Preservation. Life. Chemistry.
Ben & Tomato. Polaroid & China.
Recently, photographer Ben Fraternale traveled to China to meet Chinese artist Tomato. The two quickly bonded over their shared love of Polaroid and the slower, more deliberate way it invites them to see the world.
Check the film out. You can watch as Ben reflects on his favorite Polaroid camera (the 8x10), while Tomato gets into the Polaroid I-2.
Ben then explains what it means to him to capture artifacts of American culture, while Tomato showcases some of his I-2 photography that captures contemporary Chinese life.
Both then talk about how they uniquely lean into imperfection, from messing with expired film to embracing unpredictability.
The film then closes on their deeper beliefs on photography. For Ben, it’s a way to engage with the world around him. For Tomato, it’s a tool for self-expression and personal storytelling.