Jason Mraz and his Polaroids

Aside from a new album, Jason Mraz has a book out on his polaroids! Part of the book’s writeup, Mraz compares music performance to photography: “The way a live performance is to the studio performance, so is Polaroid Instant to the Digital Format. I know I only get one shot at the subject and after the click of the shutter I have to wait two minutes before I can evaluate what I’ve captured. Digital Photography accepts a wider range of error at less expense. Digital Cameras are like automatic weapons. You’ll most likely hit your target. The Classic Polaroid Camera is the suction cup dart gun of this advancing age. Thus, my Polaroid hobby invites me to slow down and see more on my walk through life.”

And this got me thinking; I still adore lomo, polaroids, but digital really is the way to go! I think its a matter of knowing how to handle the camera. There are some people who have no patience to perfect their shooting, but also some who have no patience sitting on their computers trying to figure out Photoshop! I think in all that we do, we need to strive perfection. However, the unalterability (?) of the Polariod does give it a bit of an urgency. I even remember the time when I had those cheap black plastic cameras when I was a child, and taking pictures would be a countdown of 24 shots. “ok ok, let’s make this good, we’re down to the last 2 shots!!!!”

On the other hand, Kenohki and I hardly play music anymore. He’s on an electronic drumkit (because we are renters) and I have an electric acoustic guitar I haven’t touched in months. Maybe it’s time for an impromptu jam one of these days. Better yet, open mic!

The live performance and instant magic of analog devices always yield a different sort of magic for me. I have a deep appreciation for the grains of the film-processed photograph, and the chills you get from a heartfelt live performance.