The #InstaPitti Project using Fujifilm Instax Mini Film

Posted on Feb 1, 2018

This is the third time I was able to develop further more the project #InstaPitti using the Fujifilm Instax Mini Film. The occasion has been the 93rd edition of Pitti Immagine Uomo in Florence.

Why this project using the Fujifilm Instax Mini Film?

The Instax Mini Film has become a very popular object these days. The trend says that in the last holiday seasons was the most sold product in the photography category on Amazon.

I started to use the Fujifilm Instax Mini Film two years ago when we bought (or at least, I’ve gifted to my girlfriend!:)) a Lomo ‘Instant camera. This camera uses the Instax film and, most important, is a fun camera to use!

We can say that the Lomo ‘Instant with the Instax film is the modern way to shot a photo like a Polaroid. I know there’s a lot of people that still call it “Polaroid” but we’ve to say is a different product.

First of all, is using a smaller form factor than the usual Polaroid size. The Instax Mini is 54mm x 86mm (with the actual photo area of 46mm x 62mm) that makes the same size of a standard visit card. Secondly, the Instax Mini Film has a better color reproduction, at least compared to the last Polaroid film available on the market the “Impossible Film”.

My idea about the #InstaPitti project was to gift something to the guest of the fair. Something that they can remember about me and my photography. Because the size of the film is almost the same of my visit card, I decided to glue on the back of the Instax Mini photo (the black side) the visit card. In this way, the guest had the photo, and they will remember the photographer that did it! 🙂

About the project #InstaPitti

The idea about the project #InstaPitti was to have a way to engage, talk and know the people that attend the Pitti Immagine Uomo fair. During that days, is very difficult to stop the people and have time and attention only for you.

However, with the purpose of the photo, and the developing time of about 3/4 minute, we had time to chat, to ask where they are coming from, and do a little video interview that will be published soon my YouTube channel.

The camera I’ve used, the Lomography Lomo ‘Instant

In the last edition, I’ve used a similar camera, the Lomo’Instant Automat. The difference is that my camera doesn’t have an automatic exposure metering. You are able to set the exposure acting on the front dial that turns a small aperture disc.

The apertures go from the maximum of +2 (equal of f/8) to the minimum of -2 (equal of f/32). Then we know that the Fujifilm Instax Mini Film speed is 800 Iso and that the camera has a fixed shutter speed of 1/125 sec. In this way, I was controlling the exposure metering with the Fujifilm X100T and deciding which aperture to use.

Some days I had a problem with the available light, like on the second day of the fair. It was a very cloudy day without so much light and even using the maximum aperture disc equal to f/8, the metering of the X100T told me I was underexposed. My decision then was to use the small built-in flash, but I’m not so happy about the result since it had overexposed a bit the film and create an unpleasing vignette around the photo.

The final digital photo

The final digital photo that you see here was shot, like in the previous edition, using the Fujifilm X100T. I’ve set the camera to f/2, used the same 800 iso as the Instax Mini Film, and used the aperture priority to set the correct shutter speed. I’ve asked the gentleman to hold the film in hand at some distance from the face and then I’ve focused on the film. Was funny to see, how some of them want to hold the film and to pose in a different way than the other.

The photos of the project #InstaPitti

I want to thanks all the kind gentleman in Pitti Immagine Uomo that accepted to pose for me and for this project!