12 Months on Film: April — Mist, Mountains & Magic with the Polaroid SX-70
Multnomah Falls captured with the Polaroid SX-70
For April’s edition of the 12 Months on Film project, I selected my modified Polaroid SX-70 and set to explore the Pacific Northwest. With trips planned around Washington and Oregon, I knew I’d find lots of beauty to photograph.
There’s something undeniably nostalgic about shooting Polaroid film. Every frame feels like a time capsule — fleeting, imperfect, and full of atmosphere. The SX-70, with its signature soft focus and dreamy color palette, was the perfect companion for a month that balanced the last grip of winter with the promise of spring.
Riverside Near Index, WA
White River, Mount Hood
Riverside near Index, WA was captured near my cabin along a peaceful stretch of river, just as the evening light was starting to break through the mist. The lens caught a hazy column of light flaring against the rocks, and the snow-dusted mountains in the background melted softly into the sky.
The second image was taken at White River Sno Park on Mount Hood. The bold geometry of the snow-capped peak, paired with the crystal blue sky and incoming clouds, made the SX-70’s limited dynamic range a strength rather than a limitation. It compresses contrast and lets the colors pop in their own gentle way.
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Here is a wide view of the Columbia River Gorge, where the winding river fades into the distance. Even from high above, the SX-70 captured the layered blues and greens with a painterly softness — like a watercolor of the real thing.
Falls Creek Falls, Washington
The SX-70 performed shockingly well handheld in the deep cover of forest to capture this image of Falls Creek Falls. The blue tint is likely caused by the cold temperatures from the early morning and proximity to the cold water.
Ponytail Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Not wide enough to capture the expanse of Ponytail Falls, I choose to include only the waterfall meeting the pool in this image. Based on a little Googling, I think the camera likely choose around 1/40th of a second for this exposure, rendering the waterfall a silky stream.
Balsam Root Super bloom with Mount Hood in the distance, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Balsam Root, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Finally, a pair of images from the balsam root super bloom along the Columbia River Gorge. The first image shows the expanse of the blooms with Mount Hood towering in the distance. For the second image, I choose to focus closely, capturing the detail of the flowers and the chaos of the wild bloom.
Using a vintage camera like this Polaroid is an exercise in slowing down. There's no burst mode, no editing, no second chances. Just compose, click, and wait — and the magic unfolds before your eyes, well, really hidden in your pocket.
My Polaroid SX-70 was purchased for $20 at an antique store and expertly restored and modified for 600 film by Brooklyn Film Camera.
The Magic of Shooting Instant Film
Here are a few things I noticed this month while working with instant film:
Temperature Deeply Affects the Chemistry: Instant film is incredibly sensitive to the ambient weather when it develops. On warmer days, the tones naturally shift a bit warmer and redder, while cold mornings produce a distinct, cooler, and more muted color palette.
The Importance of Immediate Light Shielding: The first few seconds after an instant print ejects from the camera are the most critical for contrast and color saturation. Slipping the print immediately into a pocket or keeping it face down under a dark card shields it from the sun while the developer does its work.
Simplifying the Frame for Instant Optics: Because instant film has less dynamic range than digital sensors, compositions work best when they focus on bold, graphic shapes and clean lines, like a solitary pier piling or a distinct shadow line across the sand.
