Podcast: The Impossible Project and the Rebirth of Instant Film

While digital camera manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to improve and increase resolution, dynamic range, frame rate, ISO, and…everything, a very strong counter trend has emerged that is turning back to analog, mechanical, and film techniques.  Standing out amongst these “throwback” technologies is the rising popularity of instant film and instant film cameras. Fujifilm Instax has seen their sales soar but more interesting is the Impossible Project, who, in just a few years has become the go-to source for a wide variety of instant film and, recently, instant cameras, such as the new  I-1 Instant Film Camera.

On todays’ episode we talk with Patrick Tobin from Impossible and photographer George Weiss, who incorporates instant film into his portrait and wedding work. We discuss how Impossible began by purchasing the last remaining Polaroid film factory, how they refurbish cameras for re-sale and how they continue to tweak their instant film chemistry.  Join us for an enlightening discussion on the intricacies of an upstart company that is finding success marketing “old” technology to new customers.

Guests: Patrick Tobin and George Weiss

Photographs by George Weiss

Impossible I-1 Instant Film Camera

Impossible Instant Lab Universal

Impossible Polaroid SX-70 Original Instant Film Camera

Impossible Polaroid 600 Square Instant Camera

Host: Allan Weitz
Senior Creative Producer: John Harris
Producer: Jason Tables
Executive Producer: Lawrence Neves