The Polaroid Book. 40th Ed.

Most readers will likely be overwhelmed and delighted from reading the "Polaroid Book, Selections from the Polaroid Collections of Photography" not only because of the visual appeal and variety of technical use with the images, but in discovering how Edwin Land, the inventor, and Ansel Adams, the photographer, met and how Adams became an integral part of the Polaroid Company. The two met in 1948 as the first Polaroid "Land" camera was introduced to the world providing photographs that gave an instant image to the photographer. No more waiting for photographs by sending film off for processing. Land hired Adams as an artistic consultant. His assignment: test cameras, film and related photographic paraphernalia in the field and in the studio and report back. Edwin Land finds not only a colleague and life-long friend in Ansel Adams, but a most admired artist--a label that Land felt suited him as well. Both were captured by the art of photography. Adams began collecting photographs to be used as the "standard" of which to compare the "Polaroid" results. Work by famous photographers such as Minor White, Eliot Porter, Laura Gilpin, and Margaret Bourke-White, and others, were purchased as "the Library Collection". This collection grew as relatively unknown photographers' work was added which evolved into what is now "the Polaroid Collections". This body of work wasn't simply the routine, the established, the expected of each photographers' particular style. It evolved into experiments with often breath-taking outcomes. Ink was added, the images were painted upon, chemicals were added, film was frozen, dyes and pastels were played with, and actual piercing of the photographs occurred. Just about anything that one could think of doing to the film and images was done. The results are more than surprising. At first blush, it would be inconceivable to think that the use of instant photography was able to produce such a collection. So many of the techniques emulate a standard, manually controlled camera with timed images, double- and multiple-exposures, and unique lighting. Many are surreal. In addition, the book provides a brief historical timeline of the Polaroid cameras and milestones made with different types of cameras, film and processes. I highly recommend this book as a guide, a resource, and an inspiration, to all who are stirred by visual medium. The images in this book will certainly spark a reaction.

This is a classic which sold out its first printing. BUY THIS NOW! You will have, preserved on your bookshelf the essence of what Edwin Land envisioned over 65 years ago distilled in one BEAUTIFUL volume. How can the Petters Group (who now owns Polaroid) dare to banish such a beautiful art form from humanity? That's right, Polaroid has stopped making instant film and the supply may barely run through the end of this year, and all expire by the end of next year. THIS IS A CRIME AGAINST ART AND HUMANITY!! Buy the book, then go to savepolaroid.com and join us all to save this incredible art form. JUST LOOK AT THE PAGES OF THIS INCREDIBLE VOLUME!!! You will be amazed!

WOW... words can't even begin to describe how much I love this book! It's about time they released a book like this! And the wrapper of this book is genius! It looks like a gigantic box of Polaroid film... I didn't even want to remove the cover at first... I fondled it for awhile and then I slowly peeled it off and curled up on the couch for an hour or two and looked at all the pretty pictures. This book is highly recommended for any Polaroid enthusiast! And if you want to see some great 'roids on the net- check out Polanoid.net!

My dad bought a Polaroid Land Camera (of the peel-apart type) before I was born... to take pictures of his chubby firstborn (that would be me, BTW). Ever since, the sharp, colorful and amazingly stable little prints became part of our family's memory. My love for pictures was definitely boosted by the instant gratification offered by an SX-70 camera, which I still own and use after 25+ years, as well as a brand new Jobpro 600. "The Polaroid Book" is a must for any hardcore Polaroid fan. Lotsa pictures, beautifully printed, with absolute respect for the authors' vision (Ansel Adams, Joyce Tenneson and Bill Allard, to mention only three of them). Nevertheless, the book's greatest virtue is to prove, without any doubt, that beautiful and creative work can be achieved with the simplest tools and the sheer power of imagination. Polaroid is still alive and well, and this book is the best supporting evidence. Now, I'll just lay back and wait for that new new-old stock Polaroid Nightcam that I bought on the company's website. Let's see what that 600 film-munching baby can do.

Visual eye candy compiled by Steve Crist from the archives of the "Polaroid Collections of Photography" are presented in The Polaroid Book, a delightful display highly recommended for photography collections at the college and public library levels. Most color and some duotone shots are presented one to a page for maximum impact. The artist index and polaroid model styles are in the back, so as not to detract from the image impacts. A delightful, detailed guide to what the camera can do at its best.