5 frames with an Instax Mini 99

Note on the cover photo: It is simply impossible it seems to remove all evidence that I live with too many cats.

This summer I caught the bug, and now absolutely riddled with it, I’ve been outcast from society and told to go by amongst my own like a biblical leper.

In this article I am going to share five frames from my first ever camera. First ever camera being defined as ‘a camera I bought myself for the sole purpose of taking photos,’ thereby excluding phone cameras (going back to my aul Nokia brick) and the disposable cameras that came with us on every holiday we had in the 90s.

It was an honest enough mistake buying my partner an Instax Mini 99, continuing a tradition we have of buying presents that could be shared. The espresso machine she got me still wins in a side-by-side comparison, but that is not what I am here to do. Shortly after her big day we had plans to fly home to Ireland to visit my family and I wanted a way for us to document it other than using our phones. I was eager for her to experience an Irish summer and hoped to catch all three days of it on film.

The idea had come to me at a party. Someone had a Polaroid camera with them and asked to take our photo. We obliged, and it was great that we got to take something tangible home. The lighting was all wrong as we were under a porch with a strong light behind us, yet still it was nice as we had a little keepsake to put up on our fridge. Infact its flaws are part of the charm.

I landed on the Mini 99 for a couple reasons. Firstly, I wanted something that would shoot Instax Mini film as it is relatively cheap compared to other types. Secondly, it had to be analog. Maybe it’s a function of getting older, or the growing pessimism that is replacing my youthful optimism about how technology would transform our lives, but I find myself wanting none of it. As a mean (home) cook I prefer tools that serve one purpose, as the more features a gadget has the more likely it is going to break. Lastly, as an aside, the look was important to me especially considering how garish the Mini 9 is.

The Mini 99 is a great camera, and while this is not a review of it, I would recommend it, for what my recommendation is worth. Using the camera for the first time produced some really amazing results. Some were inexplicably good, and others left me scratching my head as to why it was so awful. Trust me when I say that I learned quickly that it was user error. What I found so satisfying was having something tangible in my hands right there and then. Putting undeveloped slides in my pocket and waiting for a couple of minutes was a joy as I eagerly anticipated how they would turn out. This was a dangerous combination. I was enjoying myself and while I didn’t really know what I was doing I wanted to learn. It felt gratifying and a little exciting – once I pressed the shutter button, I knew that was it – I get what I get. With each shot I wanted to know more, and this led me down rabbit hole that most of you have preceded me down.

Since buying this camera, I’ve bought a 35mm half frame, a 35mm range finder, and a mirrorless. Each is serving its purpose in helping me learn. Check in on that learning process as I share my experiences and what I’ve learned. Hopefully it will give newcomers something to chew on, and old-timers something to chuckle at.

There were a lot of photos to choose from, some much better than the ones below, and some much worse. I asked my partner to pick five, and now it’s my job to justify them. Or not. There have been no edits made. Each is vibrantly flawed in its own way.

The day I arrived in town we had a party at my Nan’s. Cracking out a couple of disposable grills we cooked out on a typical gray summer’s day. I think it perfectly captures the chaos of a family get-together.

Another from that same day. This has a splotch of green paint on it somehow. The sun was low on the horizon, giving it the look of having used one of the color filters in the camera. Speaking of which, I’m yet to find a use for them honestly. I will likely experiment using monochrome film soon in a project inspired by Erin O’Leary who wrote a cool piece on how she used Instax Mini’s to create a collage.

Taken from the top of Slieve Donard. No one will ever believe me again when I say, “It’s only a little further now.” The walk to the top is not bad and gives you such a great view of Ulster and the Irish Sea. However, intent of giving them a fully miserable experience we descended via the less well trodden route towards the Bloody Bridge. Let’s just say that it is hard on the knees and goes on forever.

On the descent we stopped to take a dip in one of the rock pools as we made our way to the Bloody Bridge. When in the water I couldn’t help but feel like I was giving my best Gollum performance to those looking on.

Listen, the Giant’s Causeway is great and all, but wouldn’t you rather be jumping off cliffs and diving into rock pools underneath a castle? Also, you don’t have to pay to visit the causeway. Just walk past the visitor center folks.

Upon review, I quite like the first and third photos the most as I think I accidentally (or some would argue instinctively but not me) got quite a nice composition in these images. Are these the best photos you’ll see on this website or even from this camera? Not by a long shot, however I want you to know that I had fun. The greatest thing about this camera, is that it got me into photography as it is fun to use and got me wanting more.

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