There was a time when photobooths were a common sight. The term analogue wasn’t used by the public as it was the only type of photography available at the time. Folk were used to taking photos with a camera that needed a spool of film, having to wait for the full spool to be used before handing it in to a local chemist shop for development then sit out a few days in anticipation of seeing whether your photographic efforts had turned out – or not! The photo booth offered, in relative terms, a fast photo opportunity. In a short space of time, a strip of 4 images caught a memory of a day or night out with pals. Although these moments could seem like an eternity before the still wet photos dropped down the slot, the anticipation never waned.
Photobooths, that date back to 1925, are still in use for passport photos but of course they are now operated in digital form. However, in a super smart move to let new generations experience the fun of the original photobooth, Stills Centre for Photography in Cockburn Street, Edinburgh has opened to the public the original analogue photo booth in Scotland. Here, queues of young folk, used to pressing a button on a smartphone for an image that can be instantly shared or discarded, can experience having to pose in a very small space, birl the seat to the right height and be ready with that chosen look for when the flash captures the moment. Gregor Fisher’s Baldy Man character, who was having a tough time capturing the right pose in a photobooth, became a favourite advert for a well-known cigar back in the day.
To welcome the booth’s arrival, Stills has an exhibition of a series of black and white images from photobooths as well as a video showing the inner workings of the photobooth machine which should interest anyone who is keen on photography beyond a quick snap.
Development Manager Caitlin Serey said “We envision that introducing an analogue photobooth will further enrich Stills through its historical significance and cultural value, reflecting our aim to support the advancement, enjoyment, exploration and understanding of photography. By bringing a booth to Stills, we will not only revive a vanishing form of photographic expression, but we will actively participate in its preservation, as it will be the only analogue photobooth in all of Scotland, making it a focal point for both regular Stills visitors and new enthusiasts seeking authentic, vintage photography experiences. Importantly, Stills is a registered charity and we also hope the photobooth will provide a new stream of income for Stills, contributing to our long-term organisational resilience.”
This endangered cultural artifact, that played a major role in the 2001 French film Amélie, is flourishing again in the 21st century across cities like New York, Berlin, London and more, so it is very special that one of these will now be available to enjoy in Scotland’s Capital too.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 