death of an era

i just found out via twitter today that the last polaroid cameras and film are to be sold at urban outfitters until stock runs out. link here...

if i were in the states right now, i would literally go to every urban outfitters i could get to and buy every pack of film i could get my hands on.

the death of polaroid signifies the death of an era. no sleek, fancy digital camera will ever take the place of the clunky polaroid...the push of that one button, the click of the shutter and whirl as the photo spat out, the satisfying slide and lock of loading a new tray of film. my childhood is filled with memories of snapping away happily at grass, sky, trees and friends, waving the small square of film in my hands in eager anticipation as images mysteriously sharpened in their appearance. i'll miss the milky consistency of the photos, that slight blurry effect as if you're viewing the world in a dream-like state. i loved the instant satisfaction of seeing the photo you just took but always tinged with that element of surprise as to how the image will actually turn out.

i still remember science fair in junior high and charting the growth progress of my plants (hydroponics vs. soil culture) with the help of my pink polaroid. those images of lean green sprouts unfurling from glass bottles, silhouetted by a soft white light, helped me win third place.

i still have a polaroid camera here in shanghai and one precious pack of film left. i will have to sparingly use these remaining shots on polaroid-worthy photo opps.

fare thee well, polaroid, how i will miss thee......

cups of coffee: uno

mood: nostalgic