A Polaroid imposter.

Sadly, my recent plea to Lady Gaga for the opportunity to take a Polaroid went unanswered.  But that didn't mean the return of the FlirtCam wasn't a huge hit in Vegas. That's right, I was making new friends right and left starting at the Lady Gaga performance. There was Gideon to our right who drove in from Los Angeles with his friend. He ultimately suggested we should meet him after the concert at Krave (either because he loved the Polaroid or because his friend looked really grumpy and we looked like we might be more fun).

There was the older gay couple from Las Vegas on our left who were a little curmudgeony about the photograph until after I gave it to them and then they loosened up and started chatting.

Then, there were the French boys.  At first I thought they were brothers but as the show progressed, I couldn't be sure if they were related or if it was young love.  Felix said they were just "being French." But if that's the case, French brothers sure like to get cozy sitting on each other's laps. Whatever they were, they were positively charming and funny.  And they loved it when I gave them a Polaroid. While I didn't take a second photo of Gideon and the other couple, I did get one of the French boys.  So here it is along with a Polaroid of Felix and me at the concert.

And now for the last photo of the night.  If you can't get Lady Gaga to pose, why not get the next best thing: The Lady Gaga-inspired drag queen at Pirahna's after party.  Here then is Miss CoCo St. James performing as Lady Gaga.  I'm so happy to have the Polaroid back.

Dear Lady Gaga: Will you be in my next celebrity Polaroid portrait?

As I recently noted, Polaroid has introduced a new instant film camera.  And it's brought back all kinds of memories.  One of those memories involves the celebrity instant portrait.  Here are few favorites from my i-Zone collection.

For example, here are a few i-Zone photos taken at a Moby after party.  Moby wasn't thrilled with me and my Polaroid until I took a picture of him with a beautiful young woman and then it was as if I was the official Moby i-Zone photographer.

Here's Felix with Moby.

And here are a few photos of Moby's band. (Yes that's me getting all chummy with the band.)

Then there are the pictures of the Scissor Sister taken on their first visit to Salt Lake City.  I took these at Liquid Joe's at one of the funnest concerts I've ever been too.  Jake Shears was fantastic:

Baby Dady was his chill self, even when posing for a picture with Felix.

And the rest of the band from Ana Matronic to Del Marquis made for a great night.

And I ask you this: Who else has an i-Zone portrait of the elusive Ru Paul?

I've decided it's time for the return of the celebrity Polaroid portrait and I'm asking you, Lady Gaga to be the subject.  Oh you may say that you're at a level of celebrity far beyond the stars featured here.  But none of these stars is the creative director for Polaroid. I think that gives you an added incentive to make yourself available for an official instant portrait.  As an established celebrity Polaroid photographer, I'd be happy to take a picture or two. And as luck would have it, I'll be in Vegas this weekend at your concert with my brand new Polaroid 300.  Maybe you could spare a few minutes. Let me know.

Ladies and gentlemen (mostly gentlemen): The FlirtCam is back!

Everyone who knows me, knows that I love the Polaroid instant camera.  I've been taking instant photos since my early teens.  But my fascination with Polaroid really took off sometime in the late 90s with the purchase of my first Polaroid i-zone.  That was the birth of the FlirtCam.  I spent the next six or seven years hanging out at night clubs and taking i-zone pictures of late night revelers.  I gave most of those away, but I still have hundreds, maybe even thousands of postage-sized photos from those fantastic nights.

Even now, some of my best friends are people I met through the FlirtCam, taking their i-zone photo and handing it to them.  And it wasn't just the i-zone.  After it was discontinued I pressed forward with the Mio and the Polaroid 600.  

A Polaroid picture can do more to make a friend than just about anything I know. So you can imagine my sadness when Polaroid discontinued all instant film production a couple of years ago.

But now, I'm celebrating the return of the FlirtCam.  I just received my new Polaroid 300.  So look out ladies and gentlemen (mostly gentlemen), because the FlirtCam is back.  And I'm looking to make some new friends.

Here's a picture of just a few of the i-zone cameras I own (including some customized face plates).

And here is my brand new Polaroid 300.  As is tradition, the first photo is a self portrait.

The All New, Updated, Complete Polaroid History of Leslie Hall in Salt Lake City.

Leslie Hall returned to Salt Lake City last weekend and she just keeps getting better.  She's slimmer and sexier than ever and her show sparkles with even more glittery sounds.  And while you may have recently seen The Complete Polaroid History of Leslie Hall in Salt Lake City, that slide show is now out of date.  So here is the revised version, complete with six new Polaroids of the Gem Diva herself, resplendent in gold spandex and with hair that's bigger and better than ever.  One note: I'm now down to using Polaroid film that is years past the expiration date so the color just isn't as good as with fresh film.  But I'm hopeful that with Lady Gaga using an old school Polaroid in her most recent video with Beyonce, that we'll see the return of my favorite photo technology. Thanks to Felix for scanning and color correcting which made the new photos look a lot better.


And now, The All New, Updated, Complete Polaroid History of Leslie Hall in Salt Lake City. 

The Complete Polaroid History of Leslie Hall in Salt Lake City.

Since her rise to fame, gem-sweater diva Leslie Hall has made it to Salt Lake City three times.  I've been to all three performances with fellow fan Felix and my trusty Polaroid, recording the strangeness that is Leslie Hall.  Leslie is set to return to Salt Lake City later this month.  In honor of her upcoming performance, I'm posting a slideshow of Polaroids from the last three performances.  The photos are from the these dates: 

March 9, 2007 at the Pickle Company

March 14, 2008 at Kilby Court

March 28, 2009 at Kilby Court

Of course, I'll be there at the Urban Lounge on March 13 for the return of Leslie and Ly's to Salt Lake City.  And I'll have my Polaroid ready to capture all the festivities.

And now, the Complete Polaroid History of Leslie Hall in Salt Lake City.