Alex is a “work friend” who became a dear friend over time; his initials are “AF” which I find endlessly amusing. I’ve mentioned Alex elsewhere on this site, including my Instant Photography page and a previous post about Polaroid and PolaProjects. He is one of two key people who re-inspired me about instant and other film photography back in 2017-18. I am grateful AF (see what I did there?) to Alex for getting me to pick up my film cameras again.
This was the second time I brought Alex with me to PolaCon NYC. We met on a midtown Manhattan 6 train (subway) platform and headed east to Bushwick on the L train. I had two instant cameras with me and a bag packed with film for them. One (a vintage Polaroid 680 SE), was already loaded with a pack of black-and-white Polaroid film from the latest batch, anticipating that we would emerge under gloomy skies and sprinkles of rain. Ha!
Instead of gloom, we emerged into a vibrant Bushwick Saturday scene, with a rap/hip-hop street concert in progress! Alex and I made our way through the sprawling crowds surrounding the event, listening to the warm-up act, as the headliner prepared to take the stage. Turned out the headline rapper was Rakim, originally of Eric B & Rakim from the late 80’s to early 00’s. We caught some of Rakim’s performance when we headed out mid-afternoon for a late lunch; he sounded great! Sadly, we could not linger longer, because PolaCon beckoned and the tickets weren’t free, so we headed back.
Arriving at PolaCon, I asked Alex to pose for a portrait BEFORE going upstairs. He stood in front a monochromatic, minimalistic graffitti wall matching his black clothing, which I imagined would float his face and hand in a field of blackness. That’s more or less what happened, with a white slash of graffitti paint curving from his head on the left side. But I was pleasantly surprised by the new, improved Polaroid B&W emulsion, which delivers (as promised) lower contrast, softer highlights, brighter shadows, so there are actually background textures and shadow details to enjoy! Super happy with the latest monochrome Polaroid film and pleased with how the first photo of Alex turned out…
AFTER a great time at PolaCon NYC, Alex and I left with some new friends, descending the same five flights of concrete stairs we’d climbed hours earlier, because the elevators were slow and overly packed with people. When we hit the street, I noticed there was one more shot left in my camera, so of course, I had to end the event as it began: with a portrait of Alex. I was very pleased with this one too, shot on my last of 32 exposures from the day using the latest batch of Color SX-70 Paul Giambarba “Special Edition” instant film…
Two great photos of a friend, before and after the event, like PolaCon NYC bookends at both ends of a great day!
Subject: Alex Fourier / @alexfourier
Location: 53 Scott Ave, Bushwick, Brooklyn
Camera 1: Polaroid SLR 680SE (B&W photo — before event)
Camera 2: Polaroid SX-70 Sonar (Color photo — after event)
Film 1: Polaroid 600 B&W / Monochrome
Film 2: Polaroid SX-70 Color / Paul Giambarba Special Edition
Photographer: Russ Murray
The 2025 (third) PolaCon NYC event, sponsored by Polaroid and Brooklyn Film Camera (aka “BFC”), was held from May 30th — June 1st. Friday and Saturday were held mostly at 53 Scott Ave in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, with a few sessions/events at BFC. As usual, I went on the Saturday (May 31st) and had a great time learning, playing with gear, meeting old friends, making new ones, and shooting 50+ instant photos!
russ murray 
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