☞ FRIDAY (Day 1)
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11:00 - 7:00 | BFC Backyard Social
\\ Brooklyn Film Camera
\\ Slow things down and relax in BFC's backyard with other film photographers. Water will be provided by Liquid Death and vibes will be curated by Polaroid. Stop by to grab all the film you need, see who's around, and hang out for as long as you'd like in BFC's backyard oasis.
\\ Open to the public
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12:00 - 6:00 | Check-in to PolaCon
\\ Worthless Studios - WELCOME DESK
\\ Check-in to PolaCon, get your wristband, and join the fun!
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12:00 - 6:00 | Airstream Vibes
\\ Worthless Studios - THE AIRSTREAM
\\ Jump aboard the WORTHLESSSTUDIOS' Airstream trailer that's been converted into a working darkroom! Meet Worthless staff members, explore their ongoing public art project FREE FILM, and find out more about their analog photography residency program and other amazing photography-based initiatives. The Airstream will be stocked with WORTHLESS' latest merch and copies of their FREE FILM photography books.
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12:15 - 12:30 | Opening Address
\\ Worthless Studios - MAIN STAGE
\\ A welcoming address from the organizers. Get oriented to PolaCon and the flow of the weekend's festivities at this short opening address.
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12:30 - 1:00 | Workshop: Instant Film 101 with Martin Souza
\\ Worthless Studios - MAIN STAGE
\\ Learn the ins & outs of instant film. Martin will cover instant film history, currently available cameras and film stocks, and tips and tricks for shooting to get the best results.
\\ Class Size: 10-25
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1:00 - 1:30 | Demo: “Instant Optics” with Brooklyn Film Camera
\\ Worthless Studios - THE STUDIO
\\ In this workshop, BFC staff will demonstrate their new line of lenses, filters, and prisms for Polaroid SX-70 and 600 cameras. The release of “Instant Optics” marks the first time that high-quality glass optics have been manufactured for the Polaroid ecosystem in over 40 years!
\\ Class Size: 20-35
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1:00 - 1:45 | Demo: 8x10 Polaroid photography with Nick Collingwood
\\ Worthless Studios - MAIN STAGE
\\ Join film photographer extraordinaire and instant film guru Nick Collingwood for a demonstration of large format Polaroid photography! Go big or go home. Or just… go to this workshop because you’ll probably learn a lot. Nick's demo last year was a HIT! Highly recommended.
\\ Class Size: 20-35
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2:00 - 2:45 | Talk & Demo: The Democratization of Camera-making with Mario Machon
\\ Worthless Studios - THE STUDIO
\\ Join engineer and camera hacker/builder Mario Machon for a brief overview of the increasing access to, and evolution of, DIY camera-making techniques and materials. A short talk will be followed by a demo and portrait session with Mario’s latest creations.
\\ Class Size: 20-35
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2:00 - 3:30 | B&W Portraits with the Polaroid I-2 Camera with Polaroid
\\ Worthless Studios - MAIN STAGE
\\ Polaroid in-house photographer Hatti Browse will talk about her experience with the Polaroid I-2 camera and how she’s able to take advantage of all its manual controls. Hatti will also share some of her latest B&W portraits project. Get your B&W portrait taken by Hatti and get a real-life example of the latest chemistry improvements, comparing old and new B&W Chemistry.
\\ Class Size: 30-45
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3:00 - 3:45 | Talk: Shooting Polaroid Film Behind The Scenes with Joan Michel
\\ Worthless Studios - THE STUDIO
\\ Join photographer and YouTuber Joan Michel for a discussion and Q&A about her experience shooting Polaroid film behind the scenes on film sets, and at the Met Gala. If you want to get better at shooting Polaroid film in high-pressure and fast-moving situations, this is for you!
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4:00 - 4:45 | Talk: The 12:12 Project with Cromwell Schubarth
\\ Worthless Studios - MAIN STAGE
\\ The 12:12 Project is an international collective of artists that consistently pushes the bounds of creativity on the medium of instant film. Learn all about the 12:12 Project from its lead coordinator, Cromwell Schubarth, along with collective members of past and present, Ben Fraternale, Rhiannon Adam, Laura Alice Watt, and Anna Marcell. They will be discussing the topic of AI in photography among other things.
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4:30 - 5:00 | Workshop: Polaroid Hacks + Things with Chris Erickson
\\ Worthless Studios - THE STUDIO
\\ Join Chris (aka "Just Another Chris" on YouTube) to learn a slate of various tips and tricks that he's learned and innovated over the years. Temperature-control of images, shooting i-Type film in 600 cameras, custom transparencies, and more. Learn some "hacks + things" from the man himself!
\\ Class Size: 20-30
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5:00 - 6:00 | Workshop: Natural Light Portraits with Bret Watkins
\\ Worthless Studios - MAIN STAGE
\\ Join Bret for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn how to make the most out of natural light and take your Polaroid portraiture to the next level!
\\ Class Size: 10-25
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6:00 - 7:00 | Dinner Break
\\ Make some friends and grab food at one of the many great nearby restaurants.
\\ Open to the public
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7:00 - 10:00 | Karaoke!
\\ Haven Lounge
\\ Come and sing your heart out with us to kick off the first night of PolaCon! Karaoke is a years-long staple of PolaCon and we can't wait to let it all out with you. Bonus points if you pull off a song with "instant" in the title *or* a song that references analog film. This year's karaoke kickoff is being hosted by our one and only Mala! It's spring, let's sing!
\\ Open to the public
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10:00 - ??? | Choose Your Own Adventure
\\ Enjoy Bushwick’s many nightlife options within walking distance from the event. Bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and more!
\\ Some Suggestions: House of Yes (night club), MoonRise NYC (night club), Carousel (groovy bar), Jupiter Disco (funky bar), Left Hand Path (cozy bar), The Johnson’s (hipster dive bar).
\\ Open to the public
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