One of my hobbies is collecting images and ephemera from the early decades of the Disney theme parks. I have a particular weakness for memorabilia that gives a glimpse from the 1960s and 70s. Photographs from that era have an unmistakeable texture that makes me want to go back in time.

Unfortunately, my Way-Back machine is broken, and out-of-print Polaroid film is outrageously expensive on eBay. Fortunately, thanks to the iPhone, photographers have the next best thing. It’s an inexpensive app called Hipstamatic, and it instantly transforms your cutting-edge smartphone into a clunky piece of analogue optical awesomes.

Hipstamatic features numerous simulated films and filters that can re-combined to create refreshingly organic digital images. There are other similar software suites (such as Instagram) that sport superficially similar “vintage” effects, but only Hipstamatic’s effort feel so authentically old-fashioned that their artlessness becomes artistic.

In future posts, I plan to present some documentation of my Hipstamatic time travels around the Happiest Place on Earth. For starters, enjoy this gallery from Main Street U.S.A., starring the Disneyland Band and a bunch of balloons with a certain distinctive shape.

Hipstamatic Disneyland is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.