Step into the enchanting world of Polaroid photography in the heart of New York City, where each snapshot becomes a moment frozen in time and a story waiting to be told. Over four engaging days, locally-based photographer Jari Poulin guides you in transforming everyday moments into something extraordinary through the lens of your Polaroid camera. This hands-on workshop offers a chance to refresh your artistic vision or ignite a new passion while enjoying the unique appeal of instant photography.
Each morning begins in our studio/classroom, a welcoming space that fosters creativity. We engage in demos, slideshows, and group discussions that lay the groundwork for an artistic journey. Then we explore and capture the bustling energy of Times Square, the serenity of Central Park, the architectural beauty of The High Line, and the vibrant culture of Chinatown and Little Italy. With every click of the shutter, you explore various photographic styles, whether it’s the spontaneity of street photography, the intimacy of portraits, or the reflective nature of cityscapes and still life.
Throughout the workshop, enjoy hands-on demos that introduce advanced photographic techniques including multi-exposure and light writing, tailored for i2, NOW+, and One Step users through an app. We also explore innovative techniques including emulsion lifts, hand coloring, and dye injections, always expanding our creative toolkit. As an added source of inspiration, Jari invites guest speakers who share their Polaroid imagery and creative techniques.
Join this memorable experience, where each Polaroid captures a piece of New York City’s essence, one instant at a time—immortalizing fleeting moments and turning them into tangible memories that tell the story of the streets, the people, and the energy that makes the city come alive.
A Polaroid i2, Now+, One Step, or SX-70 camera is required for this workshop. You will also need at least two packs of film per day, but consider bringing up to four packs or more based on your preference. Purchase Polaroid iType or 600 film, with a mix of color and black-and-white. If you are using only an SX70, you need 600 film, while the other cameras can use either type. If you have multiple Polaroid cameras, bring them along with charging cords. Note that the SX70, as a vintage camera, does not require batteries or a charging cord since the battery is in the film cartridge. A lightweight, compact tripod that fits in your backpack is highly recommended.
This workshop involves walking and standing throughout the day. Many of the locations we visit are not wheelchair accessible and may not meet standard accessibility requirements, including subway stations that require using stairs. Students should be aware they need to cover their own costs for Ubers (carpooling) and subway fares.
The workshop is based at a studio/classroom in New York City; details to follow. This workshop is limited to 12 participants
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$1,795 includes instruction, classroom fees, coffee service, water, and snacks. Does not include Polaroid camera and film (students must purchase in advance), meals, local transportation, or accommodations (if needed).
Jari Poulin is an artist and printmaker using photography as the main expression of her practice. Her passion for Polaroid began in the 1990s with emulsion transfers and has recently become a renewed focus in her work. She holds her MFA from Lesley University College of Art and Design (formerly the Art Institute of Boston). Jari’s work is primarily portrait-based and explores ideas of the ephemeral, memory, and identity. As a former dancer/choreographer, her work often features movement and dance or the implied sense of physicality and kinetic energy.
Throughout her various bodies of work, Jari often pushes settled visual boundaries to disrupt information in the images. She is interested in how the brain chooses to see, fill in the blanks, and discard visual information as is common in selective memory. As an artist and fine-art photographer, Jari’s images are photographically based, but at times she seeks to challenge traditional notions of the photograph by using experimental techniques and various combinations of digital and analog processes such as mixed media and printmaking processes such as polymer photogravure, monotypes, and stenciling within her practice.
Jari is the recipient of many national and international awards including the International Photo Awards (IPA), 15th and 23rd Annual Julia Margaret Cameron Awards, 7th Worldwide Pollux Awards, Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA), Prix de la Photographie, Paris (PX3), International Color Awards, ND Magazine Awards, Black and White Magazine Portfolio Award Winner, Color Magazine Portfolio Prize, the Ink Shop International Mini Print Juried Exhibit, and has been published those affiliated magazines and online galleries. She shares her time between her Ithaca NY home and studio and NYC.
Website: jaripoulin.com
Instagram: @jaripoulin and @going_polaroid