Diego Uchitel: Polaroids

The look of a Polaroid influenced my work immensely as their colorations and depth have a painterly and dreamlike quality, versus the realism that an actual image does through the camera's lens. They have a magical appearance, as they deliver less intensity in coloration and pigmentations then fi lm does. The time period where Polaroids were the basis of my work was from 1982 - 2006, before the digital era became an unavoidable replacement. The work in the book is a selection of my favorite imagery stemming from a combination of both personal and commercial efforts spanning 25 years. My approach to either was universal in that my strength is in lighting and composition, which was enhanced by the Polaroid's attributes. This book is momentous for me as seeing a compilation of the body of my work is extremely emotional. The integrity that comes with a Polaroid - in that it cannot be retouched or manipulated to the degree that digital photography can be - is a principle that I apply to all areas of my life. The majority of the images is timeless and enduring, and captures the personalities and tendencies in a brief, singular and unalterable moment. I appreciate the realism of a Polaroid, which is also tinged with reverie.