For some time I've really wanted to get a Polaroid instant camera. There's something so gratifying about hearing that click-whirr and seeing the picture form before your eyes.

I've also been itching to get back into the groove of taking pictures. I vowed that the next time I shoot with SLR would be on a digital Canon SLR (unfortunately this costs $$$$). The perfect transition camera until I get a digital SLR is obviously an outdated 1980s camera.

I got this camera for three main reasons:

• There's a small photography project I've been itching to do, and it requires a Polaroid.
• It teaches good composition skills
• There's something inherently romantic about the Polaroids. These things were light-years ahead ... instant photography! In color! Plus just the instant gratification along with the "look" of each Polaroid... notice how when people want to create photogalleries online that look "retro," they use the framing for Polaroids:)

I rely too heavily on the rule of thirds; I think composing pictures in a square is a more difficult task which might teach me better composition. Plus there just seems to be too much of a reliance on "more expensive gadgetry" when it comes to photography. Hopefully I can brush up on my skills using this camera... and maybe I'll even get adventurous enough to buy the original SX-70.

Who knows. But I love this camera already. (too bad film is $30 for 20 prints!)

Pictures of my camera:

Closed camera

Opened camera

Remember, no matter WHAT Outkast tells you, Don't shake it, shake it, shake it like Polaroid pppeeecttttuuurree.