Mamiyaroid 8

Photographs of Strangers

I don’t collect snapshots. But lots of people do. I like this quote:

“The photographs have lost their original meanings,” veteran collector Joel Rotenberg said. “Now they have room for the meanings we give them.”

When I divorced I gathered all the print and digital photographs of my ex and I emailed and mailed them to him. He might have thought this was an act of cruelty but it was actually my way of respecting the relationship. It happened. It couldn’t be burned away the way you can burn a photograph, and it felt wrong to throw away the images and destroy the digital copies completely, so I sent them to him, giving him a choice. I suspect he threw them out and deleted them. Which I’m fine with, I just didn’t want to make that decision myself. It was too sad.

I don’t collect snapshots because I know it could be the sort of thing that turns into obsession, that can take over my life. The bookseller/indie rocker offered me an entire box of found photographs but I declined. I do this a lot. I curb potential obsessions that would steal time from my actual creative work (writing and my own photography).

But sometimes I find things out on my walks and I bring them home. Like these 120 film negatives. It was a spring day a few years ago and I was saddened to see all these negatives and photo albums on the sidewalk, discarded, but not even properly disposed of. Everything was scattered about. I took one small photo album for reasons you will see on Friday, and a few of these negatives. You can imagine where they are today, what they’d think of a stranger looking at their private special occasion, whether they are still married or divorced, if they are alive or dead. You can give their lives new meanings if you’re inclined to do so.

Kodak Vericolor III (VPS 6006) 120 film. I’m guessing a 6x6 medium format camera. I scanned using my epson v550 (it was a good test run!) Here’s a chart of kodak films

Until next time…

Adalena

I love to receive comments and questions about photography and cameras!

My email: adalenakavanagh@gmail.com

Instagram: @mamiyaroid (instant/film) @5redpandas (personal)

Twitter: @adalenakavanagh

Also, if you’re thinking of buying Polaroid film for the first time, here is my referral code, which gets you 10% off, and I get some reward points.

Original photography prints: adalenakavanagh.bigcartel.com (I change out the shop every month of so. If you see something you like, let me know, I’m happy to make you a print.)

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

-Adalena Kavanagh