How To Take Great Photos with a Kodak Instamatic
Kodak Instamatic 100
The Kodak Instamatic The Kodak Instamatic was one of the first commercially successful “point-and-shoot” cameras. The first Instamatic went on sale early in 1963.
A new series of Instamatics was introduced in 1970 to take advantage of the new Magicube flash technology. Magicubes were an improvement over flashcubes in that the need for batteries was now eliminated.
Okay, now I know you’re probably wondering why in the world would I be talking about a camera technology that is over 40 years old. Well, there’s a big lesson in all of this and you’re about to find out.
The Assignment
Move forward a few decades later. I’m in college and am taking a second level photography class that’s required in my studio arts degree. In the first level photography class we learned about cameras, how to develop black and white film, how to compose a photo and so on.
In the second level class, on day two the instructor walked into class and nodded to everyone. Then a big smile came across his face. “Class”, he said, “I would like you to forget about everything you’ve learned about exposure settings, depth of field and ISO in the first level class.”
“We are now going to learn how to take a great photo without relying on camera settings.” He continued, ”What I want you to do is to go home, place your cameras in storage, and then head out to your local Goodwill store to purchase the least expensive camera can you can find. A Kodak Instamatic would be ideal.”
“When you get your camera, I want you to go out and take the most interesting photos you can. I also want you to manipulate any of the settings available to get the best shot that you can. Bring your photos to our next class and we’ll have a class critique… we’ll see you then.”
Obviously we were a bit puzzled by this request, but we all got up and headed out. I went out and found a used Kodak Instamatic with a Magicube attached. The Magicube (also known as a flashcube) was a four sided cube, with a small flash bulb on each side. You would shoot a photo with the flash and the magic cube would rotate 90 degrees to the next unused bulb. They were simple but very easy to use.
The Lessons Learned
Now for the lessons learned. I went out and started taking a few photos. I remember how simple it was. All I had to do was point and shoot. There was no focus to adjust, no exposure setting to make or any adjustment to the shutter setting. All I had to do was worry about the image in the viewfinder.
What I did worry about was whether I was taking an interesting photo, was it well composed and, oddly enough, what are those people who are looking at me thinking about some idiot who’s getting down on his knees to compose a picture with a cheap camera.
Well enough said, this was a valuable learning experience for me. Now to answer the question of “How To Take Great Photos With A Kodak Instamatic”. What I discovered here is that it’s not really the camera that matters most when trying to take a great photo, a great photo happens when you’re able to focus more on the subject matter at hand.
Think Instamatic, Not Leica
We lose so many photo opportunities because we’re either not ready for them while they happen we’re distracted by the need to adjust our camera settings, letting that great photo opportunity just pass us by. Just think of all the great photos we’d have if we weren’t distracted. We’d never lose those great candid shots with a trusty old Kodak Instamatic.
Links To Photographs Shot With A Kodak Instamatic
1056 Penzance August 1976 – peter.brabham posted a photo:. 1056 Penzance August 1976. 1056 Western Sultan Penzance Terminus Taken with a Kodak instamatic and Kodak print film.
Instamatic Photos at PBase.com - PBase was conceived in July of 1999 after observing countless camera wielding people that take cool photos but find it difficult to share their work. The primary mission of PBase is to be the best place on the web to display photos.
1976 My First Photo – Marineland on Flickr – Photo Sharing! – This is the first photograph I remember ever taking. It was 1976, I was eight-years-old and our family was visiting Niagara Falls. My sister let me borrow her Kodak 110 Instamatic camera to take this shot at Marineland and Game Farm.
Plymouth August 1974 – peter.brabham posted a photo:. Plymouth August 1974. Unidentified Western at Plymouth Summer Holidays August 1974 Taken with a Kodak instamatic and Kodak print film when I was 13 years old.
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