Marc Byram Photography - Photo Tips Blog: It's Automatic ...

The 1963 Land Camera 100 Automatic although it does have automatic exposure it surprisingly doesn't have the facility for HD Video, or a buffer for 10 frames a second, it would possibly be a struggle to take that many shots in a hour with such a camera.

So what does it have ? Well the ability to give the photographer total freedom to create the most unique photo art you could imagine. Yes I said "art" and I make no apology ...let's be honest it isn't hard to take an above average photography these days but how often do you see one that is unique ? If you think that the digital SLR camera is the most brilliant invention ever made then I suggest you stop reading now, you are a camera operative and that is fine, I am and most of us are at one time or another, but do I want to be ? ...... absolutely not ...... ! and I assume if you are still reading then you feel the same way, so please read on.

Like most photographers I love film, but I am also a little impatient, so for me instant film is my medium of choice, I love the magical transformation as the image starts to appear before my very eyes, perhaps I am kid that has never grown up, but I love the whole business the smell of the chemicals, the feel including the slight burn on the fingers. The fact that you are developing the image right where it was taken and the environment around, and what you do during this process will have a direct result on the final look of the image. I could go into great length to try and express this ... but my English is clumsy so I will let the images do the talking for me.

The image above is the camera and location, the four images below are the creation of camera, environment and film stock. You will be able to pick up a vintage Polaroid camera fairy easy just make sure it is in working order, most surprising still are. You then need the right instant film for that camera, the good news is there is still a supply of original and now new film stock, go to www.the-impossible-project.com for both reconditioned cameras and all your film requirements. For the 100 there is a fantastic range of film available black & white, colour and also tones like this blue that I used to create my images here.

The four images above: top left is the negative of 672 b&w film often referred to as "goop" because this is what is meant to be thrown away, so basically it is a by product and is quite unstable but as long as it is scanned before it dries out will give a 5" x 4" negative. This I have inverted back to positive and toned to match the 3 other images. The top right is a positive from the "Blue" shades 100 film the strong blue colour and lack of detail is through under exposure. Bottom left is another negative "goop" but this time in the blue toned film and the positive to this is on the bottom right. So two very different unique images for the price of one !. The interesting thing about this type of colour negative is they aren't what you would expect to see as a negative really, just a variation of colour. All "goops" are very unstable and it is best to put them into something that will protect them until you are able to scan them, as soon as they dry the image will fade or already be lost. (Other than the toning of the top left image, all other image tones and look are as scanned.)