When is out of date, out of date ...?

"The End of the Pier" - Shot on out of date Polaroid SX 70 film.

I still very much have a passion for film there is something about it that I can only describe as "organic" it is the whole experience of using it; the feel, the smell and above all the anticipation for the results.

The digital process of image creation is consistent and immediate, but to me it removes some of creativity by being both these things and feels far too clinical. It is true that digital editing can put some of what is missing back into the image, and I have shot of lot of digital images that I have then made to look like film, but I also have to ask myself why I didn't shoot it in film in the first place, and would have had a lot more enjoyment from the creative process by doing so.

For many when not shooting for accuracy but for the purpose of producing a unique image then out of date film has to be the preferred option as this adds further variables to the creative process, because you will not know exactly how the film is going to behave as the chemical structure will have become unstable and thereby produce variable results.

Instant film for me personally is at the front of the creative process, originally used to get the first impression of what an image taken with film would be like it has gained its own place as a medium for image creation.  To me personally some of my best work has been shot on Polaroid Instant Film. Also as Polaroid film is no longer available any that can be found will be out of date for certain. I still have a small fridge full of it and when getting down to last pack of a favourite film it is always hard to shoot that last pack without making every image truly count. 

You can see some of my exhibited Polaroid images by following this link: www.marcbyramfineart.com

I have never had an issue with buying out of date film as long as it has come from a reputable supplier which means it has been kept refrigerated which has at least reduced the ageing process of the chemicals. However recently I acquired a 5x 4 View Camera and was really looking forward to some large Polaroid images, and there was a couple of sheets of this with the camera that worked well for my initial test with the camera, but I then needed my next Polaroid fix, so I bought some more in an auction off eBay. The seller said that it was refrigerated and no doubt this was correct but I suspect for quite a few years of it's shelf life it may not have been or else the ageing process was just too much for the chemicals as you will see here:

First test using using the tried and tested out of date Polaroid 5 x4 Film

My second shoot using the newly purchased out of date Polaroid 5 x 4 film.

As you can see the emulsion hasn't separated from the print even after trying to wipe it away, this also seems to have broken down considerable, so that it is has a granulated look.  The lesson learnt here was that the the first batch used had expired in 2007 where as the second batch had expired 22 years ago (1991).

Although, I admit that possibly my common sense was switched off when I bought this film, I have to admit that I was also wondering what miracles there may be in those unstable chemicals ..... ! To some there may still be creative possibilities, but for my this film has passed the point of not return. So my advise here is to only purchase such old film if the price is low and you know the source well, it may be like a very mature wine that at some point instant film stock cannot be used, in the same way the wine cannot be drank.