At the heart of their first partnership, Polaroid and Magnum agency seek to inspire and bring forth new photographic narratives by championing a vision of art rooted in imperfection.
Savoring accidents, embracing the unexpected, and striving for mastery rather than perfection are key elements in this partnership. Magnum and Polaroid aim to celebrate instant photography as the ideal medium to embody this “imperfectionism.”
To inspire new photographic stories, Polaroid published a guide to imperfectionism in 2024. This forty-page booklet offers history, tips, and references that remind us that in an age where “digital products are becoming too good, too sophisticated, too convenient,” practicing photography requires “curiosity and seeing mistakes and failures as opportunities.”
A Slower Path to Mastery
In this spirit, Polaroid created the Polaroid I-2, the first instant camera with integrated manual controls. This camera is ideal for Magnum photographers like Enri Canaj, who value authenticity over perfection. “For me, the most important thing is to feel or capture a feeling, not to photograph something mechanically,” says the Albanian photographer. When you don’t control something 100%, it can create a surprising effect born after “that moment of anticipation where you wait to discover what you’ve created.” This magical waiting period is unique to instant photography.
Newsha Tavakolian also shares this view, considering that “imperfection is at the heart of every photographer’s experience. It is inseparable.” The humanist photographer, who focuses on the resilience of humans in her projects, also relishes ephemeral moments captured without the possibility of alteration. “Once the negatives are exposed, metaphorically and literally, there’s no going back.”
“The Little Flaw That Adds a Touch of Magic”
This philosophy of photography is evident in the images produced by these photographers. “A perfect photo can be really boring. What we’re looking for is the little flaw that adds a touch of magic,” says Enri Canaj, who seeks to “invent dreams” in his black-and-white images. Photographer Jim Goldberg adds that “beauty is not just in the beautiful moments; it’s in the moments we can’t predict, in the mistakes, in our daily lives. It’s everywhere. That’s what I truly believe.”
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