Polaroid Transfer Art

After shooting black and white infrared images for several years, my friend introduced me to the Polaroid transfer process and I haven't looked back since. I wanted to experiment with other forms of photography and it was fate that the Polaroid transfer process "fell in my lap." The process involves using a Vivitar Slide Printer, Polaroid 669 film, 140 lb Arches hot press watercolor paper and slides. I am taken by the incrediable diversity and the moody, individualized images. I think the reason I am drawn to this alternate process is because it allows me to break the traditional boundaries of photography. I don't have any formal training as a photographer or an artist. My "day job" as a laboratory technician requires me to follow very specific procedures and rules, where there isn't any room for creativity. This extremely structured environment leaves me craving for a creative outlet and the Polaroid transfer process certainly satisfies that craving. Since no two images ever look alike, I am never very certain how the images will turn out. Doing the process is a lot like unwrapping a bunch of birthday presents: one has an IDEA of what you are getting, but one can never really be sure exactly, until its way too late and all the presents are unwrapped. Some of the transfers are what I want, others are not.