Event Coverage: PolaCon Bay Area 2023
Armed with umbrellas and raincoats while juggling cameras, the unseasonably rainy weather could not dampen the spirits of the dozen or so intrepid photographers gathered together for a pre-PolaCon stroll through San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, a little pre-party kick-off and a preview of the long weekend to come. This “Day Zero” photowalk marked the beginning of PolaCon BayArea, a four day celebration of instant film, photography, and, most important of all, the camaraderie of the community. At every iteration of PolaCon creativity is encouraged, innovations are exchanged, and friendships are forged.
PolaCon was conceived by Instant Film Society out of Texas, which has held the event in Dallas and Denton every September since 2016. After attending the Texas con, Brian Brooks of the SF Instant Camera Walk convinced them to try a satellite event in the Bay Area. This year saw the fourth iteration of the Bay Area event (2021 being held virtually), which sees scores of photographers from across the US and even Canada come together to indulge in their love of instant film and participate in photo walks, chats, and demos throughout the weekend.
PolaCon Bay Area officially opened Friday evening with a party at McTeague’s Saloon, conveniently located just around the corner from Glass Key Photo for anyone who needed to stock up on film or peruse their selection of analog gear and supplies before we got to shooting. As the back room of the bar filled up with more and more Polaroid-heads the atmosphere was so congenial that no one really wanted to move on to the planned photo walk and so, by popular vote (because PolaCon is a democracy), we stayed at McTeague's to mix and mingle until the late hours. But even though the “walking” part of the plan was scuttled there was plenty of photography to be had. There was an abundance of photogenic subjects to be found, from the quirky décor to our fellow photographers (hashtag PolaPals) to experimental night photography for anyone who wandered out onto Polk Street throughout the evening.
The next morning the drizzly rain was no deterrent for the hardcore instant film enthusiast on Day 2 of Polacon. Though California has been subjected to a non-stop series of atmospheric rivers, the energy was flowing as the group met up at Crane Cove Park to survey the 7-acre waterfront park that was previously a ship building site on the bay. The combination of old architecture mixed with industrial remnants of the past provided ample opportunity for portraits and landscapes. The location was stellar but the fun was better. Throughout the walk there was tons of camaraderie with both collaboration and gear talk. The best part of the day was a gentleman who showed up to his first ever photowalk, to shoot his first ever SX-70, and figured out for the first time that sometimes instant film shots are just happy accidents. I am proud to say that the entire group of photographers were kind, educational, and inspirational to him, and all of those around them. This is what Polacon is all about: shared passion and inclusivity.
Continuing on that note, a main event of Polacon, the six-hour “Talks and Zine Swap” at Thee Parkside, was one of the best gatherings of photographers we have ever been a part of. Tables on the patio were lined with cameras from custom made Graflex’s with Instax backs to 3D printed Big Shoot clones and tons of SX70s. There were mountains of integral film and boxes of expired pack film – what a sight to behold! Surrounding these magnificent treasure troves were 100 or so passionate photographers who know exactly what “Analog Forever” means, finding spots in and around Thee Parkside for impromptu portrait photo shoots, and using their last remaining packs of Type 669 just so they could share it with the community. However, this event wasn’t just a gathering, there were opportunities to have your portrait made on tintype by EBPCO’s Jenny Sampson and 8x10 Impossible Project large format by Brian Brooks, two all-star photographers who joined in the fun to provide an opportunity for the artists gathered to experience both of these amazing processes.
Niniane Kelley by Brian Brooks
Michael Behlen by Jenny Sampson
In addition to the camera nerdery, there was of course beer, laughter, and tons of hugs and introductions. People from all over the states and a few from outside the U.S. were present, many of whom had made close connections with the instant film community online and finally got to meet in person due to PolaCon providing a safe and inclusive venue for such a gathering. But, Thee Parkside was just the launching pad for the rest of the evening’s shenanigans!
For those of us who weren't yet worn out from the long day or suffering from jet lag, the party continued on at The Detour, a raucous arcade filled with video games, pinball machines, and skee-ball, at which our intrepid Analog Forever founder went 2-0. The evening was temporarily interrupted by a fire alarm which saw us all scooted out into the misty San Francisco night. We're fairly sure that when the fine folks from the SFFD arrived in two ladder trucks they weren't expecting that they'd arrive to find themselves the subject of a photoshoot, but that's what happens when there's a few dozen photographers milling about. After it was determined to be just a false alarm, they were kind enough to pose for portraits before heading back to the rest of their shift. Apparently, that was the first of two false alarms that night, but some of us had already headed home to rest up for the next day and try to anticipate the hour-of-sleep stealing time change.
Day 3 of Polacon started late; thank god, right?! Convening at 1:10 pm (or 12:50 on the dot if you were running to catch the ferry from SF), there was a mass of photographers ready to charge into the third day of sprinkles and the occasional drenching shower to adventure around Alameda to explore the abandoned military installation of the former Naval Air Station, which ceased operation in April 1997. Consisting of over 1,560 acres and semi-explorable buildings and remnants of the past, it created a picturesque backdrop for an afternoon of exploring our history, photographing a unique destination, and shooting amazing cameras with diverse friends, old and new alike. At the end of the photowalk, we all of course convened at Faction Brewing, housed in an old warehouse with panoramic views across the bay. It was bittersweet, this was our last and final destination for the weekend and big smiles were turning to small smiles as we all reviewed our stacks of instant film with each other and began to say our farewells. Although, if you had taken the ferry ride across the choppy bay waters you may also have attended the afterparty in the stunning atrium of the Hyatt hotel, the after-afterparty at the historic House of Shields, and, if you really weren't ready for things to end, the after-after-afterparty at famed Castro karaoke bar, The Mint. But for those stories, you really had to have been there...
In closing, Polacon is exactly what it should be: a light-hearted yet serious celebration of the cameras, film, and most importantly, the people we all love most. To all the people that showed up and had fun, this event wouldn’t have been possible without your engagement. Our hats are off to the Instant Film Society and to the SF Instant Photowalk crew for putting together so many back to back days for the community to become an even tighter one. Well done, and we can’t wait to see you next year!
If you want to attend PolaCon (and you should!) this year sees the first ever PolaCon New York in coordination with Brooklyn Film Camera, happening May 19-21, and the eighth iteration of the OG Texas PolaCon in September.
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
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Niniane Kelley is a fine art photographer living and working in San Francisco and Lake County, California. A native of the Bay Area, she is a San Jose State University graduate, earning a BFA in Photography in 2008. In addition to producing photographic images, Kelley is also extensively involved in alternative processes education and research. Often teaching workshops in the Bay Area. She most recently worked as a photographer and manager at San Francisco’s tintype portrait studio, Photobooth.
Connect with Niniane on her Website and on Instagram!
Michael Behlen is a photography enthusiast from Fresno, CA. He works in finance and spends his free time shooting instant film and backpacking in the California wilderness, usually a combination of the two. He has been published, been interviewed, and been reviewed in a quantity of magazines and online publications, from F-Stop and Blur magazine to the Analog Talk Podcast. He loves the magic sensuality of instant film: its saturated, surreal colors; the unpredictability of the medium; it’s addictive qualities as you watch it develop. He is the founder of Analog Forever Magazine. Connect with Michael Behlen on his Website and on Instagram!
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