do i need a certain kind of camera to take vintagey looking polaroids?

Question

an example would be this person userpic -
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=346292

does anyone know if its something you do in photoshop, or is it a certain camera that gives it that vintage feel? thanks

Answer 1

Depending on the camera, you can buy filters that will alter the outcome of the picture. while stationed in Germany, I had a Canon AE1 (non-program 35mm camera) with a filter kit. It enabled me to take some awsome pictures of castles with both faded shading around the picture edge, as well as applying a slight yellow tint for aging.

Ckeck out the link below for an example of camera filters. Enjoy!

Answer 2

There are many ways to fudge an image like this as others have pointed out. For instance you could accomplish this look in Photoshop or by using certain homemade filters over your camera lens but the easiest and most authentic way of producing images like the ones you have shown is with a polaroid camera or any number of cameras with really cheap or shoddy optics like the LOMO camera or the Holga. These cheap lenses cause that soft focus desaturated color look. To further enhance that vintage look, after you have your images printed leave them out in the sun, one of the number one enemies to any photograph is UV light. The UV light will over time cause the photo to shift in color even more producing a more authentic vintage look. If you are interested in this particular look below is a link to where you can buy a lomo or a holga camera. I have also provided some links to some lomo, holga and polaroid galleries. Some of the images in the galleries may not have that vintage look that you want, but trust me, leave the polaroids or prints in the sun and they will look vintage enough after a few weeks or less depending on the intensity of the light.

Answer 3

Although I couldn't see the pictures very well, even if the picture was recent, I'd have to say the film was old. If you can find old Polaroid film and matching camera, you can get very similar effects.

Now if you want to kinda cheat with Photoshop, there are a few things you can do if you know what you're looking for. For instance, one major sign of old film is what's known as color shift: most film will have a magenta colored hue over it. You can do this by selecting the whole (or even part of) photo, Top Menu "Image" -> "Adjustments" -> "Color Balance", then add magenta, take away colors, etc.

Another thing would be changing the Contrast and/or Brightness. Top Menu "Image" -> "Adjustments" -> "Brightness Contrast". Generally, vintage Polaroid is Higher in Contrast but Lower in Brightness.

One more thing may be playing with the Hue/Saturation. Top Menu "Image" -> "Adjustments" -> "Hue/Saturation". Once you play around with all of these settings, you can get a vintage look to even the clearest of photos.

Good Luck

Answer 4

Photoshop Elements 5.0 will do just the trick. I am taking a class on it now and you would not believe its capabilities if you have never used it. They are outstanding. I was considering purchasing Photochop CS2 (I think that is it) and I talked to a friend of mine, who owns a very high-scale studio. She said that it was a waste of money. Go with the 5.0. She uses it exclusively and has never needed the newer version or any of its features.

Answer 5

Any camera should do it. Try taking a photo through an ellipse torn out of a piece of card to give a vignette appearance.
Put a piece of panty hose in front of the lens to make the focus softer.
Print in brown tones and white.

Answer 6

Those were shot with a polaroid camera!

Use one of them and type 669 film and your good to go.

(You can often find the cameras at thrift stores, but be sure it works.)