When I bought a view camera last year, it was with the plan to shoot not only large format (4x5) film but also tintypes and Polaroid. Ironically, even though the tintype process is over 150 years old, it turns out that Polaroid, shot for shot, can be a more expensive medium. Since it's out of production, Polaroid sheet and pack film is going on the used market for premium prices, despite the fact that it sometimes yields unpredictable results because it's well past its expiration date. Even with these considerations, it's hard for me to ignore the look of Polaroid's large format film, whether it's the deep saturation in color or the rich tones across the spectrum in black and white. This isn't the cheap-looking square format instant film that became synonymous with the concept of Polaroid (revived with some success now by the Impossible Project), but is instead a medium worthy of the care large format photographers take with their work.
While I'm slowly stocking up on Polaroid film, Fuji fortunately still produces an instant film useable in view cameras. The slightly smaller 3"x4" size requires special film holders (which are also going for premium prices), but with one in hand you can create sharp, beautiful, instant images at considerably less expense. Another plus is that, in addition to the positive print, this film renders a negative transparency retrievable with just a bit of effort.
These shots are from a portrait test with model Amy Steinkampf, with hair and make up by Brandie Hopstein. Next up I'll be shooting in black and white.
