Bentley is the first automotive brand to be shot with the Polaroid 20×24 Land Camera, a legendary device which has now photographed Bentley models for exclusive images to be used in a special chapter of the limited-edition Bentley Centenary Opus book.
Bringing together landmark vehicles and iconic camera technology for the first time, the pioneering Polaroid 20×24 Land Camera has been used to photograph famous Bentley models for a limited-edition Opus book celebrating the British brand’s centenary.
While the groundbreaking camera has been used previously to capture Hollywood celebrities and world leaders, this is the first time that the world’s largest Polaroid camera has been used to photograph an automotive brand.
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Having transformed instant photography by offering large-scale, one-of-a-kind originals with incredibly rich colours, tremendous detail and exquisitely shallow focus, the landmark Polaroid Land Camera has been used by the world’s foremost photorealists and photographers.
The Bentley models captured during this one-off photoshoot include 1919’s EXP 2, the oldest surviving Bentley; 1952’s R-Type Continental; the 8 Litre of 1930; and the Le Mans-winning Speed 8 from 2003. The final car to be shot was the recently launched, all-new Continental GT.
This exclusive imagery will be used to create a special chapter in the forthcoming Bentley Centenary Opus book.
The creation of the Polaroid 20×24 Land Camera in 1976 was an iconic moment in modern photography. At 1.5 metres tall and weighing 107 kilograms, the 20×24 Land Camera is the world’s largest Polaroid camera, and one of only five built.
Due to the finite amount of 20×24 Polaroid film left in the world, after capturing the history of Bentley for the forthcoming Centenary Opus limited-edition book, this iconic camera will be retired and take up a museum residence.
While Bentley’s glorious Le Mans victories of the 1920s, iconic models of the past and the extraordinary people who created them are celebrated in full, the Opus book is far more than simply a historical record – it is also a celebration of the future of Bentley.
The publishers were given unprecedented access to Bentley’s designers, engineers and executives who will be defining the future of automotive luxury as the marque enters its second century.
The Bentley Centenary Opus will weigh a substantial 30 kilograms and feature pages of up to half a metre square to do justice to the never-seen-before imagery, with special gatefold pages measuring two metres across.
The Bentley Centenary Opus will be available in three special distinct versions – the ‘Mulliner’ and ‘Centenary’ limited editions will be presented in the largest print format, while the ‘Crewe’ edition will be offered in a more accessible size. All three editions will be delivered in early 2019.
