One of North Carolina's Good Roads & Other Stories

Here's a project I worked on over the summer with Nora Hartlaub. Check it out on my website.

New book, Polaroids

My new book, Polaroids, is just completed. Below is my statement.

Polaroids by Scott Hubener |

Polaroids have existed since before I was born, so throughout my life they were always there. Some of the first photographs taken of me as a newborn, which I still have, are Polaroids. As a child, family members would pull out the camera and photograph the holidays, parties or get-togethers with a Polaroid. In my adolescence, my friends and I would make pictures of ourselves goofing off, or of some mundane object or scene we came across. I took them for granted as part of the culture and assumed they would always be around.

These Polaroids were made primarily in 2008, around the time the Polaroid Corporation announced plans to discontinue producing their legendary films. I spent several months shooting as much of the film as I could afford, realizing it may soon be gone forever. This work is the result of my efforts.

Shortly after Polaroid discontinued production, a small group calling themselves The Impossible Project, came together and purchased some of Polaroid's equipment and sought to continue making their own instant film to be compatible with existing Polaroid cameras. In 2011, I purchased a pack of the new film and shot the 8 frames that were in the package. The films had to be reinvented, as the Polaroid dyes were no longer available. The new films offer instant pictures, like the original Polaroids, however, the dyes, colors and processing are slightly different. There is more variation in the exposures and color tones of the new film. A few of those are included in this body of work as well.

Tossin' & Turnin'

My new book Something in the Way

So here it is. At long last. My book Something in the Way, which features work made over the last two years. This book is also part of my MFA thesis exhibition, which will be in November. Many of these images will be included in the show. The work of the exhibit and the work within the book are slightly different, with photographic prints on display that didn't make it into the book. However, as a body of work intended as a book, this is the edit, sequence and narrative that I found suitable. This is the most ambitious project I've done to date and am so happy to have the work viewable. It feels like the work is more challenging than what I've done previously.

Something in the Way |

Polaroids

I've added a new gallery to my website. It features my Polaroid photos. A couple years ago, Polaroid announced they would be discontinuing their film manufacturing. I spent about nine months shooting with my SX70 camera and Land Camera to make a body of Polaroid images, since they would soon be gone forever.

However, the Impossible Project came along and still offer films for Polaroid cameras. I recently ordered my first Polaroid film through the Impossible Project. It was really nice to be able to shoot again. The only downside is the cost. Its prohibitively expensive for me, unless I'm able to get some grant or something. Anyway, I shot the pack I had and felt happy. Maybe it'll be something I can treat myself to once or twice a year. Anyway, I figured it was time to edit these Polaroid photos and do something with them. Maybe I'll do a little book too. I think those are always kinda fun.