Season's Greetings!

While the rest of you may be bundling up for winter, I'd like to invite you to visit Hawaii and enjoy this lovely warm paradise. I've included an update for my winter workshops and retreats in 2010. I also offer customized private sessions and photo tours, plus I have a wonderful vacation rental on the Kona side of the Big Island. When you book accommodation with me at Tropical Hideaway and bundle it with a private session or photo tour, I offer a package deal that will save you money. Check out www.tropicalhideawayhawaii.com and inquire for details.

Hawaii Photography Retreats this Winter
Give the holiday gift of a creative and fun retreat for yourself or a loved one. I'm offering two retreats this winter. The 7-day Women's Photography Retreats that I have been leading during the last few years have been absolutely wonderful. I have another one available February 27-March 6. A 5-day Retreat is also scheduled for January 21-26 that is open to men as well. The combination of photographing, and then working creatively with the images we've photographed, is very exciting and fulfilling.

Hawaii Photography Retreats - Photographing Special Places, Digital Photography, Digital Infrared, Photoshop, Polaroid and Fuji Transfers, Handcoloring & more...

5 day - January 21-26, $1295, $895 with own accommodation
7 day - February 27 - March 6 Women's Retreat, $1595, $1045 with own accommodation

Kama'aina discounts available, limited to 6 participants at Tropical Hideaway, near Captain Cook, Big Island of Hawaii

Explore your creative vision with a choice of photographic or alternative techniques to learn-digital and digital infrared, Photoshop techniques, Polaroid/Fuji transfers and lifts, hand coloring and more. There will be pen studio time to work on your images, a pool and garden photography session with model, and delicious catered meals--organic, gourmet vegetarian and fish--all in a beautiful tropical paradise garden setting with panoramic ocean views.

See the workshops pages for more information, at www.kathleencarr.com/workshops.

Private Sessions & Photo Tours

In addition to the workshops I teach (Workshops link), private sessions are available in my studio. We can create a custom format so that you can choose exactly what you want to learn--digital infrared, Photoshop, Polaroid/Fuji transfers, handcoloring, basic photography, using digital cameras, etc. Rates are $125 per hour, or $750 per day, plus materials used. Sharing a private session is also possible for the same rate.

I also offer photo tours of Hawaii from 1/2 day to 3 days (Big Island) with instruction and critiques for $450/day, or just the tour for $300 a day (tours can be shared as well). Please call or e-mail for availability at (808) 328-2162, or workshops@kathleencarr.com

If you also stay at my vacation rental, www.tropicalhideawayhawaii.com, I can offer a discounted package deal with a tour or private session. Please call or e-mail for availability at (808) 328-2162, or email me at workshops@kathleencarr.com.

New Website!

I now have another website that showcases more photography galleries and images. The URL is www.kathleentcarr.com, and it is a ProBetterPholio through the Betterphoto.com website. You, too can easily create a website. Just mention my name when you enroll in a course or purchase a BetterPholioªDELUXE BetterPholio™. www.betterphoto.com/mention for more info and to sign up.

Check out the new, significantly lower prices on my photography images. And on my new website at  www.kathleentcarr.com a shopping cart is set up to make it easier to purchase images or books with your credit card through PayPal.

My infrared work is going to be appearing in several books. Digital Infrared Photography (Photo Workshop) by Deborah Sandidge is out now, and I'll keep you posted when the other books come out.

See the latest information (below) about the reinvention of Polaroid instant films and cameras from The Impossible Project at http://www.polapremium.com.

Online Courses Offered through BetterPhoto.com

For those of you who are unable to travel to my workshops, or prefer to work from the comfort ofyour own home, I am pleased to inform you that I will continue to teach two online beginning courses with BetterPhoto.com. They are titled Beginning Photoshop for Photographers and Polaroid/Fuji Image and Emulsion Transfers. My next Photoshop and Polaroid/Fuji transfer courses runs for 8 weeks, from January 6 - March 8. For more information and to register: www.BetterPhoto.com/photocourses/kat01.asp for Polaroid Image and Emulsion Transfers, www.BetterPhoto.com/photocourses/kat02.asp for Beg. Photoshop for Photographers.

BetterPhoto.com is a great website for photographers--in addition to a wide variety of excellent online courses from top photographers, you'll find lots of information, tips, articles, photo contests with prizes, equipment reviews, newsletters, and more. They also offer member galleries and your own photography website for a very reasonable yearly fee. Check out the website at www.BetterPhoto.com.

Save $20.00  Just mention my name when you enroll in a course or purchase a BetterPholioªDELUXE BetterPholio™. www.betterphoto.com/mention for more info and to sign up.

I like the online format, especially for those of you who aren't able to attend my workshops, whether due to geographic, time, or other limitations. Each week there is an illustrated lesson and assignment. You post your assignment images to the BetterPhoto.com site, and I critique the images. Other students may also discuss each image posted. Any questions can be posted to the Q &A section, and I answer all questions. The beauty of this format is that you can do the lessons in your own timing. If your schedule conflicts with assignment due dates, we can work around your timing needs. Even if you have already taken a workshop or know how to work with Polaroid transfers or basic Photoshop, you will learn more, and have a format to keep applying ideas and techniques, with feedback and an opportunity to ask unlimited questions.

What previous students have said about my online courses:
"If you want to get a firm grounding in Photoshop and have fun doing it, this is the course to take. Over 8 weeks (that flew by!), Kathleen introduces you to the basics of Photoshop, step by patient step. Her lessons are clear and concise and if you ever have a question she is always with you in the Q&A. There is a wealth of information in the lessons and I learn something new each time I read them. Thank you, Kathleen!"  Edie Clifford

"This has been a wonderful experience for me. As a busy working mom living in the "boonies," I'm so thankful for online classes like this and the chance to work with an amazing instructor who I wouldn'thave had access to otherwise. I started out with a very limited understanding of Polaroid Transfers from one 4-hour workshop. After 8 weeks with Kathleen I now feel privy to the secrets of the craft. I was especially impressed with the professional level of the lessons - yet as a beginner I did not feel intimidated. Instead I felt empowered, and now I have a new passion in my life."  Wendy Kagan

Polapremium News flash!

First, at the Polapremium site, at www.polapremium.com, you can still purchase Polaroid 669 film, with the expiration date of 3/09. There are about 700 boxes left, at $35 each for a twin pack of 20 sheets. This is great news, because even though you can make beautiful image transfers with the Fuji FP100c film, the emulsion transfers (emulsion lifts) aren't nearly as manipulable. This is because the emulsion is thicker, and it also doesn't stick to the receptor surface after drying. So if you love doing Polaroid emulsion transfers, here is an opportunity to stock up on the last of this film. It should last for up to a couple years past the expiration date if stored properly (refrigerated flat).

THE IMPOSSIBLE POLAROID (from an October 13 press release from Polapremium)

After all the difficulties and changes of ownership during the last years, the new management of Polaroid now understands the source of the brand's attraction - which is surprisingly not based in digital cameras but in Dr. Edwin Land's groundbreaking 1948 invention of Instant Photography, which he ingeniously devised and passionately developed with a lot of care and devotion.

We are pleased to herewith announce a history-making cooperation between The Impossible Project and Polaroid: Polaroid will re-launch the legendary Polaroid One Step Camera and is therefore commissioning The Impossible Project to develop and produce a limited edition of Polaroid¨ branded Instant Films in the middle of 2010.

We feel proud and excited that our ambitions and all the relentless work we have already invested are now becoming the foundation for Polaroid's comeback as a producer of Instant Cameras.

Large-scale production and worldwide sale of The Impossible Project's new integral film materials under its own brand will start in the beginning of 2010 - with a brand new and astonishing black and white Instant Film and the first colour films to follow in the course of the year.

Polapremium currently has available some new Time Zero Artistic film. This film was made by Polaroid in 2008 exclusively for Polapremium, just before Polaroid stopped their production of instant film. It was perfected and developed by Polapremium in cooperation with Polaroid. There are about 750 boxes left, and it is manipulable! This is part of the Impossible Project, created to reinvent Time Zero film, www.the-impossible-project.com. It seems that the impossible has now become possible. See the Time magazine article about the project at www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1910536,00.html. This new film will be available in early 2010, but meanwhile we have the Time Zero Artisitc film to explore. So don't sell those Polaroid cameras yet!

I've been in touch with Robert Sturman, a well known photographer who has used Time Zero film for many years. He wrote a review of his experience with the new Time Zero Artisitc film for me to include in this update. I have included the review below, and an example of his work with this film.

From Robert: "Just when I gave up hope that the SX70 Time Zero manipulation process could live on, a European entrepreneur named Dr. Florian Kaps put together a team to reinvent some of the artistic film and bring instant photography back to life. God bless them for their efforts. The film costs $21 for eight exposures and does similar things as the original Polaroid film but there are some important differences to discuss. They were not able to hit the color notes that the original film did but with a few adjustments on the artist's part, greatness can be achieved. The most important aspect of the film is that it IS manipulable. So, with my same SX70 camera I shoot the image and then heat it up in the sun or on a heating device that plugs in (depending if I am in the studio or not.) Then I use a Bic pen cap to carve into the surface of the film and create the rhythms that I want. From there, I add a step and  scan in the original and make a small print on watercolor paper. Then I use paint to ad some of the color that the film does not have. It gives a different look, but still amazing and just another creative avenue to explore. After I feel the print has achieved an exciting palette, I rescan the second generation of the print and that becomes my master file. I make more adjustments in Photoshop and then I make my print as if the second generation was my original Polaroid. This gives me an even more painterly look than before, and it pushed me to explore deeper possibilities and I am happy with it. The drawback is the price increase, but it has forced me to be more precise in my shooting -- meaning, instead of making 6 exposures to get the master shot, I seek to do it with a more zen approach and hit my target in one - possibly two exposures. This is a great way to work with models as well. I don't care who the model is. The film is precious and expensive and I am not going to waste a single exposure. This makes it challenging and fun.

The film is more milky, but do not be discouraged, use Photoshop to adjust the levels and saturation. In addition, I turn the exposure knob to the darkest setting. In my opinion, the original cannot stand on its own - very important to know this - but, just getting an exposure and having the ability to carve into the image like old times is all I need. It is as if the Polaroid image is a negative and then I take it into my digital and painting lab and bring it to life. Have fun - What was extinct is alive again and God Bless Dr. Kaps for saving Time Zero Artistic Film."

© Robert Sturman, www.RobertSturmanStudio.com

Hawaii Vacation Rental

In 2001 I bought a wonderful vacation rental property and home on the Big Island of Hawaii, "Tropical Hideaway." It is located about 20 miles south of Kona, close to the best snorkeling, kayaking, diving, and bays for swimming with dolphins on the island. I am now renting out the very charming, Hawaii styple studio apartment (recently upgraded). If you're interested, please check out www.tropicalhideawayhawaii.com for pictures and information. For bookings, please communicate directly with me at info@tropicalhideawayhawaii.com. This property is a dream come true for me. For the past 18 years, I've been spending as much time as I can over here with the dolphins and the wonderful community of people in this area. And now you can share the experience!

Online Interview on Craftcast.com

The August 4, 2008 program on Craftcast includes a half hour interview with me by Alison Lee on photography and creative expression. You can listen on the www.craftcast.com website, or download it as a podcast through iTunes. Podcast?id=132610597. It's number #85, and the interview starts after the song, about 13 minutes into the program.

Good News about Using Fuji Instant Films for Image Transfers & Emulsion Lifts

Polaroid has discontinued making the Polaroid instant films. This is the info that I received from Polaroid about the best storage:

Storage:  A steady cool dry  environment is the best.  The film division itself works in an ideal environment of  72 degrees with 45% humidity. The key is the CONSTANT TEMPERATURE without highs and lows from heating and air conditioning. Avoid any hot climates.  It is OK to use refrigeration, but absolutely mandatory to keep the film in both box  and foil wrapper to ensure the humidity barrier.  Never freeze the film.  Fo best results, take the film out of the fridge several hours before using it.

For further information you can check our website at www.Polaroid.com. The status will continue to be updated on film types as necessary."

As I stated above, the Polapremium website still has around 800 boxes of Polaroid 669 film.

Meanwhile, the good news is that Peter Balazsy, a long-time maker of beautiful Fuji image transfers, released his technique for making these transfers from the Fuji FP-100c peel-apart film. And in talking with Daylab, Fuji is interested in helping (of course as long as it would be financially viable for them to do so). We need to let Fuji know how interested we are in keeping their film alive for making transfers. We need to let Fuji know how interested we are in keeping their film alive for making transfers. One way to do that is to contact Fuji.

Contact Fujifilm

Let them know you are serious about keeping instant film alive. Fuji also has a 4x5 peel-apart pack film! Write them using the address below:

Fujifilm North American Headquarters
200 Summit Lake Drive
Valhalla, New York 10595-1356
U.S.A.
Tel: 914-789-8100
Fax: 914-682-4955
Toll Free Phone: 800-755-3854
www.fujifilmusa.com

We have a name for the marketing department:
Christian Fridholm
Director of Marketing, Imaging Group, Fujifilm, U.S.A.

Other Fujifilm offices around the world:
www.fujifilm.com/gateway/index.html

This is the information I have from Daylab, www.daylab.com:

"We have been making Fuji transfers and they are relatively easy to do. The
result is a transfer with much better and truer colors. The only
difference is the peel apart in a darkened room. Peter describes a
computer monitor or night light. Others say they can use even more light.
Everything else is done like a Polaroid dry transfer in the light.
I am getting reports of successful emulsion lifts. The biggest
difference is that the image will not to stick to a surface so a binding
agent must be used. We now know that Fuji works. I am working with Fuji to make it easier.

Fuji is overwhelmed and excited by the response.

We need to push for several things. The first is a more and more people
using Fuji so we can explore all its ranges. The second is to convince
people to convert to Fuji for other uses so the supply of 669 lasts that
much longer. It is estimated that 70% of 669 is being used for non
artistic purposes. These other users (such as id and medical) could easily
switch to Fuji now. The film is cheaper with much better colors.

The more Fuji we use, the bigger argument we can make for Japan to tweak
their formulas for a truly artistic film."

Here is the link for Peter's technique:

www.flickr.com/groups/polaroid_/discuss/72157603906450061

Polaroid Manipulations book out of print, I have copies for sale

My last book, Polaroid Manipulations: A Complete Visual Guide to Creating SX-70, Transfer, and Digital Prints, has gone out of print, so I now have the last copies. Signed copies are available at a discounted price of $20 plus USPS shipping (priority mail or media mail), and tax if you live in Hawaii. Although the book has a section on Polaroid SX-70 manipulations, it also has a lot of other information--a section on new creative image and emulsion transfer techniques not found in Polaroid Transfers, with updated equipment information, and a section on digital printing. It is 208 pages, with 335 color photos--lots of great work from over 30 artists, including myself. I love scanning my transfers and SX-70 images, then working with them further in the computer, and printing them with digital printers, so how I do that is covered in this book.

You can order a signed copy of my other books, Polaroid Transfers and To Honor the Earth) from me, or use the amazon.com book link from the book page on my website for Polaroid Transfers. When you use the book link, amazon.com will pay me a commission, and a percentage of everything else you buy on that shopping trip. Of course I'd appreciate you going through my website when you shop at amazon.com.

Black & White Infrared Gallery (and other galleries) --new lower prices!

This gallery, and the newer gallery at www.kathleentcarr.com, of black and white infrared images represents some of my infrared work, mostly from Hawaii. For a while now I've been photographing black and white infrared with my digital cameras (after using infrared film for years as well). I have many additional images, five of which were chosen for fine art posters and prints by Editions Limited, www.editionslimited.com. I am offering limited edition archival pigment prints on watercolor paper and as canvas wraps in sizes up to 30x40. www.kathleencarr.com/artwork. Please check out my new website for additonal images as well, at www.kathleentcarr.com.

Paying with a credit card through PayPal

Used and New Polaroid & Photo Equipment & Supplies, Books for Sale

Sometimes students or others wish to sell used Polaroid equipment and ask if I can post the info in my next newsletter. You can also post a request if you are looking for equipment. Just email me with your information, at workshops@kathleencarr.com.

I have two Polaroid cameras, a Nikon camera and lenses, and some books for sale. I've put prices based on ebay completed sales pricing, but you can make me an offer. Several items will get a additional discount as well. Email me at workshops@kathleencarr.com if interested.

Polaroid 690 SLR camera, brand new in box $195 (sold 8-4-08 for $266)

Polaroid One camera, brand new $15
Nikon 20mm 2.8 AI MF $190 (range from $222.50-$227.50)
Nikon 24mm 2,8 AI MF $90 (range from $103-$202)
Nikon 35mm 2.0 AI MF $95 (range from $129-$150)

I also have cable releases for N70 and FE2, 2 62mm polarizers, various filters in 52mm, 62mm & 72mm sizes, a 62-72mm step up ring, rear lens caps and eyecups for viewfinder.

1 .Paul Strand Retrospective Monograph, 2 Volumes, 1915-1946 & 1950-1968, Aperture Books, new 1st edition, 1972, excellent, $250
2. Edward Weston: The Flame of Recognition, Aperture monograph, 1968 edition, softbound, fair $25
3. Edward Weston: The Flame of Recognition, Aperture monograph, 1971 edition, softbound, good $25
4. W. Eugene Smith, Aperture Vol. 14: 3 & 4, softbound, excellent $50
5. Jerry N. Uelsmann, Aperture monograph, 15:4, 1970, softbound, good $10
6. Paul Caponigro, Aperture monograph, 13:1, 1967, softbound, good $15
7. Paul Caponigro, Aperture monograph, expanded 13:1, 1972, softbound, excellent $15
8. Light 7, an Aperture book, MIT Press edition, 1968, softbound, good $35
9. French Primitive Photography, Aperture Book, 1970, softbound, good $10
10. Being Without Clothes, Aperture 15:3, softbound, good $35

INFORMATION FOR REFERENCE

Daylab has a Copy System for Using 4x6 Prints instead of Slides

If you have 4x6 prints, or have a digital camera and want to make Polaroid image and emulsion transfers without having to get slides made, the Copy System Pro is for you! It exposes 4x6 prints, or physical objects laid on the glass, onto 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 Polaroid peel-apart film. This is exciting news, because now you can use your photo prints, print inkjet prints, postcards, make collages, and incorporate 3-D objects to make transfers. Cost is $299, runs on 4 C batteries or with an optional adapter (additional $19.95).

Daylab distributes the Daylab equipment, and you can have your local dealer order from them, or order from Daylab online. You can also order equipment through me (Daylab puts my orders at the top of the list to ship) and Daylab will drop ship the equipment to you directly. Daylab also lists Creative Uses Instructors and workshops. If you have any problems with existing Daylab equipment, please call Daylab at 800-235-3233, www.daylab.com.

Useful Tip for Image Transfers

One of the most useful methods I've found for improving the quality of my Polaroid image transfers, and those of my students, is to make a "damp" transfer, rather than a "wet" or "dry" transfer (for Fuji transfers, you must make dry transfers). It gives the smoothness and sharpness of a successful dry transfer (without the liftoff). Instead of soaking the watercolor paper, spritz (spray) it and squeegee off the excess water. Instead of floating the developing transfer on warm water, place it on a warming tray or warm surface for 2 minutes. Then peel off the negative underwater in the vinegar bath and rinse for 4 minutes. Blot with non textured tissue, PhotoWipes, or blotter paper and air dry.

BetterPhoto Radio Show Interview January 19, 2007

Art of Northern California & American Art Collector