Positives

A Polaroid SX-70 photography project

Positives was a photography project that concluded in 2014. Photographs were taken with an aging Polaroid SX-70 and published weekly.

Each week, a photograph taken with a Polaroid SX-70, on Impossible Project film, scanned in a tiny studio apartment, and shared in the Positives email newsletter.

Most of the photos were taken in New York City, but a handful were captured in Thailand, Philadelphia, or other places that I happened to be carrying the camera that year. There were 45 photos published in 2014, which are all collected below, along with a few unpublished images from the same year.

Owing to the photographer's lack of skill, the demanding light requirements of the camera, and the sometimes erratic film, only some of the photos were properly exposed and focused. Others were... less so.

A monochrome Polaroid photograph of a cloudy sky over the Atlantic Ocean, a buoy floating in the distance. Photo taken in Brooklyn, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a silver and black camera, a Fuji X100S, the top of camera reflecting pale yellow light, out of focus. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a white, brightly lit Christmas tree, colored lights surrounding it, out of focus. Photo taken in Manhattan, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of the neon, art deco Sunnyside sign, lit at night, on 46th Street south of Queens Boulevard. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph a narrow garden path, framed by green leaves. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid of plain tree branches, nearly bare, stretching out and crossing. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a large, teak-wood palace, a green tree in the foreground. Photo taken in Bangkok, Thailand. A color Polaroid photograph of a golden pagoda with a tall spire, pushing into a bright blue sky. Photo taken in Bangkok, Thailand. A color Polaroid photograph an airplane, preparing for boarding, sitting on the asphalt at the airport. Photo taken in Seoul, South Korea. A color Polaroid photograph purple orchids with lush green leaves. Photo taken in Bangkok, Thailand. A color Polaroid photograph of a large shark's jaw in a museum exhibit. Photo taken in Anytown, New Jersey, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a small white candle and its yellow flame, reflecting off the surface of a dark table. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of long street, lined with cars. The mostly bare branches of large plain trees stretch overhead. In the distance, a car drives away. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a tower viewer, half in the frame. In the distance, water and a blurred city skyline. Photo taken in Anytown, New Jersey, USA. A monochrome Polaroid photograph of hotel entrance. Doormen stand on the sidewalk outside. A large American flag hangs from a flagpole above. A large sign on the hotel reads 'Hotel Edison' in Art Deco letterforms. Photo taken in Manhattan, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a large, red Pepsi-Cola sign held up by a metal scaffolding structure. In the background, several large buildings. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A blurry color Polaroid photograph a green-leafed potted plant with purple flowers. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a steel-framed, wooden chair in front of small green, leafy bushes and many yellow tulips. Photo taken in Manhattan, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph bright yellow street light on a metal pole, illuminating a tall tree to its right. Farther right, there are a few steps, leading up the door of a small house. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph looking up at a tall, gray, Art Deco building. The bottom of the building is darkened by a shadow, the top a brighter gray. Bright blue sky in the background. Photo taken in Manhattan, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of the silhouette of a large building. On the right, a bright yellow sun shines in the sky. Photo taken in Manhattan, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a few green trees. Behind the trees, a tall, Art Deco skyscraper in the front of a blue sky. Photo taken in Manhattan, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of water. Above, gray and white clouds and the sky. In the distance, on the right, a tall, rocky piece of land. Photo taken in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a clock. Frame is dimly lit, on the silhouette, and really only the left side. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A monochrome Polaroid photograph of a large, neoclassical building. Most of concrete steps in front of the building are broken. Photo taken in Manhattan, New York City, USA. A monochrome Polaroid photograph of small flower. In the background the trunk of a blurry, vine-wrapped tree. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A monochrome Polaroid photograph of the underside of raised train track, bright sunlight blocked by the repeating pattern of railroad ties. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. An out-of-focus color Polaroid photograph of gold Buddha statue (seated, in the Thursday, Pang Samti, position). In the background, the interior of a temple, bright overhead lights. Photo taken in Bangkok, Thailand. A color Polaroid photograph of an 11-inch Apple Macbook Air, sitting on a desk. Behind it a lamp, reflecting off the table. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of the outside of a bright yellow telephone box, a large orange, or darker yellow, phone symbol on the side. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of eleveated rail track. A 7 train on the right side of tracks. In the distance, Manhattan. On the left, along the tracks, yellow flooring. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a tunnel under a bridge in Central Park. In the distance, a silhouette of a musician playing a saxophone. Photo taken in Manhattan, New York City, USA. A monochrome Polaroid photograph of cylindrical ceiling lamp hanging above a building entryway. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A monochrome Polaroid photograph of a crowded boardwalk and beach. Taken from some height above, in the foreground, the tops of large, striped tents. In the distance, the ocean. Photo taken in Brooklyn, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of long path in a park. Overhead, enormous trees form a canopy over the walkway with green leaves. Photo taken in Manhattan, New York City, USA. A monochrome Polaroid photograph of two, three-story brick and masonry apartment buildings, joined at the edge. A separate, iron fire-escape hangs from each building. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A monochrome Polaroid photograph of a park. On the sides, large trees. In the distance, a large, neoclassical state capitol building. Photo taken in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. A monochrome Polaroid photograph of a river. In the distance, a city skyline with many tall buildings and one very tall building. Photo taken in Anytown, New Jersey, USA. A monochrome Polaroid photograph of square, iron fence links. Out of focus, in the distance, the metal support structure of an eccentric Ferris wheel. Photo taken in Brooklyn, New York City, USA. A monochrome Polaroid photograph of a wooden pencil on a desk. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a yellow wooden pencil on a desk. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a large clocktower on a white, stone building. Photo taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. A color Polaroid photograph large brownstone apartment building. Photo taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a metal wall, dividing the street from subway entrance. Raised letters read: SUBWAY. Photo taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a large glass jar filled with small, rolled black tea. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A blurry color Polaroid photograph of flowers and green leaves. Photo taken in Bangkok, Thailand. A color Polaroid photograph two large windows on the first floor of a stone apartment building. Photo taken in Manhattan, New York City, USA. A monochrome Polaroid photograph of a river with a city skyline silhouette in the distance. The Empire State Building clearly visible. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph a river. A large neon side on the right bank and a bridge in the distance. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a Thai temple, a large golden spire on top. Photo taken in Bangkok, Thailand. A color Polaroid photograph of a skyline, yellow sun brightening a few buildings. Photo taken in Manhattan, New York City, USA. A blurry monochrome Polaroid photograph of a sun setting, a river and city skyline in the distance. Photo taken in Anytown, New Jersey, USA. A color Polaroid photograph of a Thai temple entrance. Photo taken in Bangkok, Thailand. A color Polaroid photograph of an ornately decorated Thai temple, blue sky above. Photo taken in Bangkok, Thailand. A color Polaroid photograph of a pile of red tomatoes. Photo taken in Queens, New York City, USA.