If photography is a spectrum, Polaroid and Magnum embody its full scope. Authentic, unfiltered moment-capturing at the one end—poignant, often painful, and hard-hitting journalism at the other. But as conflicting as their connotations may be, the two entities have become titans of image-making, and industry standards in their disparate fields. Polaroid images are so prolific in fashion, they’ve become slang for the go-to pictures in any model’s portfolio—and Magnum a measure of integrity for the photographers sent to the frontline.
And in today’s hyper-digitised world, where images are often overly-edited and quickly forgotten, both institutions offer an alternative. This summer, to celebrate the launch of Polaroid’s I-2 Camera and a new black-and-white film, the image-making innovators have united to launch an Open Call, inviting photographers to delve into their subjects’ complexities, capturing moments that foster human connection, and prove that “real life is not black and white.”
Seeking submissions of two photo stories—each comprising up to 15 images and a brief narrative—the goal is to discover overlooked or misunderstood stories that emphasise empathy and perspective. Analog or digital doesn’t matter—the story is what counts.
In addition to a camera and film, winners will receive group critiques with the Magnum-represented photographers at the heart of this initiative: Jim Goldberg, whose ‘Rich and Poor’ series offered a profound exploration of America’s socioeconomic divide; Newsha Tavakolian, known for her powerful work in the Middle East, and deeply empathetic portraits of women in Iran; and Enri Canaj, whose documentation of the refugee crisis in Europe presents stark, moving images that convey the harrowing experiences of displaced individuals. Each photographer underpins the essence of this collaboration: that the most powerful photography is born when one rejects the pursuit of perfection.
This partnership between Polaroid and Magnum brings together two pioneers of the photography world, moving away from the pursuit of flawless images to convey raw, unfiltered human experiences.
Submissions for the Polaroid x Magnum Open Call close on 12 August.
