True love will not fade away...



Here is a beautiful soft cover short run publication... for the love of light: a tribute to the art of Polaroid, edited by Jenifer Altman. This is a collaboration of 25 photographers from around the world, and was inspired by the announcement that Polaroid will soon cease production of instant films. From Altman's introduction...

"This project was conceived out of love and loss, an opportunity for 25 photographers to bid farewell to a true love. While some of the photographers featured in this book shot Polaroid for many years, others were relatively new to the medium. Yet what binds us is our unconditional love for the art and the desire to communicate our daydreams in soft, love-infused light."

I first learned about this book from Fernanda Montoro, whose work I avidly follow. Fernanda is one of the contributors to this book, and I bought it for that reason alone. I debated spending $50 for it, but considering it is a numbered edition of 500 (mine is 397/500), and came with a 5" X 5" print from the book, I think it's well worth it, knowing the high cost and difficulties in small run publishing.

Jenifer Altman did a really nice job editing this book and the selection of photographs is first rate, rivaling some of the best Polaroid work I have seen, including the bible of Polaroid work, Taschen's The Polaroid Book



Some of the standout photographers in For The Love of Light are Yu-i Chan of Los Angeles whose still life of a bird on a glass table is every bit the equal to some of Andre Kertesz's Polaroids. Maditi from Germany presents work with a minimalism and subtle color tone that is the essence of Polaroid film. And Hannah Huffman of Kansas City presents what I think is the best diptych in the book. Her photo shot out the window of an airplane is perhaps the best I've ever seen. ( and that's saying a lot, considering everyone has tried that at some point)

If I have one complaint about the book, it is that with only a few exceptions, it is primarily a collection of SX-70 (and the almost identical 600 format), with a couple Spectra shots included in the mix. Don't get me wrong, I shoot with both of these films on a regular basis and I love them both. I just wish the book included a wider variety of films such as Marie Ek of Sweden's use of 88 film in her Color Pack 80 camera. Maybe there will be a second edition of this fine book that could include some of the specialty pack films like Chocolate or Viva or even good old 669. Just a suggestion. (oh...and how about more than 3 male photographers in volume two?)

Overall, a killer book and a beautiful tribute to this beloved medium. Get one before they are all gone...

For The Love of Light