Project Instant V3.0 - Hold a Moment in Your Hand - Opening Night!

We'd like to thank everyone that submitted their work for the Project Instant V3.0 show, as well as everyone that attended the opening night reception! It was a great success. The Impossible Project 8x10 Portrait Sessions and the Fuji Instax Photo Booth were both a huge hit too! It was also wonderful to have Mark Appleton from Impossible Project there showing people how to use the Instant Lab. We hope everyone had lots of fun....we sure did!

Also a big thanks to everyone at Science World and The Capture Photography Festival for their support with hosting this show.

Wayne from http://www.waynesworldstudio.com/ kindly put together this great video for us as well! Thanks, Wayne for capturing the event.

 

 

Congratulations to the winners in all categories!

Favourite Overall Photo was Melissa Partee "Little Mountain"

 

Runner Up from All Categories was Gregory Dawe "Child & Chair"

Integral Film Photo Winner - Christine Hagemoen "PNE 2010"

Integral Film Photo from a Digital Source Winner - Penny Parry "High Wind"

Mixed Media Artwork Winner - Chris Evans "Shadow"

Other Format Instant Films Winner - Roger Hur "Family 1"


Judge's Choice Photo Winners:

Judge: Jason Winner: Christine Hagemoen "Still Life 1999"

Judge: Chick Winner: Stasja Voluti "Tell Him You Saw Me"

Judge: Mila Winner: Stasja Voluti "L'appel du Vide"

Staff Pick Winner: Brendan Meadows "Rhi Blossom & Buddy"

Project Instant V3.0 - Hold a Moment in Your Hand

We are happy to partner again with Science World at Telus World of Science and the Capture Photography Festival for another great instant photo show! Last year was a huge success and we look forward to everyone's submissions this year.

A shot of all the submissions from last year, on display at Science World.

This year we have opened the contest up to all forms of instant photography, including Polaroid, Impossible Project, Fuji Instax and any other instant film you may have lying in wait just for this great opportunity!

Entry fee is $15.75 and you can submit up to 3 different photographs. At least one image from every submission will be displayed at Science World from March 30th, 2016 until April 26th, 2016, during the Capture Photography Festival. We will award various prizes to winners, as judged by a panel of pros!

Opening reception will be the evening of April 6th from 6-8pm. This opening event is FREE and open to everyone. There will be drinks & snacks! The 8x10 camera will also be set up for Instant Portraits and lots of other fun activities. No tickets necessary to attend the event, however we would love it if you could RSVP via our Facebook event if you are planning on coming! Or email Kathy at: upstairs@beauphoto.com

Facebook event page is here: Project Instant V3.0 Opening Night Reception

To download the submission form head over here. Or feel free to come into the store and pick one up! Please see the contest rules regarding family friendly subject matter on the submission form.

All submissions must be received by 5pm, Friday March 18th, 2016.

Meet A Scientist

This weekend was fun! Kathy and I got to do an event at Science World called 'Meet A Scientist'. Of course Kathy was the scientist, I was her assistant.

We showed kids and adults alike what's inside an instant photograph using the same technique that we teach people when doing emulsion lifts. First, we needed some photos to take apart so I ran around Science World shooting instant photos, much to the delight of the many onlookers who were there for the Dragon Boat races!

To create an emulsion lift, cut the frame from an Impossible photograph, then peel the back from the front protective plastic. After doing this you'll notice the emulsion has stuck to one of the sides. Submerge the side that holds the image in warm water. After a few minutes you'll see the image layer rise up off the plastic.

                           

Then remove the plastic from the water and you are left with a gooey gelatin layer, which is the emulsion. Next we put a piece of paper into the water and poke the emulsion around until it floats over the paper. Using your fingers, pin two corners of the emulsion to the paper while pulling the paper and emulsion from the water. The weight of the water will help pull the emulsion flat over the paper.

After it is laying on the paper just the way you want, leave it flat on paper towel to dry.

If you're interested in doing a workshop on emulsion lifting please email film@beauphoto.com. We hope to have another emulsion lift workshop in early June.

Project Impossible V2.0: Photos from the People Gallery Opening

A big thank you to everybody who took part in our Impossible project V2.0: Photos From the People show and everyone who attended our show open last night! It was wonderful to see so many smiling instant film enthusiasts in one place!!

Kathy had the 8x10 camera going for portraits with the Impossible 8x10 film and it was a huge hit! We were overwhelmed by the amount of people who were interested in learning about it. Thank you to everyone who stayed to have their photo taken.

The show is on now at Science World until May 10th, 2015. The photos are hung in the entry way as you go into the main building. Please note that admission fees to Science World now apply to gain entry to the show.

We would like to say a BIG thank you to Science World for all their help with the show! They were very gracious with their time and were very helpful while setting up all the photos and getting us everything we needed to make it all happen.

There were so many creative entries, it was extremely tough to choose a winner. However, after much deliberation our judges finally made their decisions! Here are the Impossible Project V2.0: Photos From the People show winners:

Over All Prize Winner: Ron Jensen's “1 – Two - Me." SX-70.

 

Impossible Project photo taken with a Polaroid camera: Allison White's “Half Light.” SX-70 Sonar.

 

Impossible Project photo using an Instant Lab: Clara Edvi's “Prairie Drive”

 

Impossible Project photo mixed media: Wayne Lam's “Red Luggage Diary.” Polaroid 600 Cool Cam.

 

Judges Choice: Chris Gallagher's “Then Was Once Now.” Polaroid 600.

Jason – “Loved the idea and presentation of the print with the fresh tulip.”

 

Judges Choice: Tracey Harper's “Catching Rays.” Polaroid SLR 680.

Jane – “This caught my eye & held it. I like the idea that sunlight is out of shot on the left, the straight lines give it focus and I enjoy wondering about the imperfection at the top.”

 

Judges Choice: Melissa Partee's “Jack Point – Winter 2015.” Polaroid 600.

Kit – “This image has a quietness about it. The framing of the tree brings the viewer to the centre where the eye is met with a bold horizon line.”

 

Judges Choice: Georgette Swenson's “Bobby.” SX-70.

Jo Ann – “Feels like my favourite summer Sunday afternoon.

 

Staff Pick: Zoe M. Wright's "People Taste So Good."

 

 

 

 

My first Impossible Project

This week Pauline was at Beau Photo and had the chance to job shadow various staff members....so she wrote a great blog post for us too! See her blog post below. Thanks, Pauline!
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Thanks to the work experience program offered at my school, Crofton House, I had the chance to work at Beau Photo Supplies and use a Polaroid camera. I took instant photos for Beau Photo's Project Impossible contest, which anyone can enter and showcase their photos at Science World. Submissions will be taken until Monday, March 30th. Not only can you showcase your images in the exhibition, there are also many prizes to be won! You can visit film@beauphoto.com or www.beauphoto.com/impossible15 for more details.

Having been exposed to only digital cameras before, taking pictures with the Polaroid camera was a new experience for me. It was hard to get used to it at first, but after taking several shots of the scenery I immediately fell in love with the instant Polaroid camera. The Polaroid camera produces beautiful images on the film and holding them in my hand made me appreciate the beauty of the pictures more than I would for digital pictures. The photos end up with a kind of dreamy or surreal look. Even if the camera might be hard to use and the film might be expensive, the end results of the photos are worth it.

Project: Impossible – Canada. V2.0 Photos From The People

Calling all Canadian Impossible Film shooters, show us your Impossible view! Beginning now, we are gathering entries for our second Impossible Project photography exhibition.^.

The exhibition will be held at Science World from April 6^th until May 10^th, with an opening reception on April 8^th from 6-8pm. Because of the family oriented audience at Science World, we ask that the subject matter be appropriate for all ages. Science World reserves the right to refuse any photos they feel are not appropriate for the space. If you are unsure about an image and would really like to include it, contact us and we can have it pre-screened prior to hanging the show. Please be aware that this show will be on display in a high traffic area, and while we do not anticipate any issues, and there have not been issues in the past at this venue, there is the possibility that photos could be damaged or stolen.

Submissions can be dropped off at Beau Photo Supplies or can be mailed in to Beau. Each person will have from one to three images included in the show, and a selection of entries will be chosen for framing and exhibition style hanging. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

• Impossible Project Instant Lab photo

• Impossible Project camera photo

• Mixed media using Impossible Project film emulsion

• Judge's choice image

Submissions must be received by 5pm Monday, March 30th 2015.

The Details:

Submissions are restricted to images produced with Impossible Project film only; any Impossible format will be accepted. Emulsion lifts or mixed media that include the original photograph are permitted. Digital reproductions of Impossible Project film images will not be accepted.

Only original photos mailed in or dropped off to Beau Photo will be accepted for the contest and exhibition.  

Submissions are open to Canadian residents only.

If you would like original photos returned, please include a self addressed envelope with sufficient postage with your submission. Photos can also be picked up from Beau Photo Supplies after the show. Any photos left for more than two months after the closing of the show will become the property of Beau Photo.

An entry fee of $15.00 + GST for one to three photos applies. If you wish to mail your submission, you can call Nicole at Beau Photo to make a credit card payment over the phone. The payment will be processed when the photos arrive at the shop. Alternately, you can include a money order for $15.75 which includes GST with your submission.

Please note: submission fees are non-refundable.

A copy of the submission form can be found here: http://beauphoto.com/impossible15/

Beau Photo is not responsible for damage or loss of artwork while in transit or on display. By submitting your work you agree to allow your images to be used for promotional purposes for the show/contest.

Photographs that are selected to be framed, and the best in show and other awards will be determined by a three person jury consisting of one representative from Beau Photo Supplies, one representative from Science World and an artist from our community. More details about prizes will be announced as they become available.

If you don't have a Polaroid camera, there is a good selection of used cameras for sale at Beau. Afraid to commit? You can rent a camera for two days for free with the purchase of a pack of Impossible film and payment of the submission fee. Contact Nicole at Beau for more information or to reserve a camera.

www.beauphoto.com

film@beauphoto.com

604.734.7771

toll free 1.800.994.2328

Beau Photo Supplies

1520 W.6^th Ave

Vancouver, BC V6J 1R2

Colour Impossible Project negatives

Last night I decided to try my hand at bleaching Impossible Project negatives. Earlier that morning I took some Impossible Project photos of me with coloured paint on my face and mouth. I chose to take them in the morning after work they'd be completely finished processing. Then after work, I decided I would make lifts with the emulsion side of the image so that nothing from the photo went to waste, making sure to save the opposite negative side after I'd peeled the photo apart.

After the lifts were done I got together a few things for the bleaching: the black/white 'negative' side that had been left over from making the lifts, a tall container for holding the bleach dilution, tweezers for holding the negative as you dip it in the bleach water, a sable hair paint brush, a rinsing tray, latex gloves and paper towel. Also make sure you do this in a ventilated area as bleach fumes are toxic.

I used a little toilet bowl gel cleaner (that has bleach in it) diluted with water. Others have suggested using liquid bleach diluted with water or Mr. Clean magic erasers and water. The first time I mixed this I used fairly warm almost hot water, the second time I used luke warm water. The negative bleached and rinsed faster when I used the hotter water.

First I rinsed away the white layer using warm water. Then I took the corner of the negative with tweezers and vertically dunked it in the bleach. I did notice that my sharp tweezers scratched up the corner a bit. I wasn't bothered, but if you are, perhaps just use your gloved fingers to swish the photo around in the bleach. After about half a minute I took the negative from the bleach and put it in my rinse tray, gently brushing the surface layer away the bleach had eaten through, to leave a dark green layer. I repeated this twice. The next layer was a lighter green, the one after that was more of a cyan green. After I was done bleaching and rinsing the negatives, I let them dry over night and brought them to work for scanning.

Negative image. 

Positive image after using curves in Photoshop. I noticed the coloured paint doesn't show up here. Perhaps with more editing the orange and green would be clearer.

If you'd like to see another example please view Beau's flickr site,
 https://www.flickr.com/photos/beauphotostore/