These portraits were taken by Walter Iooss Jr, one of the world's foremost sports photographers. He created the stunning images of the United heroes using a Polaroid 20 x 24 Studio camera that was brought over to Old Trafford from Prague especially for the assignment.
The Polaroid 20 x 24 Studio camera is five-feet high and weighs in at 235 pounds.
This huge piece of photographic equipment, 5ft high and weighing 235lb, was originally developed to enable the accurate reproduction of works of art such as paintings and tapestries. However, seeing the gorgeous, superbly-detailed 20 x 24in (50 x 60cm) prints the camera produces, photographers soon started to use it as a creative tool.
The Studio camera uses a continuous roll of film rather than separate sheets; it does not produce negatives, so each print is a genuine one-off. The patterning around the edge of the image (produced by the developing chemicals) is similarly unique to each print. As for the distinctive sepia tinting, this is the result of deliberately using mismatched components, a quirky film combination that produces some beautiful imagery.
Walter Iooss Jr's insightful portraits utilise this unique large-format photographic technology to portray Manchester United heroes of the past, present – and future – as you've never seen them before…
The image of Wayne Rooney captured on this amazing camera is now available as a strictly limited edition of 500. These giant reproductions are all individually signed by Wayne Rooney and numbered 1 to 500.
Taken by the legendary photographer Walter Iooss Jr, this image is a unique study of a young sporting icon.
To check availability of this print, visit the Opus Store.
Own a signed print of Wayne Rooney
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