PolaCon Bay Area officially opened Friday evening with a party at McTeague’s Saloon, conveniently located just around the corner from Glass Key Photo for anyone who needed to stock up on film or peruse their selection of analog gear and supplies before we got to shooting.

This year saw the fourth iteration of the Bay Area event (2021 being held virtually), which sees scores of photographers from across the US and even Canada come together to indulge in their love of instant film and participate in photo walks, chats, and demos throughout the weekend. After attending the Texas con, Brian Brooks of the SF Instant Camera Walk convinced them to try a satellite event in the Bay Area. PolaCon was conceived by Instant Film Society out of Texas, which has held the event in Dallas and Denton every September since 2016. At every iteration of PolaCon creativity is encouraged, innovations are exchanged, and friendships are forged. This “Day Zero” photowalk marked the beginning of PolaCon BayArea, a four day celebration of instant film, photography, and, most important of all, the camaraderie of the community.

Armed with umbrellas and raincoats while juggling cameras, the unseasonably rainy weather could not dampen the spirits of the dozen or so intrepid photographers gathered together for a pre-PolaCon stroll through San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, a little pre-party kick-off and a preview of the long weekend to come.

Instant street view 2020