Exploring the unlikely intersections of walking, photography and making
This is an updated blog post that first appeared on my previous blog site at firmangallery.com. I am particularly proud of the earlier work I did with my antique Cirkut camera and thought you might enjoy revisiting it as well. From December 20, 2014 to May 3, 2015 the National Gallery of Canada exhibited two... Continue Reading →
Note: The companion YouTube video can be found at the bottom of this post. In this final episode of Presenting Polaroids I’m going to look at a hybrid approach that lies somewhere between an album and a framed print hung on a wall. A portfolio box is basically a set of matted prints stored in... Continue Reading →
Note: The companion YouTube video can be found at the bottom of this post. Most publications displaying Polaroid SX-70 images will include its iconic white frame. After all it is an intrinsic part of the presentation, a self-contained frame that needs nothing more than to be held in the hand to be a complete presentation. ... Continue Reading →
Note: The companion YouTube video can be found at the bottom of this post. Here’s a short video tour of my recent photo exhibition, “From Our Windows: Polaroids by David Firman,” held at the Winnipeg Architectural Foundation (WAF) in Winnipeg, April-May 2022. I hope you enjoy the show (of course) but the primary purpose of... Continue Reading →
Note: The companion YouTube video can be found at the bottom of this post. To my mind, there are two paths to framing Polaroid SX-70 prints. The first is to highlight the image, making it the focus of the framed print. This path will be considered in "Part 6: Framing The Image." Today, I’ll delve... Continue Reading →
Note: The companion YouTube video can be found at the bottom of this post. There are many options for storing SX-70s in albums. Polaroid makes them. There are crafty versions on Etsy and elsewhere. There’s the 3-ring binder approach using with PrintFile 44-8P print preserver sheets. All work and most are archival safe. I have... Continue Reading →
Note: The companion YouTube video can be found at the bottom of this post. Before getting into the meat of presentation techniques, I thought I should discuss the conservation materials used in the upcoming posts and videos. Coming from a black and white gelatine silver print background, proper processing, storage and display to maximize the... Continue Reading →
Note: The companion YouTube video can be found at the bottom of this post. So far, my Polaroid-centric videos and blog posts have focussed on the technical side of getting a good SX-70 image on that shiny piece of plastic that comes out of the camera. Many will be duds but, with luck and a... Continue Reading →
I’d like to invite you to my upcoming photo exhibition, “From Our Windows: Polaroids by David Firman” at the Winnipeg Architectural Foundation (WAF), 266 McDermot Avenue in Winnipeg. “From Our Windows” is a personal story of life contained within four walls. Set during the early days of COVID-19, the story explores the relationship of sanctuary... Continue Reading →
Here we go again. Another pandemic year. While Gail, Styxx and I have made the best of the year with road trips to our provincial neighbours in Saskatchewan and roamed across southern Manitoba, travel has been substantially curbed by Covid-19. So, this year’s gift list is a little different. It totally reflects my renewed interest... Continue Reading →