I've been re-reading the recent news posts and thinking about this place a lot more than I usually do. And for the past few months I've spent quite a bit of time with Polanoid in my thoughts (if not shooting and posting). Mostly because I feel somewhat responsible for the current project. I've been working on perfecting the prize that I'll soon be sending to the winner - journeynoire. More on that below.

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Noah - Please take the time to read, or re-read (and really think about), the news posts from the past few days. There is much to be learned from them. A lot of passion in them. Reading your last post was a bit depressing. Reading those that followed was not.

You wrote . . .

"well what the hell do you all want from this site?"…
…"projects? yeah, i admit, i FÖCKING SUCK AT IT."…
…"no one has time to care about a silly website,"…
..."he (WebMeister) didnt want to change anything, he just wanted to let it be. so let it. or leave."…
…"im over it"…
…"its just a website"…

What we want is for this place to be what it has been since 2005-07-10 (WebMeister's first day here). It's a place for people that share a common passion. A passion for making photos with an antiquated process we wish to preserve, share, and enjoy with others. A process being kept alive by those that asked you to care for this place. A process created by a man with passion. I know that you have passion when it comes to making instant photos. I've seen it in your pictures. I just don't hear it in your words. Those of us that come here also have that passion, whether we joined 8+ years ago or just today. It's why we're here. We care. Are you really over it? Is this just a website? You seem so negative at times. I would feel it an honor and privilege to be responsible for this site.

This place may be "just a website" but it's a very unique and special place to many of us - whether we speak out here in the news/updates, post photos, comment or vote on others work, make some friends, or just quietly look and enjoy. It's important to us. Do you really want more of us to leave? We've lost too many already. The numbers may be small compared to other photo sites, but there is no doubt that this is a very special community. It's a family. Many have joined, some have gone, but those that continue to return do so with a lot of passion and dedication. It deserves some respect.

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It's been a pleasure to read some of the recent posts. It just reinforces my feeling that Polanoid is a place like no other. I'll be here until either its end or mine. I really do need to start shooting again though. ;)

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About the current, and now closed, project (RetroRoid #3 - The 60's) - I initially selected the winner, and runners-up, a few months ago. My choice for winner has never changed. My choices for the runners-ups have varied a bit, but all selections are final now. I selected this photo by journeynoire as the winner - »link Clicking on that link will take you to the 60's project. From there you can also view past projects via the drop-down on the bottom left, if you're interested. It's a back door into the projects pages since clicking on "projects" in the black bar will only take you to the red curtain. One more thing (not that it will change my mind) - even though the curtain is closed, you can still submit photos to the recently "closed" project. I just added one. If you're the first one to figure this out (which means you're still reading) I'll send you a consolation prize. The only caveat - it must have something to do with the 60's, like mine.

/fin

@zvevi - Well, that's interesting. I suppose Lexi just contacted someone who does have the authority. But if he no longer does, and Noah doesn't either, then I wonder who's behind the curtain.

@Noah - Shouldn't you be the one to have this access? You are a 'meister, after all. Hope you're feeling bettah.

@ noidmeister

You wrote - …"webmeister is also gone. he cant even access the server."…

Are you sure about that?

I've been asking to have the project curtains closed for a while now. Last I heard from you was a note in my guestbook where you wrote …"icant log into make and end projects."…

I grew tired of waiting, so I emailed WebMeister a couple of weeks ago. Within 12 hours the curtains were drawn. It's always nice to hear from Lexi.

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While I can't say that this little corner of the internet has changed my life, I can honestly say that it has enriched it. And if it was gone, I'd miss it more than any other. I'm not very active these days, but I always enjoy time spent here. I've made some good friends as well. And that's priceless. And maybe I'll take a photo or two tonight, or tomorrow...

@ Philippe - Please, don't grow up any more - you're aged perfectly. ;)

After considering how slowly the RetroRoid 60's project is progressing I'd like to revise the submission rules (with noidmeisters permission, of course) to include the following...

- Previous uploads that you feel have a 60's look or vibe.

- Original Polaroids that were actually shot in the 60's.

Since I have been around that long, and have some personal Polaroids from the 60's, I'm adding one of my favourites to the project as an example. My entries are for fun only, and of course I will not consider them when noidmeister and I select the winner.

It's a nice prize - worth the effort for the film alone. Plus all the other cool stuff.
I'll be adding another 60's gem to the prize box today.
Oh boy!

...

thanks for reading - oré

Regarding the Instant Lab (iPhoneRoid) debate - My initial reaction was to not allow them here.

The rules for membership clearly state…

"Strictly restricted to analog instant photography."

But the definition of analog instant photography is not exactly clear. And it seems to be less clear now. While I do consider Polaroid (or Fuji) prints made with the old copying devices (PolaPrinter, Daylab, Kali copier…) to be analog they are at least one step removed from the typical analog Polaroid process. No real camera involved in making the final picture. But, as others have said, there was an analog camera involved in the process. Along with another type of analog film. I have no problem with them. Especially if the original intent was to produce a Polaroid photo. I doubt the same will ever be said of the digital photos that will be projected onto Polaroid or Impossible films using the new Impossible printer device.

And then there are the screenshots. I happen to love screenshots. I've shot hundreds of them. From computer screens and TV's. In the past I've shot video with the sole purpose of playing them back on an old cathode-ray TV and shooting Polaroids. It gave me a look that was simply not possible otherwise. I found it fascinating to see something on my final Polaroid that simply couldn't be seen otherwise. And it was always the Polaroid that I was after. The video or TV was a means to an end in this case. There just never seemed to be much interest in them here. Perhaps I should start digging in those archives again. For nostalgia. For fun.

Regarding the movie(beta) portion of Polanoid - Although I was never a regular in that particular section of Polanoid I did look in occasionally and over the years I've viewed most of what was there (except for the ones that just didn't work for some reason). I've enjoyed seeing those. Especially the ones made from original Polaroids in a stop-motion fashion. There is some good stuff there. Only noidmeister can tell us why it's missing from the black bar.

But the good news is it's still there. I was leaving a guestbook message earlier today and noticed that the movies tab still available on Esther's page. All her movie uploads were still available to see. So I went to a blank web page and typed in the movies page url. All 166 are still there - most still work.

Go here »link to see them. Noidmeister - why was this link removed? Is it finally coming out of beta stage after all these years? ;)

Finally - I vote NO.

have to agree with vadim & zvevi about this nutty dr.
the coup de grâce is here »link read the third paragraph. nice that he's offering "free" shipping. ;)

vadim - i've dealt with this guy »link before and can tell you he's honest, will stand behind his cameras and offers a variety of models at somewhat reasonable prices. the alpha 1's are usually his most expensive but they're almost like new after he refurbishes them.

/long, but worth reading./
;)


I'm getting a bit lonely sitting by myself on the projects page.

I knew that a project like this (which requires a new pic, along with some effort & thought) would be slow going, but not this slow.

Just to be clear (since the prize pic is not) - for those who may actually read this sort of long "new! new! hot!" news/update - here is a partial* list of what awaits the winner of the current project - "RETROROID #3 - THE 60'S"...


One Polaroid Automatic 100 Land camera, circa 1963 (the very first pack film camera!). It's the camera I used for the profile pic you see. The one you see in the photo is a "stunt" camera. ;)

Plus the following...

- Portrait Kit #581
- Close-Up Kit #583
- Cable Release #191
- Self-timer #192
- Cloud Filter #516
- UV Filter #585
- Development Timer #126
- Flashgun #268
- Three boxes of M3 flashbulbs (36 total)
- Polaroid's Party Pack ( a 60's vintage Polaroid party game - unused)
- A 60's vintage Polaroid Land camera/accessories case
- A 60's vintage "hippie" style camera strap (see my headband) ;)
- And eleven (Yes, 11) packs of Polaroid & Fuji films for your new camera. And that includes a vintage box of type 108 (use by Apr. 1966 - but since that box was empty I've put a "fresh" (02/2000) pack of 108 in the box. That's 110 photo ops just for you! WOW, I must be crazy!!!


*I did say above that this is a partial list (did you catch that?). What I have listed above is all in the photo. What's not listed? Well, that's going to be a surprise. For the winner. Additional items will be Polaroid related (mostly), and 60's vintage (again, mostly). All good stuff. Very good stuff. All from my personal stash of Polaroid goodies. Shipped directly to the winner from me. Wherever you may be. I'll spare no expense.

How can you keep resisting?

"Anyone, anyone."
"Bueller?"

bestest,
crazy oré

Thanks Arne.
All we need now is for someone to give Esther a spank on behalf of infinitwooo.
Line up.

zveliakine - What you said. And themagicbus too.
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g.  -  I wish you had /root-access too. That would be a good thing. 
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arne  -  I'd volunteer but I'm a worse choice than you. ;)
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noidmeister - Your news post is a little disheartening to say the least. Sounds to me like you don't really want this responsibility. I would think that you'd want to do your best to keep this a lively, interesting and relevant site. Both for those of us that have been around for a while as well as new members trying to get a feel for what it's like here. Not to mention for yourself. 

Keeping up with things like film types should be a minimal task at best. Once all of the known Polaroid, Fuji and Kodak films are added to the list it should be a routine matter to add new IP films as they are released. 

If you're too lazy, or uninterested, to care for the Project section I'd like to volunteer for that. I propose 8 projects per year - two during each season. They would last about 6 weeks each. I have a few ideas but to make it easy how about another Retroroid as the next project? "Retroroid #3 - The 60's". Let's see how many new photos we can generate with this theme. And how many dormant members we can coax back. I will provide the prize. A working 1960's vintage Polaroid Land camera, along with accessories, film and a surprise (or two). As for the "current" project - just pick a number from 1 - 166, declare them the winner and move on. 

Yes, people still upload here. That will happen as long as this site is here. And that is a good thing. I sincerely hope that it continues for many years to come. But to say that there isn't anything disappointing here is just not true.There is a long list. Different for each of us I suppose. In the interest of moving forward in a positive manner i will leave that alone. 

Let me know about the projects Noah.
I'd be happy to help out with them.
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RaymondMolinar - Hope you're having fun in Boston.

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WebMeister - You will be missed, and always loved here.