Inspiration Awakened...

For the love of Light : A Tribute to the Art of Polaroid

I came across this site by accident really, and just had to share it with you.

It is a collection of images from 25 photographers, representing 10 countries and visions whose images are on display in a soft bound book. I have spent most of the morning looking at these images. They are beautiful, each image a reflection of the past, present and future.

I had forgotten the beauty of a Polaroid image... it has been years since I have even seen this camera, and many more years since I have heard the sound of the "click".

Today, it was like I was taken back in time.. to my childhood, remembering the days of my youth, when life was so simple, my mind not altered by the harsh realities of life.. My innocence guiding me.. my eyes looking upward, my feet light, as if I was floating.

I can clearly remember the excitement, the anticipation as My Sister and I waited for the image to appear. Our eyes fixed on the camera, never shifting, never wavering, for we feared we might miss seeing the birth of our image...

It seemed like an eternity as we waited... both of us stealing glances at each other in a desperate attempt to try and determine the other's thoughts... for we knew... we knew we must remain focused.. She was no longer just my Sister.. she was now.... the Enemy..

Frantically both of us would dive for the photo, grasping to be in reach of the ultimate prize. The winner being the one who would wave the picture wildly within their fingertips... being the first to truly see the image appear.

Often I was triumphant, lunging with such force and determination I am sure most couldn't stand under my quest for the Holy Grail..

She remained in the background as I leaped in the air, victorious, picture in hand, waving frantically, eyes wide with excitement, my heart pounding within my chest.

I spoke of this to a dear friend this morning over a cup of coffee and he shares the same love. We spoke of childhood memories and of innocence lost. We shared memories and we shared dreams.

I mentioned to him that perhaps I will search for a Polaroid, just for fun, to see if the excitement is still there, if it still lies within.

He happens to have a Polaroid Camera at his house, abandoned in his workshop... He graciously offered this camera to me, unsure of it's ability, however, it now belongs to me. It does require some TLC and this is to be expected, however, I sense this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

I smile as I envision my Sister and I, today, as we are, so different yet similar in so many ways, our innocence lost but not forgotten, our eyes wide with excitement, and our hearts pounding as we, for the first time in years, hear the sound of the first click...

Inspiration Awakened... stay tuned.. :)