This month marks the fourth anniversary of presenting polaroid photography on this travel blog. Honestly, I never thought I’d stick to the Polaroid Diaries for so long. This instant photography section started as a side project: I wanted to capture my journeys in a different, old-fashioned way. To some, Polaroids might seem irrelevant to today’s digital world. However, what started awkwardly one late summer in Anafi developed into one of the most-read categories of this blog.
The charm of Polaroid photography is that you never know what you’ll get. Quite often, one thinks he mastered instant photography; that’s precisely when your next image will turn out wrong. I always wanted to do a round-up post about my favorite Polaroids. Throughout the years, I used and reviewed several Polaroid cameras and took countless photos with them. The archives grew more extensive, Polaroids occupied internal and external hard drives, and I started creating Polaroid Zines.
Finally, the time has come. During the last couple of months, I went several times through my archives. I handpicked 25 of my favorite Polaroids and will present them today. All these images serve as an extensive travel diary. Moreover, they include moments from the past four years of my life: from portraits of friends to iconic monuments and from serene landscapes to city views.
So, let me show you the best Polaroids I took through the years and explain to you what makes them unique.
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My favorite Polaroids after four years of shooting
The photos you’ll see in this article appear in no particular order. For me, it was important to make a selection and share why I liked each of them. Feel free to comment at the bottom of this post about your favorites.
The man on a donkey in Folegandros
Folegandros is among Greece’s most beautiful islands. Apart from having the prettiest Chora in the Cyclades, Folegandros is a paradise for hikers. On such a hike, I saw this man on his donkey and shot a photo with my Polaroid SX-70.
Despite the harsh light, that’s probably the closest I came to shooting street photography with a Polaroid camera. The image is sharp, and the man’s expression is visible. Folegandros’ backdrop contributes a carefree atmosphere to the picture.
You can see my Folegandros Polaroids with the SX-70 here.
Barbara and grapes
Although I usually travel alone for travel writing, I always go on vacations with Barbara. On a long journey toward the Greek islands, we decided to book a cabin for a smoother journey. Spending 15 hours on a ferry translates to endless photographic experimentation. I had the SX-70 with me and decided to shoot a candid -and relatively abstract- image of Barbara.
The sea was wavy, and I couldn’t easily stand still. Barbara was eating some grapes and looking out of the window. I composed and focused, but the waves pushed me back the moment I clicked. However, I love the subtle figure of Barbara and the grapes. And I believe the bedlinen’s texture gives a nice touch.
The Kinetic Statue in Malta
Visiting Malta without a car can often feel challenging. However, I was well prepared and decided to bring my Impulse AF on this journey. The capital of Malta, Valletta, has various places of interest, and despite its compact size, you need lots of days to see everything. Since I didn’t bring that many Polaroid films to Malta, I had to be extra thoughtful before shooting a photo. However, this kinetic statue impressed me, and I didn’t think twice before taking a Polaroid.
I think the Impulse AF handled the light very well and created a beautiful image. The photo is sharp, and I like the contrast with the buildings behind it. Overall, despite the clouds, the camera did a perfect job of properly exposing the image.
You can see my Malta Polaroid Diary with the Impulse AF here.
A portrait in Siena, Italy
Siena ranks among the most picturesque Italian cities due to its medieval style. On the other hand, Polaroids are made for portraits, and since I was on a road trip to Tuscany with friends, I decided to shoot some portraits. The best Polaroid portrait I took was of my friend Chris. One morning, just off Siena’s iconic square, we found a photogenic spot. There was an ideal amount of light and shadow -and the flowers, I thought, might give a nice touch to the image.
After shooting the picture, I was impressed by its sharpness. It was as if everything was perfectly sharp -and the negative space let Chris’ face pop. Unlike most of the images in this article, this one was taken early in the morning. The light was sweet, and that’s probably why this image turned out so nice.
If you want to see more photos from this journey, feel free to check my SX-70 Polaroid Diary from Tuscany.
The Castle of Edinburgh
The journey to Scotland was one of the first I decided to have an instant camera. Additionally, the OneStep+ was the first instant camera I used in these diaries, and Scotland’s weather challenged its capabilities (see the Scotland diary here). Luckily, the day I traveled to Edinburgh, the weather remained sunny for the best part of the day.
As you can imagine, visiting Edinburgh’s Castle was a must. While walking towards the castle, I decided to take a photo. The passing cloud added an extra layer to the image. Whenever I think of this journey, I always have this picture in my mind.
Santorini is for sale
I was never really fond of Santorini. While the landscape is beautiful, I find the island stressful. Throughout the years, I have stopped several times in Santorini, usually on my way to another island. At one of these times, I had the OneStep+ in my bag and decided to dedicate a full diary to the famous island.
Since the sunlight was intense, I decided to underexpose some photos. The one here is taken in Fira and shows a church with a plot of land for sale. Frustrated as I was, I thought it would have been some statement to shoot a photo of the sign and the church. Although I used a color film, it looks like a black-and-white image. And that’s what makes it unique.
That statue in Gothenburg, Sweden
The Knife Wrestlers by Johan Peter Molin is among Gothenburg’s most famous statues. Although not as famous as the iconic Poseidon Statue, the “Knife Wrestlers” is impressive. Although I visited Gothenburg for a long weekend in early spring, the city greeted me with sunny weather. Sweden’s second-biggest city has stunning architecture, and the outdoor statues largely contribute to its history and style.
The SX-70 handled the intense spring sun very well, and as you can see in the photo, it captured the details. The goal was to have enough blue and detail in the statue. The knife is clearly visible, and so are the wrestlers’ bodies.
You can see more Polaroids from Gothenburg here.
Barbara and the pandemic
We all want to forget the pandemic and the neverending lockdowns. This period was hard for all of us, and the truth is that I didn’t go smoothly through it. All I did was endlessly cycle around Athens or Berlin and shoot Polaroids. I spent the second lockdown in Athens, and Barbara joined me for home office. It was around this time I purchased my SX-70, and I experimented with it a lot.
The photo of Barbara wearing a mask and standing behind a fence somehow narrates the feelings and dress code of the period. This image represents a tough period, and that’s why -despite its sadness- it is still unique to me.
You can see my lockdown diary from Athens here.
The lonely bowl
On the other hand, the first lockdown found me in Berlin. I remained stranded in the city, and as I already said, all I did was cycle and shoot Polaroids. I only had my OneStep+ with me and shot several still-life photos from the quarantine.
Whenever I woke up in the morning, I’d sit next to this window to have breakfast. Surprisingly enough, the days in Berlin were sunny, and the first thing I always saw was this bowl. Barbara had placed it in this spot, and I never thought of changing its position. It was the natural evolution of things to shoot a polaroid of it.
A Car and the East Side Gallery
On the brighter side of life, Berlin has lots of sightseeing due to its rich contemporary history. As the years went by, my camera collection grew, and I slowly started shooting Polaroids as part of my daily routine. However, Berlin’s winter darkness meant I should have cameras more capable in low-light situations. Hence, when my Polaroid Sun 660 AF arrived, I knew I had to drive to the iconic East Side Gallery.
It was a pure joy to shoot photos there. And although I have a great Polaroid Diary from the East Side Gallery, this image is probably the nicest one I shot. That’s a mural on the Berlin Wall remains, and the car’s license plate shows the day of the Fall of the Berlin Wall: 9th November 1989. Despite the gloomy November weather, the image’s exposure is perfect.
The church in Anafi
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know how much I love Anafi. The tiny Greek island is among my favorite locations on the planet, and whenever possible, I try to reach it for a carefree vacation. I have shot tons of photos in Anafi and wrote several blog posts about the island.
Although the photo I handpicked doesn’t say much about the island’s atmosphere, it’s pretty representative. The harsh life, the importance of religion, and the whitewashed walls are all cornerstone elements of the island. The SX 70 handled perfectly the light, and I love the contrast of the white walls and the bells.
If you’d like to see more photos, check my Polaroid Diary from Anafi with the SX-70.
A shipwreck in Amorgos
Not far away from Anafi lies the world-famous island of Amorgos. The island of the Big Blue attracts loads of travelers every year due to its picturesque Chora, the Hozovitiossa Monastery, and the stunning coves. Of course, it’s not a surprise that Amorgos enjoys sunshine throughout the year, and that’s why I thought of having my Impulse AF, although I visited it in April.
One of the lesser-known spots on the islands is a 1980 shipwreck. The rusty boat remains on-site, and you’ll have to take a short hike to reach it. Despite the sad story, the location is impressive, and you definitely had to photograph it. The image you see here is halfway to the Amorgos shipwreck, which was taken late afternoon. I found the details and atmosphere great.
Check my Amorgos Diary for more polaroids.
The goats of snowy Bergen
Bergen is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever visited. Although it was cold and snowy, the city impressed me with its colors and vibe. Of course, every Bergen itinerary should include a visit to Mount Floyen, one of the seven mountains surrounding the city. You can reach it with the funicular starting just off the port, and the views are breathtaking.
But here’s a thing: several goats call home Mount Floyen, and they stroll around even when the snow covers everything. On a cold winter day, I reached the mountain and had my SX-70 in my backpack. I wanted to keep the film warm, but the moment I saw the goat having a break, I thought of shooting some Polaroids. One of them turned out well; I only wish there had been some eye contact.
You can see more Polaroids from Bergen with the SX70 here.
Cleaning the Abyss in Santorini, Greece
Here’s another image from the same Santorini diary I mentioned earlier. Once again, the image is taken with the OneStep+, and it’s underexposed. This time, though, a bit more landscape is included in the picture. A man cleans a rooftop, and the impressive landscape of the island is everywhere.
Despite being one of my oldest polaroids, I still like it very much, mainly because of its mysterious atmosphere. As I stated earlier, this is a color film.
A portrait on the Berlin Wall
Yet, this is another photo taken at the East Side Gallery. However, it’s older than the previous one, and it’s taken with the OneStep+. My friend Marianna visited me in Berlin, and one day, we strolled around the East Side Gallery. As you can imagine, that’s one of the best things to do in Berlin, so don’t miss it.
I like this photo because it brings back memories from nice times but also because it has this easygoing Berlin atmosphere in front of an iconic mural. The OneStep+ handled the contrast pretty well, and the colors seem accurate.
In Kyiv before the war
Ukraine is still one of my favorite countries in Europe. I found its vintage flair very original, and I’m sad things turned bad due to the war. I had the chance to visit Ukraine three times, and on my last journey to Kyiv, I also had the OneStep+. It was still at the beginning of the Polaroid Diaries, but I’m glad I have some keepers from this trip.
The photo is taken next to the Motherland Monument in downtown Kyiv. The image seems a bit abstract, containing various exhibits -and on the right, you can see a map of the country. The colors worked well on this one, thanks to the sweet afternoon light, and it’s still one of my favorite Polaroids.
You can see the Kyiv Polaroids here.
Portrait of a flower
I have a thing for flowers, and I often shoot Polaroids. There’s a spot in my kitchen in Athens where the afternoon sun makes a nice corner for portraits. Quite often, I place flowers there, and I try to shoot some photos.
This one is not just one of my favorite Polaroids. I think it’s probably a picture that showed me the endless capabilities of Polaroid photography. All you need is a combination of light and mastering the exposure. I used the SX-70 for this image.
A town on the edge of Greece
Talking about sweet afternoon light, I couldn’t help but think of Nisyros. That’s one of my most beloved Greek islands, located in the Dodecanese, on the edge of Greece. It’s home to an active volcano, and you can even walk in one of its craters.
The main settlement of the island is called Mandraki, and it’s a waterfront small town. Mandraki is full of whitewashed houses and pebbled squares, and its vibe is really fantastic. On one side, you can walk upwards to Panagia Spiliani Monastery, and from there, you have a panoramic view of the settlement. And that’s where I shot this Polaroid late one afternoon with the SX-70.
The Eleusinian Mysteries
Ancient Eleusis is an often overlooked location. However, that’s where the famous Eleusinian Mysteries took place, and it definitely worth a visit if you happen to be in Athens. The town’s proximity to the sea and the beautiful waterfront promenade definitely deserve a few hours while discovering Athens.
Strolling around the archaeological site, you’ll encounter various ancient ruins and artifacts. The day I visited Eleusis, I had the Polaroid Sun 660 with me. This great camera offered me some keepers -and you can see more on my Eleusis Polaroid Diary. I like this photo because of the details and the slight bokeh.
Delphi Oracle
Shooting Polaroids at ancient Greek locations became almost a habit over the past four years. I always have an instant camera with me -and I plan to do so in the future, too. Delphi is probably one of the most iconic spots of Greek antiquity, and I shot almost a film on site. Delphi is known for the Oracle of Delphi and the famous navel of the world.
I chose this photo not just because of the column portrayed. Apart from the sharpness -thank you SX 70- one can also see something that resembles a smiley. Can you spot it?
If you feel like seeing more, check out my Delphi Polaroids here.
The Three Riflemen
Don’t let the title scare you. The Three Riflemen is a controversial statue located in Riga, Latvia. The Latvian capital has lots of places to see and photograph, but nowhere in Riga did I find better sunlight. The days were dark, and my visit to the city coincided with the year’s first snowfall. As you can imagine, my SX-70 struggled to capture good photos due to low light.
However, this photo turned out well, and I believe it’s the only moment there was some during my Riga stay. The statue’s scale is impressive, and it’s close to the Daugava River. I shot a film roll in Riga, but I think that’s my favorite image due to the orange light on the statue.
Apollo Temple
Ancient Corinth is a great place to visit if you’re on a road trip to Greece. Apart from being just an hour away from Athens -and thus making it one of the best day trips from the Greek capital– Corinth has great historical significance. The city-state of Corinth was one of the most prominent cities of the ancient world. Nowadays, it is one of the best-preserved antiquity sites, and you can also admire the iconic Temple of Apollo up close.
For this image, I used the Polaroid NOW+, and it’s one of the few good images I got with this camera. I find the colors unique and like how nicely the Temple of Apollo looks in the distance.
A portrait on a famous Berlin bridge
Good friends have visited me in Berlin during the last decade. Marinela spent a couple of days in Berlin when I first got my OneStep+, and I shot various photos of her.
In the background, you can see the famous Oberbaumbrücke, a bridge connecting Kreuzberg and Friedrischshain, two Berlin neighborhoods that were divided by the Wall. The OneStep+ did surprisingly well capturing Marinela’s pose and the yellow U-Bahn behind her.
At the Berlin Wall Memorial
There’s no lack of famous locations referring to the divided past of Berlin. One of the most famous is the one at Bernauer Strasse, where the Berlin Wall Memorial is.
On the top floor of the visitor’s center, you can have a good overview of how the divided city looked for more than thirty years. The remains of the wall and the “death stripe” are still visible. It was a dark day when I visited it with my Impulse AF, and I was fascinated by the looks of the picture. Despite the dark weather, the photo looks good, and what I like the most is the human presence in the image.
Last but not least, this photo is also part of my Polaroid Zine about Berlin.
The Acropolis of Athens
The last image in this article about my favorite Polaroids is from the Acropolis of Athens. Specifically, it portrays the Propylaea, the entrance to the Acropolis, just a few meters away from the Parthenon.
The SX-70 had no problems using the fantastic light to capture the atmosphere of the “Sacred Rock.” The people walking by and the spot’s impressive architecture created a great image. The details are truly impressive. Although I visited the Acropolis several times and used digital cameras, I honestly think no other photo presents the location so well.
My favorite Polaroids: conclusion
It wasn’t easy choosing 25 Polaroids when there are so many in my drawers. Although I scan each of them, handpicking just a few is challenging. I sometimes felt I left some good images out of this article, but that’s the problem always with such articles.
As you can see, these 25 pictures narrate parts of my life during the past years. Sometimes, they served as snapshots of daily life; other times, it was all about travel photography with a Polaroid camera. No matter what, each Polaroid I shot reminds me of the predigital days of our lives. Yes, analog photography is still a thing, and capturing the world around you with a vintage camera is an immersive experience.
Last but definitely not least, there’s also something more: shooting a photo and a few moments later having it in hand is a fantastic feeling. And that’s probably the most important aspect of Polaroid photography and why I enjoy shooting photos with these old yet charming instant cameras.
Polaroid Camera Reviews: Polaroid SX-70, OneStep+, Sun 660 AF, Impulse AF, NOW+, Polaroid Go
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Last Updated on September 2, 2023 by George Pavlopoulos
George, are you sure you don’t do any photoshopping? Some of these images look too good to be true. My favorites include the pic of Chris, Santorini Abyss, and the Lonely Bowl. Your camera seems to really do well with light/dark contrasts. Your blue colors also turn out great. What’s your secret?
Hey John!
No, no photoshopping at all. As I often state on the diaries’ final lines, I only add a +20 in sharpness for web optimization purposes. Colors, exposure, etc., are never touched. I’m not a fan of Photoshop at all (I don’t use it in the digital images you see on the blog either), and especially for Polaroid photography, I’m even more strict.
Regarding the secret, actually, there is none. For every Polaroid you see here, several others didn’t work. I think the best advice I can give is to pay attention to the light and focus properly. Chris’ portrait is taken early in the morning, and the light was sweet; the Santorini Abyss is heavily underexposed because I wanted to capture the contrast of white walls in front of the sea; and the lonely bowl is taken with the OneStep+ in the manual mode -underexposed, too.
Thanks for the compliment, though, John 🙂 I really appreciate it! I love your Polaroids and look forward to your next shots!
Take care,
George
The most recent Polaroid photos I have taken have been added to my Jason and the Argonauts Movie Myth Tribute post. The post can be found on the sidebar of my website under the Entertainment heading. You have seen it before, but three new photos have been added showing four Greeks, one Italian, and a guy from Chile. I took the pictures with my SX-70 sonar model. But the quality is nowhere near as good as your photos. The light conditions were pretty bad at the time. There is also a slight blur, so a sonar model doesn’t mean you get perfect focus.
Glad you shared this, John! Your Polaroids are great and I think trial-and-error is the way to go in Polaroid photography. Bad light usually translates to bad instant photos -but that’s part of the fun, isn’t it? Keep shooting 🙂