Instantly from Paris how to travel with a Polaroid

I can never go to Paris without a camera, but this time I made a slight change in habit by taking a Polaroid 600 with me. And this has crucially turned over my perspective of travel photography from now on. While Paris is a city of endless inspiration, you will definitely find yourself with a lack of space on your digital memory card to save it all. Once back home, you might find out that you ended up with hundreds of pictures which are not easy to sort or edit. You got overexcited, you had a photography overdose; I get it, I've been there. But this is when a Polaroid would come in handy. 

I took only four packs of film with me, which was just enough for almost a week. While Paris is not a once-in-a-life-time experience for me and I am lucky enough to travel there quite often, I did not feel an urge to document everything at once. Instead I went at a slow pace and shot only those frames that I felt would really work out. Shooting instant photography is a completely different process, and it is so unique you will never get a real feeling for it unless you try it. It is like meditation on the go. It is the excitement of an unexpected result. It is an instant piece of art you created right on the spot, and more! I can talk about polaroids for ages, but what I want to focus on here is the use of such a format while traveling. 

I was surprised to discover how well instant photography fits into a week-long vacation! I took a film for a day (obviously not every day as there is no special need for it while shopping or doing errants), but only for those times when I went out to wander and sightsee. And it turned out to be a challenge to shoot only 8 pictures a day, but I loved that. And if you are already screaming that it is absolutely not enough, I would say that there are too many pictures of Paris shot already, and you can find them online at any time from any location on the planet. But quality over quantity is a thing you can do easily with a Polaroid. 

WHAT TO SHOOT ON A POLAROID IN PARIS? Now that's an easy question; I would say - anything! But of course there are some places that are a definite must-visit and would make a great memory in your travel album.

1. Petit Palais (read our recent article about the Museum) is free to enter and is visually stunning, from the very architecture to the collection of fine art it displays inside. The very special place is its inner garden, where you can have a rest after a long walk with a cup of tea or coffee in their cafeteria. Enjoying yourself in such calm and gorgeous surroundings right in the heart of the city will make your trip a bit more romantic indeed. 

2. Rue Saint-Honoré is of course a place for luxury shopping today (as well as few hundred years ago) and remains one of the most-visited streets of Paris. Start your walk from the Rue Royale and past all the luxury boutiques. Do not miss the very first Chanel Boutique on Rue de Cambon, then come across the Colonne Vendôme that was created by Napoleon's order. If you turn right from that point, you will get to the Ladurée shop on Rue de Castiglione and can treat yourself with a few macaroons (I always do). Later on you will see the Eglise Saint Roch Church that has been there since early 18th century and finish your route at the Palais-Royal - Musée du Louvre metro station.

3. Palais Royal is a place I am always obsessed with and though you can not see it in my polaroids, you will find the inner yard with the iconic black and white columns, the beautiful garden to relax in, and the modern art and old fountains are impressive of course.

4. Louvre and Jardin des Tuileries, the famous museum and the huge garden in the heart of Paris, is a must-visit location on any tourist list. That is why if you are a fan of clear landscapes, I would suggest waking up a bit earlier to have the gardens to yourself (opens at 7am).

5. Le Marais is such a beautiful quarter I will never have enough words to describe all the beautiful places it has, but my favourite spot is the Leopold Achille Square and I find myself always spending a few minutes in there when I visit Paris. Another wonderful green spot is the Jardin des Rosiers-Joseph Migneret with a strong history and stunning architecture inside. And of course our beloved Andrew GN Showroom is a never a bad idea to visit and explore the real artistic spirit of Parisian couture. 

6. Montmartre is the most dense place for sightseeing and attractions, but I would definitely get to the Wall of Love; it is such a beautiful and touching art installation, and yet another reminder of why you actually are in Paris. Get to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica and enjoy the landscape as this spot opens a gorgeous view to the city. Do not forget the La Maison Rose, which is an iconic little pink house located in a very cosy and not loaded with tourists street of Montmartre.

So to summarise my experience on Polaroid while traveling, I would say I fell in love with this format on the go. To tell the truth it is quite unexpected even for me, a lover of any form of photography, but I was amazed on how well it fitted into the trip. My first thought was that it would be impractical, but then I changed my mind after the first film was shot. It was way too fun and exciting to come back home and review the pictures of the day by laying them out on the table. So that said, Polaroid might have a few disadvantages to be considered, but the end result beats them all at once. 

PROS:

• you have a limited amount of pictures and you really chose what to get a shot of, so that helps you create a story and a decent memory out of your trip 

• the colour palette of polaroids is so individual and iconic

• the pictures are "real"; they don't get lost in your digital folders and left there forgotten

• with every shot you get a unique picture that is only one of a kind, sign and sell if that is a masterpiece ;) 

• if you are traveling with your friends, it a a great idea to take a shot, sign it and instantly gift it to them: memories and souvenirs, all at once

CONS:

• you have a limited amount of pictures. If you run out of film until you are satisfied, that might be a bummer

• the camera is not heavy, but bulky, so that might be annoying to carry it around all day long

• the film is quite expensive

SHOP THE POST