Sarah and Leah are photographing themselves with my Polaroid camera from the 70s.Their laughter ringing out, they use up the last existing films, the ultimate representatives of an extinct species. These elves of the digital age are having a ball with a gizmo that needs no battery or electronics. How is that even possible? Diligently, they insert the film, pull the tab, measure the light, set the speed and aperture, cock the shutter, remove the dark slide, focus, shoot, then pull out the still-wrapped photo and count the seconds, determined by the temperature. Finally, their slim fingers peel off, still humid from the odorous chemicals, the newly born image, trace of the instant already gone by. ‘Look!’, they seem to be telling us, ‘This is how we were!’. And after having revealed that everything vanishes with time, the last Polaroids take away with them the imprint of their laughter.
Sarah et Leah se photographient avec mon Polaroid des seventies. Elles rient en consumant les derniers films existants, ultimes représentants d’une espèce éteinte. Ces fées de l’âge numérique s’amusent de la chose qui fonctionne sans pile, sans batterie, sans électronique. Par quel prodige ? Appliquées, elles insèrent le film, tirent la languette, mesurent la lumière, arment l’obturateur, ôtent le volet, mettent au point, déclenchent, extraient l’image encore emballée et comptent les secondes –d’après la température. Enfin leurs fins doigts effeuillent, toute humide de chimie odorante, l’image à peine née, trace de cet instant qui n’existe déjà plus. Regardez, semblent-elles nous dire, ainsi étions-nous ! Et, leur ayant révélé que tout disparaissait, les derniers Polaroid emportent avec eux l’empreinte de leurs rires.
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