Short Summary
HI! My name is Cory Cannella. I am a traditionally trained photographer and firefighter-paramedic from Houston, Texas. During a recent trip to Southeast Asia, I decided to purchase and take along a new Polaroid 300 camera and about 200 frames of film to hand out to people that I photographed. It is one thing to ask to photograph someone, then show them the little screen on your digital camera and then that is it. They walk away with nothing. Now, they have an instant photograph as a keepsake for themselves and their families. It is safe to say that 99% of my subjects never heard of let alone have seen a Polaroid photo before. What started out as a good will gesture turned into a project for me-Project Polaroid. To see the joy on the faces from what to me was such a simple gesture. I immediately knew this was something I wanted to do again in the future and on a much larger scale. Many people I also photographed with my Nikon DSLR, others I just used the Polaroid, and some received more than one photo for their family.
I intend on traveling back to Southeast Asia to visit the areas that I missed in February 2013. Throughout 2014, I would like to travel to China, South America, Papua New Guinea and possibly Africa and India. Anywhere that there is a population that does not have the access to the technology of simple photography is potentially on my list. I have also added another aspect to the original idea. For future visits, I would like to take along extra Polaroid instant cameras and film to donate to villages along the way. I will teach several people in each village how to load and operate the cameras. This will allow people that have never seen instant photography the ability to capture important and special occasions within the daily life of the village. At the conclusion of 2014, I would like to produce an exhibition along with a book of my subjects.
It is important to note that, although I have been in contact with the Polaroid Corporation regarding possible sponsorship of the project, at this time, Project Polaroid is unaffiliated and not funded by the Polaroid Corporation.
How can you take part?
Donations to the project goes to supplement travel expenses, the cost for interpreters (as needed), and the purchase of as many Polaroid PIC 300 cameras and as much Polaroid film as possible for each journey. My initial goal is $7500. However, the more money I can raise, the more countries I can visit and the more instant photographs and cameras I can take to hand out.
The Impact
Be an ambassador of giving and goodwill. Your contribution to Project Polaroid helps place instant photographs and instant photography in the hands of people around the globe that would otherwise never have access to such a simple pleasure. A small token for a family to pass on, or just a keepsake of loved ones to be displayed in their homes, as we do right here in America.