Kolari Potato Camera Documentary

By now, the internet is pretty familiar with “potato quality” photos. Many people have even attempted to create potato quality images using real potatoes as different camera elements, such as the lens or the body. We decided to take things a step further and embark on a journey to explore the possibilities of potato photography. Our goal was to create a potato lens and a potato camera body to build the world’s first 100% potato camera, and we were determined to succeed.

To achieve our goal, we joined forces with autochromist Jon Hilty in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jon brought his expertise and experience in the autochrome process, while we brought our passion for potatoes and photography. Together, we utilized the historic autochrome film plates made with potato starch to create our photographs. We wanted to ensure that every aspect of our project was truly potato-focused. It was a difficult task, but we were up for the challenge.

Throughout the project, we experienced many fumbles and laughs, disappointments and triumphs. Some of our attempts were successful, while others fell short. However, we never gave up. We believed in our project and in the power of potatoes.

After many attempts, we ultimately succeeded in our mission. Our hard work and dedication paid off. We were able to create true potato quality photographs that were unlike anything else in the world. Our potato camera produced images with a unique and charming quality that truly captured the essence of the potato. The autochrome film plates made with potato starch added an extra layer of potato-ness to the photos, resulting in a beautiful and one-of-a-kind aesthetic that we were proud of.

We documented the whole process, and we are excited to finally share this project with the world. We hope that our experiment with unconventional materials and techniques in photography inspires others to push the boundaries of creativity in their own work. The full documentary will be premiering on our Youtube channel on April 1, 2023. And no, it’s not an April Fool’s joke — we actually did the thing.