In 2006, photographer Tim Mantoani was sensing a major shift in the photographic industry as shooters began to move away from film and towards digital media.
So over Christmas, Mantoani, who had shot with film for most of his career until then, decided to rent a massive 20x24 Polaroid camera, "knowing that the opportunity to shoot on this format would most likely be limited," he told Business Insider.
He knew he wanted to shoot something special with the massive camera, so he invited over two of his photographer friends, Jim Marshall and Michael Zagaris. "I asked each of them to bring in a few of their most iconic or favorite shots and I made my first portraits on this format. The process for both myself and subjects was special," Mantoani said. He knew he was on to something.
Since then, Mantoani has photographed 150 photographers from California to Boston. He says the process was organic and happened somewhat by chance. "One referral and shoot led to the next," he said. The subjects wrote about their experiences on Mantoani's Polaroid prints.
"My hope is that people understand that cameras don’t make photographs, photographers do. Without the incredible dedication and passion of these image makers, these moments would not exist," Mantoani said.
His series, titled "Behind Photographs," has been compiled in a book which you can purchase here.
"Customs, 1972. I was traveling with the Stones and we were crossing from Canada back into the U.S.—milling about. I saw the sign and called Keith over and took two frames—then I looked up for Mick (thinking I’d get them both— 'Jagger-Richards aka The Glimmer Twins'). The customs official noticed us and barked, 'Stop right away or we’ll confiscate the film'. I stopped. I knew what I had and didn’t want to lose it." — Ethan Russell
"John Lennon asked me to come to his penthouse apartment on the east side of New York to take pictures for the cover of his ‘Walls + Bridges’ album. After we took a series of portraits for the record cover, we took some informal shots to use for publicity. I asked him if he still had the New York City t-shirt I had given him a year earlier and he went and put it on and we made this photo." — Bob Gruen
"Originally an inside opener for Rolling Stone cover story of Nirvana in conjunction with the release of 'In Utero,' my first Polaroid (with negative) was by far the most emotional and revealing of his spirit. Two months later Kurt died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. This photograph became the memorial RS cover." — Mark Seliger
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
