In a world where digital reigns supreme, Polaroid continues to take steps to bridge the gap between the analog past and the digital present. The all-new Polaroid I-2 instant camera just launched, and it’s redefining the boundaries of instant photography. This high-end camera marries the timeless charm of analog photography with cutting-edge technology, giving photographers a new experience.

It took four years to bring the I-2 to life and here’s a video sharing the story behind the new instant camera:



Polaroid Chairman, Oskar Smolokowski, expressed the company’s vision saying, “For a long time, it was our dream to make a high-end Polaroid camera and give people more choice in the world of analog photography – a choice that many passionate photographers told us they were craving.” And with the I-2, that dream has become a reality.

The heart of the Polaroid I-2 is its continuous autofocus three-lens system, which boasts the sharpest lens ever featured in a Polaroid instant camera. This lens, developed in collaboration with Japanese optical engineers, delivers unrivaled image quality and depth of field thanks to its wide aperture. But what sets the I-2 apart is its LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensor, which accurately detects the distance to the subject and auto-adjusts the lens for pinpoint focus, even in challenging lighting conditions.

In addition, the I-2 is the first Polaroid instant camera for integral film that grants you full manual control. With a large, bright viewfinder and an integrated display, you can select shutter speed, aperture size, and one of six shooting modes directly on the camera. The result? More creative freedom in your instant photography endeavors.

Photographers love options, and the Polaroid I-2 delivers just that. It’s the first instant camera compatible with i-Type, 600, and SX-70 films, ensuring you can find a favorite that works best for your vision. Plus, the built-in lens thread mount supports 49mm filters, allowing you to experiment with different effects and styles.

The I-2’s design is a celebration of both form and function. It’s crafted from high-quality materials and maintains the distinctive Polaroid look while adding modern elements. The camera’s exterior is built around the lens and manual controls, elevating the ease of use in order to maximize one’s experience.

To bring the I-2 into the digital age, Polaroid has equipped it with Bluetooth connectivity. This means you can easily upgrade your camera’s firmware and have complete remote control via the accompanying app. It’s a nod to the future while preserving the analog magic of instant photography.

The Polaroid I-2 instant camera is available for purchase at polaroid.com and additional retailers starting at $599.99 for the camera itself, with the option to upgrade to the Polaroid I-2 Travel Set for $669.98, which includes the camera, premium case, and two packs of film.

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Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

Acclaimed nature photographer Patricia Caulfield, who successfully sued Andy Warhol over his use of her photo of flowers, has died at the age of 91.

Caulfield, who also served as executive editor of Modern Photography magazine in the 1960s, died on July 16 at an assisted living facility in Manhattan, New York.

The photographer’s death was confirmed by her sister and only immediate survivor Kathleen Hall.

Caulfield won a legal battle against Warhol after the pop artist misappropriated her photo of hibiscus blossoms for his renowned Flowers series.

Caulfield’s case bears some similarities to photographer Lynn Goldsmith’s lawsuit against The Andy Warhol Foundation over the artist’s use of her photo of Prince.

According to an obituary to the photographer shared on Echovita, Caulfield moved to New York City in the late 1950s and worked in a camera store.

Her perseverance and dedication to photography led Caulfield to get an entry-level position as a secretary at Modern Photography magazine. She worked at the magazine for over a decade before she advanced to the position of the magazine’s executive editor in 1964.

The Photographer’s Lawsuit Against Andy Warhol

During her time at Modern Photography, Caulfield had many photographs published in the magazine. One of her most famous photos was of a hibiscus blossoms in an arrangement that she took at a restaurant in Barbados.

Caulfield’s photos of the hibiscus blossoms were printed in the June 1964 issue of Modern Photography to illustrate an article on a new Kodak home color processing system.

The New York Times reports that Warhol contacted Modern Photography magazine to buy Caulfield’s photo — but felt the price was too high.

According to Caulfield’s lawsuit, Warhol instead clipped her photo straight from the pages of the magazine, cropped it, and used it as the basis for his iconic silkscreen paintings which became known as his Flowers series.

Warhol’s Flowers series was first shown at the Leo Castelli Gallery in Manhattan in November 1964 and went on to become some of his most renowned and commercially successful works of art.

When Caulfield discovered that Warhol had used her photograph without her consent in his Flowers series, she sued him. In 1966, the lawsuit was settled out of court in Caulfield’s favor.

As part of a settlement that Caulfield and Warhol eventually reached, he created two new Flowers paintings for her and agreed to pay her a 25% share of the royalties derived from a portfolio of the prints.

A Life Dedicated to Photography

According to The New York Times, Caulfield later left Modern Photography in 1967 to pursue a career as a photojournalist. Her photographs during this time reflected her growing passion for environment and wildlife.

Caulfield published several books including Complete Guide to Kodachrome II, Beginner’s Guide to Better Pictures, Photographing Wildlife, and The Everglades which presented 66 of her photographs.

“I guess there’s the hope somebody may see my photographs and think, ‘that’s a wonderful animal, maybe it’s worth making an effort to save,’” Caulfield reportedly told the Knight-Ridder News Wire in 1977.

“But at least I’m effective in making a record of something before it all gets ruined.”

Image credits: Header photo via Echovita.

A photojournalist operating in a small town sustained a serious injury after he was run over by the mayor’s truck during a dispute over parking.

Fox 2 cameraman Wade Smith was with reporter Mitch McCoy in the village of Hillsdale, Missouri to investigate why the local authority there had been threatening to tow multiple cars for not displaying village permit stickers.

After speaking with Police Chief John Bernsen, the journalists wanted to speak with Dorothy Moore who is the “chair of the board of trustees”, a position that is also known as the mayor.

Moore, who presides over Hillsdale — a municiplatiy in St. Louis County that has a population of around 8,100 — has a history of not talking to reporters; going so far as to have a sign erected in the village barring members of the media.

Things Get Strange

The police chief denied that the mayor was at the Village Hall, but the journalists could hear her talking inside. After waiting for around an hour, with McCoy shouting outside to request an interview, the mayor makes a hasty exit out of the back door and dashes toward the truck.

The photographer alerts the journalist to the escaping mayor and Smith runs over to ask her questions. “Why are you avoiding us?” Asks Smith. “Mayor, people want to know, what’s going on with these tickets?”

The mayor climbs into the passenger seat as a municipality worker starts the engine from the driver’s seat. As Smith shouts questions at the mayor, the driver gets ready to pull off which is when the footage cuts because it’s the last image that Smith captured before getting run over by the trailer attached to the truck.

After Smith was run over, an ambulance arrived to take the stricken photographer to the hospital where he underwent emergency surgery on his leg.

To make matters worse, the Hillsdale worker, who was told to drive away by the mayor, saw the lensman on the ground in his rearview mirror but tells police he was unaware Smith had been hit.

Arrest

Fox 2 has taken the decision not to air the footage of the photographer being run over because there is now an active police investigation. The unnamed Hillsdale employee driving the truck has been arrested and released pending a prosecutor’s review to decide if charges will be filed.

The photographer is now at home recovering from his injuries.