Instant: The Story of Polaroid"Pictures in a minute!" In the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, Polaroid was the hottest technology company on Earth. They were an innovation machine that cranked out one irresistible product after another. It was even the company after which Steve Jobs is said to have modeled Apple, and the comparison is true. Jobs's hero, Edwin Land, Polaroid's visionary founder, turned his 1937 garage startup into a billion-dollar pop-culture phenomenon. Instant: The Story of Polaroid, a richly illustrated, behind-the-scenes look at the company, tells the tale of Land's extraordinary and beloved invention. From the introduction of Polaroid's first instant camera in 1948 to its meteoric rise and dramatic collapse into bankruptcy in the 2000s, Instant is both a cautionary tale about tech companies that lose their edge and a remarkable story of American ingenuity. Written in a breezy, accessible tone by New York magazine senior editor Chris Bonanos, this first book-length history of Polaroid also features colorful illustrations from Polaroid's history, including the company's iconic branding and marketing efforts. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Andy Warhol Ansel Adams artist asked became began Bert Stern Bill McCune black-and-white Booth called Cambridge Chuck Close color company’s corporate Danny Kim darkroom David decades DiCamillo digital camera dyes early Edwin Land employees engineer factory Giambarba going Harvard idea instant cameras instant film instant photography instant pictures integral film invention Kaps Land’s later layer lens light look Lucas Samaras Marie Cosindas Meroë million MIT Museum Morse movie Museum named negative once OneStep Pace Gallery patents percent Petters photographer picture-taking plastic Polacolor polarizing Polaroid camera Polaroid Corporation Polaroid film Polaroid photography Polaroid photos Polaroid pictures Polavision portrait problem recalls Robert Mapplethorpe says sell shareholders sheet Sheldon Buckler shooting shot sold soon Stanley Gold started sunglasses Ted Voss There’s thing told took turned Walker Evans wanted Wensberg York