Lessons learned about Polaroids and Pittsburgh weather!
Winter Strategies and Cold Weather Tips
While the look of Polaroid film photos is quite distinctive, it’s important to remember that the film will be on its best behavior in moderate temperatures, between 55 – 82°F. Temperatures significantly outside of that range can affect the film’s development time, color, and saturation. While Pittsburgh has days that fall within that range (which means it’s probably raining), a great deal of the summer is above 82 and winter… well, let’s just say that if we wanted less time feeling cold we wouldn’t live here!
When temperatures are below 55°F, developed Polaroids tend to look over-exposed, lacking color contrast and with a green tint. Take a look at the photo from the Rothlein Way stairs in Spring Garden. This was the first time since I started the project in July that the temperature had dropped to around 50°F, and it’s a textbook example of what happens!
Not only do you have to be concerned about the film, but you also need to make sure the camera body doesn’t get too cold either as it can make the battery stop working.
My solution to this problem is two-fold. First, I keep the camera in its original box (with padding) to help insulate it when it’s traveling in my backpack. I only take the camera out after I’ve investigated the stairway and determined where I want to set up my shot. After the photo is ejected by the camera, I carefully place it in a small messenger-style bag I wear under my coat. Doing this allows the photo to develop within the optimal temperature range. To protect the photo from bending while developing, I inserted a thick piece of cardboard into the bag. It works well and isn’t too uncomfortable!
As I like to spend a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes at each stairway so I can write and take field notes, I haven’t tried my “warming” method when temperatures are below the high 30s (because then I start to have issues with pens and ink and my butt getting cold from sitting on concrete). However, these photos of Bluebelle Street and Montana Street in Perry North were taken in late December on a clear day when the average daytime temperature was 40°F. With supplemental warming, they came out looking pretty good!
Summer Strategies and Hot Weather Tips
When temperatures go up, you need to keep your film cool. As mentioned above, Polaroid pictures develop best between 55-82 °F, so if you’re taking photos out in the sun on a hot day, keep your film and camera out of the heat until you’re ready to shoot. When out photographing stairs, I always carry my camera in a well-insulated backpack (which keeps the camera and film cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter), and after the shot is taken, I turn the prints face-down and away from any bright light or warm rays. And while Pittsburgh isn’t going to be confused with Miami when it comes to sunny skies, it’s always best to switch your camera’s setting to “darken” if you’re taking photos outside. The photo of Itin Street in Spring Garden was taken on a super hot and sunny day in July – and the print looks it! And a final note, when using a Polaroid you definitely don’t want to be like those people in OutKast’s Hey Ya! video. The chemicals used for developing the print need time to set so “shaking your Polaroid picture” is always a bad idea!
