Julia Beyer - Our World In Flames

Julia Beyer - Our World In Flames

Julia Beyer’s world is on fire. She recently returned from a trip to Iceland where she used Expired Polaroid Time Zero film to create scenes that transformed the wilderness around her into psychedelic fantasies. Beyer has managed to capture one of the most beautiful locations on earth and turn it into a flaming dreamscape suitable only for an adventure from reality. - Michael Behlen
“I don’t have any interest to capture the scene like I see it right before my eyes - then I could as well shoot digital - but I love to add another, dreamlike dimension to it through the (mostly) expired chemistry with beautifully flawed results.”
The landscapes she captures are exquisitely flawed from the expired chemistry in the expired film she uses that echo the increasing reality of our world heating up. You can easily project that the surreal views she presents represent not only our dying world, but the need to escape the harsh truths of humanities’ grim future. The blue hues and golden flames that engulf the natural wonders she travels to exemplify the increasingly sparse true wilderness areas of our world that are slowly growing up in flames. When asked about her experiences visiting Iceland this year in July 2018 she described the country as a place of pure beauty that is one of the last places on earth - raw and majestic, yet still vast and intimidating. She noted that because many of the regions of Iceland are not inhabited it is easy to feel like you are alone on this planet, however, this feeling fades when you start to notice how humans have permanently changed this land for the worse. After the initial shock of beauty, Beyer was left with feelings of sadness while observing the rapidly receding glaciers, mindless tourists littering everywhere and treading on delicate moss that will take years to naturally regrow. Though Beyer’s images transport us to these dark and mysterious places, she has no intention of us staying there. Beyer’s other artistic talents extend to music where she performs vocals in the Germany based dreampop band, Chandeen. Here, her melancholy voice is placed on top of dreamy trip hop synth backings that explore the sadness that is present even when the beats tell us otherwise. Beyer’s has been producing records with Chandeen since 2007, which is where she first encountered the world of expired Polaroid film. In 2008, French Polaroid photographer Emilie Lefellic filmed and produced the music video for “Welcome the Still” using various mediums including expired Polaroid film which upon its viewing, mesmerized Beyer with its unique and satisfying beauty. - Michael Behlen (analogforevermagazine)
The SX-70 Treasure
It wasn’t until 2016 that Beyer finally had the opportunity to obtain packs of expired Time Zero, the film that sparked her love for instant film. During a tour of the Polaroid production plant in Enschede in the Netherlands, now owned and run by Polaroid Originals, she made the acquaintance of a friendly elderly couple who came to know Beyer’s love for the medium via her obvious enthusiasm.
'Svartifoss' Expired Polaroid Time Zero Film - 2018
The Package
Though she received a curious frown from the husband, perhaps in confusion on why she would want such old film, she soon had boxes of Polaroid Time Zero film on doorstep. Beyer clearly remembers the day the package arrived as a monumental event in her photographic life. She promised to herself the moment she opened the package that she would only use the film for something absolutely special.
'Land of Bliss' - Expired Polaroid Time Zero Film - 2018
Her stock of expired Polaroid Time Zero film is dwindling.
As of today, she has just two packs left. The ironic part of her dying film stock is that though Polaroid Originals may have the research and development to recreate this iconic film, it can’t be produced anymore due to the toxic chemicals that were used when it was originally produced. It seems fitting that the medium she captured the disappearing Icelandic environment on, will soon be no more as well.
'My Tears Are Becoming A Sea' - Expired Polaroid Time Zero Film - 2018
Imminent loss and mourning
When asked about her film predicament she shared with us: “My limited and dwindling stock of Time Zero film is rather giving me a feeling of great nostalgia. Things you know from your childhood or adolescence that are slowly disappearing, breaking, discontinued or lost. It's a feeling of inevitable imminent loss and mourning. Time Zero film often makes me wish to be able to time travel. I wish I had discovered instant photography sooner.”.
'Seltún' - Expired Polaroid Time Zero Film - 2018