

 

[shadowfox]

Very cool set, Joe!
The film is rather expensive, but as you say, go bulk.

I had a 500 model before and I liked shooting with it.
But I had to let it go because someone is willing to pay *a lot* for it.

I may pick up a 210 one day, meanwhile, looking forward to your next set. 🙂

 

[paulfish4570]

way cool stuff, Joe.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Instant photography lives! 🙂

Chris

 

[Harry S.]

Fascinating commentary too, Joe!

Id always thought about having a holiday in the States, renting a car and travelling some of Route 66. Its a shame some of the old time charm is being removed.

 

[charjohncarter]

I just received 5 packs of Fp100c from B&H: $7.50 a pack. Those shots are great.