What is a
20x24camera?
The 20×24 Polaroid is one of the largest format cameras ever produced, and only 5 were made. The cameras were huge, and produced larger than life photographs. The camera was lent or rented to famous photographers and artists, like Andy Warhol, Mary Ellen Mark, Chuck Close, Elsa Dorfman, William Wegman, among many others. Over the years, the chemistry and film became harder and harder to find, and to be able to use one of the original cameras today is rare.
Very few people have ever been able to shoot with and get to know these cameras, and they stand as feats in the history of analog. It’s always been a dream of mine to shoot with one.
Why did I get to use it?
In 2021, Ethan Moses, a modern camera genius, made his own version of the 20x24 polaroid. His 20x24 large format camera + self developing backs utilize the direct positive reversal process to make instamatic type prints, similar to that of the original polaroids.
Many years ago when I found out about the coveted 20x24 polaroid cameras, I wrote it down in my journal that one day I would shoot with one of them. I told myself maybe l'd get to own one. In 2021, I heard whispers of an inventor named Ethan Moses and that he had made his own 20x24 camera.
Eventually I met Ethan at a film photography gathering, and | remember thinking that I couldn't believe I had met the guy who made his own 20x24 camera. He was in town to host some workshops with the camera, and I wanted to go, but couldn’t justify the expense. A couple weeks later, I messaged Ethan to offer to sit in front of the camera for the workshop students since he was looking for models—I just wanted to see the camera.
He told me he didn't need me, but then he messaged me again a bit later and said "Everyone keeps telling me about you. 'Oh that's Nat they’re great!' ... Who are you?" A couple hours after that, I recieved a phone call from him and he said "I want you to come to the studio and use the camera for the whole day and shoot whatever you want, and make a video about it." Of course I said yes. After we got off the phone I called everyone I knew to tell them. I had just been telling my friends about the workshop experience and what a 20x24 polaroid was and how I wished I could go, and now I was getting the whole day to shoot with the camera by myself. I couldn't believe it. I spent the day with Ethan and shot 7 different photos on his amazing camera. It was an experience I will really never forget.