The immediacy of the Polaroid ranks high on the list of what makes it such an appealing format. A precursor to digital, these little rectangles have long provided family and friends with the immediate gratification of watching their memories appear before their eyes, preserving the moment like a can of summer tomatoes for a cold winter’s day. For me, as a photographer, the prints are unlike my digital workflow; they are something to be left behind, handed over, inspected, and celebrated. This series embraces a communal approach to photography, pulling from thousands of Polaroids taken of family, friends, and complete strangers over the last two years. It is a slice of Americana, a little bit odd, a little bit political, and most definitely related to our unique place in the course of history. In many cases, a print was left behind with my subject and another taken along with me, bringing the magic and immediacy of photography full circle.



