#fujisqaure

     I was so inspired by Taschens’ book Andy Warhol Polaroids- 1958-1987 . I loved how Andy photographed everything from everyday objects  to his group of friends and celebrities of the day with this instant camera  . These Polaroids were used for his famous large  silk screen print portraits . I was pleasantly surprised to find that his favorite camera the Polaroid Big Shot was available and affordable  on ebay , I think I got it for $35 . I couldn’t help but buy it and try to do portraits in the style Andy did . The only problem was the film used no longer existed ( POLAROID Land Camera Film ) and the only film similar available  was the Fuji Fp-100c . This film was also discontinued as of 2016 , and sells online for $72-100$ and up for 10 shots. I regret not having an interest in shooting polaroids when they sold before for $8-10 a box. I spent about $78 dollars on the film and barely got a shot I really liked . The Polaroid Big Shot is really good for portraits and doesn’t have a way to place it on a tripod. Also to focus the subject  you have to keep going forward and back until the two images you see on the viewfinder match up, this “dance move” is also known as the “Big Shot Shuffle” . I wanted to do a self portrait with it and I thought the timer in the back of the camera was meant for selfies, but its purpose was to time its film  development.  You also need to get old school Flash Cubes $12 online ,as the camera doesn’t have its own flash. With all the costs and complications,  I still loved the fact that I was following in the footsteps of an artist I admired. 

I want to go back in 2025.