As a photographer who is trying to utilize physical media (working against the rise of AI, and the saturation of images on the internet due to globalisation), photographic prints are very important. But what I have found in the past is that framed pictures become boring very fast. Looking at the same picture everyday soon diminishes its value in the eye of the beholder, which is why I have become interested in the smaller print format, which I can chop and change frequently. With this in mind, I recently ordered and received some retro prints from MyPhotobook CH, as I was looking for something similar to the Polaroid look (mainly the format with white border). I expected something like a white bordered print with the square photo, and some writing underneath. What I actually received far surpassed my expectations.
Upon opening the prints, I was immediately greeted by a wonderful sheen to the photos. I next noticed the back to the photos, which with the black square and numbering, certainly looked like some form of instant film. Also, there are faint rivulets underneath the photo. Quite frankly, with the level of detail, I am wondering whether this is instant film. Either way, the price for something as elaborate as this is very, very good.
Next, on to the images themselves. They are certainly impactful to the eye, but I wonder if they are a little too saturated. I believe my monitor is calibrated, so for future prints I’ll have to desaturate my files ever so slightly, but this is really a minor quibble – the prints are great. I wonder whether the increased saturation is part of a process to replicate the Polaroid look, or, if they are instant film, then this is just a result of the formula on the photo paper.
I’ll certainly use this lab again if they are still offering the retro prints. That’s unless I buy myself a Polaroid Lab for personal printing.
Here are the prints in their easy-to-swap photo-holders.
