Before digital cameras, instant photo gratification was left to the trusty Polaroid. Polaroid’s Land Camera, the first instant camera available to consumers was released in 1947. Polaroid still sells a selection of instant film directly from their website, though it can be pricey and many of the older formats have been permanently discontinued, including the artist’s favorite SX-70.

More Polaroid fun:

* The Polaroid Group on Flickr is over 5,000 members strong and open to the public!

* Stripper Polaroids is a fascinating set of 60s and 70s images from a collection of over 400 Polaroid photos of strippers trying out for dancing jobs. They are worth a look just for the hair, clothing, and decor flashbacks alone!

* Grant Hamilton is the modern master of color and composition; a visual reminder that Polaroids can be heightened to an artform.

*Polanoid is an all-polaroid photo website, “stuffed with millions of Polaroids, collected and uploaded by Polaroid addicts all over the planet.”