How the art of the Polaroid developed

A new book celebrates the art of the Polaroid

It’s touching to think that, even in this day and age, Polaroid is still considered “instant” photography. When images can be captured on a phone in a heartbeat — and for all we know if technology continues apace, by a heartbeat — the very idea of waiting 15 whole minutes to see your masterwork seems like the epitome of delayed gratification.

Yet it turns out the artistically inclined are continuing to embrace the ingenious invention of Edwin H Land, who developed the polarizing technology in 1932 and, after experimenting with other essential uses for it (variable density train windows, glare-reducing goggles for dogs), eventually developed the iconic camera that continues to be cherished to this day.

There were many famous fans of the Polaroid image and its iconic white-framed format in the last century, including Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, but a new book, Polaroid Now by Steve Crist, looks at those artists and photographers who are reinvigorating it in the current age. This despite the fact that the company filed for bankruptcy in 2001, though the brand has since been resuscitated by 31-year-old CEO Oskar Smolokowski, who provides an essay in the book.

Also contributing are creative practitioners including Brock Fetch, beloved photographer to the hip-hop fraternity; Grant Hamilton, who uses Polaroids to make colourful graphic abstracts; and photographer Mike Brodie, whose documentary work with the camera earned him the nickname the “Polaroid Kidd”, no less. Thanks to them and others, Polaroid is squarely back in the frame.

○ Polaroid Now: the History and Future of Polaroid Photography by Steve Crist and Oskar Smolokowski (Chronicle Chroma) is published on 22 July