SX-70 photgraphs from the Polaroid Art exhibition in 1982

Polaroid Art was an exhibition of SX-70 images held in 1982, usually making use of the manipulative qualities of the emulsion of the film at that time. For a couple of hours after taking a photograph, the emulsion remained soft and with various tools, it could be distorted and manipulated by applying pressure. It was like working paste beneath a layer of cellophane.

Sadly the film has gone through a few modifications since 1982 and modern equivalents don't appear to have the same qualities. The occasional pack can be found on ebay, but whether the age has effected it will depend on the storage.

Quite a few of the images seen here are photograms made under a colour enlarger. This offered a degree of control and sometimes more colour saturation than that achievable when exposed in camera.

The usual reason for using the film was to manipulate, but sometimes simple, straight graphic shots worked just as well. The slightly muted, soft appearance was distinctly 'Polaroid' and could be useful in its' own right.

At the original exhibition, enlarged prints were made from colour negative copies.

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