Melissa Fields
I was born in a great time for photography. Summer of 1981. I’ve seen in my lifetime, so far, the great switch from film to digital photography. I’ve learned from professors that have either remained faithful to film, with all it’s beautiful qualities, or the professors who have forged ahead with fervor to tackle digital, with all it’s hiccups.
I feel a certain affinity towards film, and maybe through hours of work on a computer, I am able to render a final image from a digital camera that looks exactly like an image from film. This doesn’t seem backwards to me at all. I have a tiny collection of toy film cameras which satisfy my need for film and the unexpected side of film, polaroid included.
With Polaroids, I believe it’s the instant gratification and the idea that any imperfection can be manipulated to have the title “artistic”. Who doesn’t love that. Built in art.