I Dissected a Polaroid Picture in the Name of Science

Jun 04, 2015

Hamilton Q. Karl

sI17oSu

I recently took a Polaroid picture photo, but it turned out to be a dud… so I decided to dissect it for science!

After I took the picture, the photo above is what the camera spit out — I guess that’s how they expire. So lets do some digging!

Here’s the back side:

dQ3p1Ps

The serial number?

Iyl7Vi9

There was a portion that was already starting to de-laminate.

This came off fairly easily.

Revealing the inside of the Polaroid picture.

Pulled down the chemical pouch, revealing the silver backing.

Another serial number?

Peeled open the pouch, revealing the three separate chambers. The chemicals were VERY viscous, probably what happens when they sit for over 10 years. It's gross. — Peeled open the pouch, revealing the three separate chambers. The chemicals were VERY viscous, probably what happens when they sit for over 10 years.

It's gross. — It’s gross.

Peeled up the negative... I'm guessing that's what its called. — Peeled up the negative… I’m guessing that’s what its called.

The top pouch.

Whats inside?

There's a cool pattern on the clear film. — There’s a cool pattern on the clear film.

Peeling off the negative from the top.

Some sort of cloth/absorbent strip. Maybe to catch excess developer?

Tried to see if this separates from the black backing. No luck.

The chemical pouch separated easily.

Clear film separating!

Removing the little black strip that kept the clear in place.

Black sticky strip removed.

A lot of dried residue.

Peeling away the iconic white front.

9TLFHW5

VM2QXj5

It was really flimsy!

3S6KeWI

And there you have it!

About the author: Hamilton Q. Karl is a web developer by trade and a Polaroid enthusiast, photographer, and camera collector at heart. You can find his online portfolio here.

dissection, inside, instantfilm, interesting, polaroid, polaroidpicture, whatsinside

Discussion