The Instant Film Society, joined by FilmPhotographic and Denton Camera Exchange, present the first annual PolaCon, a convention, conference, and meet-up for instant film photographers and enthusiasts.

#PolaCon2016 will feature special guest speakers and photographers, panel discussions, a “swap meet” area, an instant film exhibition, pop-up galleries, 8x10 demos and photobooth, as well as film- and camera-specific talks, walks and meet-ups. And we promise more great, BIG surprises.



The first PolaCon2016 coincides with the IFS' 5th annual #PolaWalk at the State Fair of Texas. And for the 5th anniversary, we’re planning two instant film scavenger hunts for cool prizes. (PolaWalks in North Texas have drawn as few as 12 photographers that very first IFS meet-up to as many as 83 instant film shooters. And we’re hoping to see more than 100 instant film photographers grouped together in one frame this year. So, pack your camera bags, and join us!)



Some events will be open to the public, but other programming will have to be limited to RSVP’d guests due to venue limitations.

We're pleased that Patrick Tobin from Impossible Project will be joining us all weekend! More details below.

QUESTIONS?



HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ATTEND? While there is no fee for registration to attend PolaCon’s daytime programing, talks, PolaWalks and other events, attendees will need to purchase tickets to the State Fair ($16 online, $18 at the gate), as well as any evening concerts, cab/Uber rides, plays, ghost tours, etc. in the evenings. Here's the link for tickets to the State Fair: http://www.etix.com/ticket/v/11680/state-fair-of-texas-online?partner_id=1385&_ga=1.30842303.1660225290.1472149181

SHOULD I PACK FILM, OR WILL THERE BE FILM TO BUY? On Friday, Don's Photo Equipment in Dallas is your best bet for restocking your camera bags. Don’s won a Dallas Observer Best Of award in 2012 for “Best Place to Buy an Old Camera.” Don’s is opened from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Friday, and the shop stocks all types of commercially available instant film, as well as a number of used Polaroid cameras. (Including FP-3000B and FP-100C) Don and Todd Puckett will be diving into their reserves for “Polaroid back stock” and promise to be selling some Polaroid cameras, expired film, 8x10 processors, and other instant film rarities.

Impossible Project’s Patrick Tobin will be at Don’s from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. for in-store demos. [Check this link out for more info on Patrick, who has been with Impossible since May 2011 – when Impossible’s first color film for 600 cameras was introduced: https://blog.the-impossible-project.com/meet-impossible-usa-patrick-tobin-customer-services-manager]

For the rest of the weekend, Denton Camera Exchange is a retail camera shop just a block away from the historic downtown Square. The shop’s owner Armand Kohandani stocks the shelves of an old pharmacy with new, used and antique cameras and other photography related supplies and rarities. And film!! From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Denton Camera Exchange will have a variety of Impossible and Fujifilm films in stock, as well as dozens of different models of Polaroid cameras available. It’s worth noting that DCE is one of the coolest camera stores in North America, and the shelves are stocked with hundreds of collectible, working film cameras and cool photography ephemera. (Check out this article to see for yourself: http://petapixel.com/2015/02/07/denton-camera-exchange-camera-retail-outlet-denton-texas/)

Impossible Project’s Patrick Tobin will be at Denton Camera Exchange from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday for in-store demos.



WHERE TO STAY IN DENTON? Denton is located 40 miles north of Dallas, 25 miles north of Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) airport and 36 miles north of Dallas Love Field (DAL) airport.

Denton has a number of great affordable lodging options – located within a 2-mile radius from the historic downtown "Square." The area surrounding the Courthouse on the Square is packed with great restaurants, coffee houses, two fantastic record stores, bars (from dive bars to drafthouses to cocktail bars), clubs, boutique stores and antique shops, one of the best used book stores in the US (Recycled Books, Records, & CDs) is housed in an old opera house, several live music venues, Midway Mart!!, colorful murals that make for fantastic backdrops, J&J’s Pizza (open ‘til midnight!) and the charmingly picturesque Beth Marie's Old Fashioned Ice Cream & Soda Fountain. And we should mention Tortilleria La Sabrocita, which will be open 24 hours on Friday and Saturday.



But, back to lodging… PolaCon isn’t like some fancy pants book-a-room-for-you convention. No, this is more of a “Choose Your Own Adventure” kind of thing. So, whether you want to crash on a couch at a friend’s place or on a king-size at one of the many family-friendly hotels, Denton has everything from less-than family-friendly Interstate-side “cheap motels” to pet-friendly inns and suites to RV parks to charming, picturesque bed-and-breakfasts, the latter of which is clearly the best choice – before they get booked up. If you really want a “Texas experience,” according to Discover Denton, there’s even a ranch with grazing buffalo. Click here to check out all the accommodations: http://www.discoverdenton.com/where-to-stay/

Also, Airbnb shows a dozen listings within a 3-mile radius of The Square.



More info on The Square: http://www.discoverdenton.com/what-to-do/shopping/downtown-square/

WHAT ABOUT TRANSPORTATION? All of the events are designed to be “walkable.” But attendees will need to secure transportation to Denton. Obviously, DFW has tons of rental car shops, or you can hitch a ride with a local photographer you know (or one you meet). Cabs are über expensive in North Texas, but, luckily, Uber & Lyft are present in Denton and Dallas. See below for an updated that includes public transportation options, including info on the train line that runs from Dallas to Denton.



WHAT ABOUT THE EVENTS AND MEET-UPS?

Friday, September 30 -- DALLAS

4 p.m to 10 p.m. – Deep Ellum meet-up & mini #PolaWalk to Fair Park. Meet at 4 p.m. at Cold Beer Company 3600 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226. Then we'll walk to Fair Park

for The 5th Annual Rain-or-Shine #PolaWalk at The State Fair of Texas meet-up at Big Tex at 7 p.m for the big group portrait, camera swaps, scavenger hunt, followed by a “Neon at Night” walk in Deep Ellum. (Meet *BEHIND* Big Tex! You should see the back of his boots!) If you can't make it due to traffic (or don't want to walk from CBC), then we'll meet at 7 p.m. and then meet-up again at 8:30 p.m. inside The Tower Building in Fair Park. And we'll post meet-up locations on Instagram under #PolaWalk and #PolaWalkTX.



3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Impossible Project’s Patrick Tobin will be at Don's Photo Equipment at 2731 Irving Boulevard

Dallas, Texas 75207. [ https://blog.the-impossible-project.com/meet-impossible-usa-patrick-tobin-customer-services-manager ] Don's opens at 10 a.m.







Saturday, October 1 – DENTON

8 a.m. – Coffee, Bluegrass, and “Instant Film 101” Workshop and PolaWalk [discussing pro-tips and the basics]. Meet at West Oak Coffee Bar (say you're with the Instant Film Society before you order for a discount). After folks grab a pastry and some espresso, we'll start walking at about 8:15 a.m.





10 a.m. to 6 p.m. -- at the historic Evers Hardware Building at 109 W. Hickory St. (Built on Denton's Courthouse Square back in 1913, today the Evers Hardware houses the Norman Roscoe LLC Pop-Up.)



• Pop-up “Instant Film Museum” with an Interactive Instant Film Timeline

• 90-minute hands-on “Pack Film 101" Workshop and PolaWalk around Denton’s historic town square with Steven and Erin Reeves of MakeShift Photography.

• Lift/transfer demonstration, with James Eakins ( @broaddaylight, dreaminginfilm.com)

• 90-minute hands-on “Instant Film 101 Workshop” session, with Jessica Reinhardt AKA @jetsetter23 (Co-Host of The Instant Photo Show Podcast), limited seating

• 8X10 demos and workshops (one with Justin Goode and Armand Kohandani, Instant Film Society, and another with James Eakins and Jessica Reinhardt)

• An 8X10 “photobooth” and a Warhol-style Polaroid Big Shot photobooth

• A how-to session on instant-film travel journals with Anne Holland, limited seating.

• “Scanning, printing and enlarging your Polaroids” demo and talk with MakeShift Photography.

• Impossible Instant Lab demo

• Impossible I-1 camera demo and best practices session, with Andy Odom, Instant Film Society (@andyo7)

• New 55 demo and walk with Troy Bradford, Instant Film Society (@troybradfordphotos)

•Zine & photobook self-publishing discussion with Nate Matos, publisher of Serif & Silver, Blandscapes: http://www.natematos.com/about-nate-matos/

• Backdrops, props and other surprises.

• Live screen-printed instant film merch

• Vendors, photobook and instant-film zine area.

• “Swap meet” area

• “Happy Hour” charity auction

• “Twilight with Toby” PolaWalk focusing on sunset/dusk and neon with “President Zoltar” @tobySX70





Sunday, October 2 – DENTON

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Denton Camera Exchange 117 Piner St, Denton, TX 76201

3 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Patterson-Appleton Arts Center 400 E Hickory St, Denton, TX 76201



• A 2016 “State of the Emulsion” Address

• “Live with The Instant Photo Show Podcast”

• Book "debut" and talk with Jason Lee about his soon-to-be-released Refueled Magazine One Series photobook “Jason Lee Vol. 1: Instant Film.” Followed by a conversation and Q-and-A with attendees. (Check out this great piece on the photobook: https://www.format.com/magazine/features/photography/jason-lee-interview-photography )

• Moderated Q-and-A with Impossible Project’s Patrick Tobin, who has been with Impossible since May 2011 – when Impossible’s first color film for 600 cameras was introduced.

• Featured photographer talks and meet-and-greets at Denton Camera Exchange

• Panel discussion

• Announce winners of scavenger hunts and photo contests.

• Workshop ideas for #PolaCon2017

• Wrap party





STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION AS IT DEVELOPS…



UPDATES:

IS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE? Yes, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) operates in Dallas County and the Denton County Operates Authority (DCTA) operates in Denton County. DART bus route 524 connects Love Field Airport to the Green and Orange lines at Inwood/Love Field Station. DFW Airport Station at DFW Airport is located at the north end of Terminal A; in-airport shuttles can be used to get to the terminal.



To get to the State Fair, you may take any Green Line train marked with Buckner Station as its final destination and get off at Fair Park Station. DART will also have trains mark Special Event or Fair Park.



To get to Denton from the State Fair Friday night, you will need to board the Green Line (to North Carrolton/Frankford Station) at Fair Park Station at 9:31 p.m (this is the last connecting train for the night). Get off at Trinity Mills Station (second to last station) at 10:24 p.m. and transfer to DCTA’s A-Train. From there ride the train all the way to Downtown Denton Transit Center (DDTC) Station (604 E Hickory St, Denton, TX 76205).



Please be aware that DCTA does not operate on Sundays.



Ticket Prices: DART and DCTA are two separate entities. If you need to ride DART or DCTA only, you will need a Local ticket from the respective agency. If you need to ride both, you may purchase a Regional ticket. Tickets may be purchased at any ticket vending machine (at all train stations), with any bus operator (exact fare only) or through the GoPass app (for Android and iOS).

– DART 2-Hour Local Pass: $2.50

– DART Local Day Pass: $5.00

– DCTA 2-Hour Local Pass: $3.00

– Regional 2-Hour Pass: $5.00

– Regional Day Pass: $10.00



DART Rail schedules: http://dart.org/schedules/schedules.asp

DCTA A-Train schedule: https://www.dcta.net/routes-schedules/a-train/a-train-schedule