12 Months on Film: March at PolaCon Bay Area
Attending PolaCon in San Francisco in March meant Polaroid was the absolute only choice for this installment of 12 Months on Film. There is something incredibly inspiring about being surrounded by a community of people who share the same love for instant film, and it completely pushed me to lean into the fun and unpredictability of the medium all weekend.
I used mix of I-Type and 600 film across a trio of Polaroid cameras, which was a fun creative challenge in itself. I balanced the precise control and sharpness of the newer I-2 with the point-and-shoot simplicity of the Polaroid Now, and, of course, the classic, nostalgic feel of my restored and modified SX-70. San Francisco is full of incredible light and texture, and seeing those physical prints develop right there in front of me never gets old.
I was nervous to attend PolaCon, full of fear and self doubt. I thought I wasn’t creative enough, quirky enough, PolaNerdy enough. From the moment I arrived at the first event, all my doubts melted away. The community was welcoming, playful, and so very willing to share ideas and tips. Instead of feeling less than, the group made me feel inspired and free. My new PolaPals reminded me the whole reason I got into photography…. because it’s FUN.
I’m glad that I got over my fears because it paid off. There was a contest during the event to submit a quadtych, which is a series of four images that work together in some way, and I was thrilled to win runner-up. Here is the grid that took home the prize:
Capturing PolaCon on Instant Film
Here are a few things I noticed this month:
The Energy of an Instant Community: Shooting instant film surrounded by other creators reminds you how tactile and shared this medium really is. Watching a print develop right in your hand in the middle of a bustling city walk creates an immediate connection.
Sensing the Changing San Francisco Light: Instant film reacts beautifully to urban contrast. Shadows under buildings stay deep and rich, while highlights on concrete or passing streetcars pop, giving the frames a punchy, graphic quality.
Embracing Every Imperfection: In a fast-paced environment like a convention or a busy street, you have to let go of absolute control. A slight light leak or an unexpected chemical spread becomes part of the physical memory of that exact day.
Here are the images I took over the weekend- some that I love, some learning moments, and some what the heck?! Can you guess which were taken with which camera?
