Polaroids

I bought my first Polaroid camera in 1987. I had used another one in high school — an enormous folding beast that took roll film — but this was an SX-70. I was smitten with the thing. The leather and chrome, and that red button. The close-focusing glass lens. The sound of the enormous reflex mirror flapping up as it took an image. The motor whirring as it ejected the sheet of film, which developed in front of your eyes. So much magic in such a compact package!

And the color! Something between Kodachrome slide film and an oil painting. Just look at them!