Nowadays, taking a photo and viewing it instantly is our second nature. We take photos on our phones without hesitation. But just assume this for a few seconds: before the revolution, photography was all about waiting days to see what you had taken. That was the way it was until that moment when a brilliant idea revolutionized the game. The new documentary Mr. Polaroid, aired on Monday, May 19 on PBS’s American Experience. It returns us to the origins of this revolution and the man who created it, Edwin Land.
The documentary is the tale of how a single inventor transformed the world of photography with a single invention: the Polaroid instant camera. In the 1940s, Land had a vision for something revolutionary. It was a means of taking a picture and having it developed in minutes. In 1947, he showed his prototype to the media. One year later, the first Polaroid cameras hit the market just in time for Christmas in Boston. It was the start of a new age, years before digital cameras or smartphones even came on the scene.
What Was the Vision Behind the Lens?
Mr. Polaroid, directed by Gene Tempest and produced by Amanda Pollak, goes beyond the invention itself. It shows how Edwin Land was not only a scientific genius but also a social visionary. He envisioned collapsing time in photography, abolishing the wait and giving the power of development to ordinary people.
One of the strongest aspects of the documentary is how it highlights the individuals behind the scenes, especially the women that contributed much to Polaroid’s success. Eudoxia Muller and Meroë Morse were some of the scientists who contributed significantly to the research division of the company, influencing the technology as well as the culture of innovation. In an era when the world of technology was mostly off-limits to women, Land created a culture where ability was paramount, no matter what gender.
The documentary also digs into the other side of Land’s tale. That is the financial risks, the court battles, particularly a ruinous lawsuit against Kodak, and how his increasing conviction that technology could fix social problems might have led to his company’s demise. Polaroid’s ascension paralleled the emergence of contemporary tech culture. Its decline means that vision alone does not always lead to enduring success.
Why I Think This Story Still Relevant?
Watching the Mr. Polaroid trailer, I could not help but feel a sense of respect and nostalgia. The tale of Edwin Land reminds me that groundbreaking technological changes are frequently ignited by small but significant ideas. Such as making something faster, easier, or more intimate. I also appreciated seeing the women whose scientific work played a critical but underappreciated role highlighted in the spotlight.
In a world where we hear about innovation nonstop, this documentary is like a timely glimpse at where some of that mojo started. The history of instant photography is more than the development of a camera. It is an indication of the way technology and imagination can shift the way we perceive the world.
This film will be free to stream on PBS.org, the PBS App, and the American Experience website, in both English and Spanish. If you’re wondering how instant photography was invented or are a fan of tales about audacious ideas, this is worth watching.
[via Deadline; Image credits: Getty Images]
