RIP Kodachrome. And yes, Happy 2011

[gstark]

Those of us who have been shooting since time immemorial will no doubt join me in observing the passing of perhaps the greatest film ever made: Kodachrome.

For those who aren't fully aware of this, you bought Kodachrome with processing charges included; you sent the film back to Kodak for processing, and they sent you back your slides (or movies) in due course.

Kodak used to have a processing lab in Melbourne, but that was closed about four ago, and eventually, a couple of years ago, all processing passed to just the one lab, Dwayne’s Photo, in Kansas.

Sadly, Kodachrome's not in Kansas anymore either, with all processing coming to an end this week.

You may check out a story about Dwayne's and Kodachrome here and some images here.

Apart from that, I hope that your hangovers are small and tidy, and that all y'all will be out shooting some great images this year.

Happy New Year.

[fozzie]

Viewed this on one the the news services in the past few days. Gave you the history and the end...sad. From memory one guy travelled from another State in the USofA to get 36 rolls of film processed.

And to everyone of the forum, Happy New Year for 2011

And 'YES' I will be out shooting tomorrow at the 'Adelaide Zoo'

[the foto fanatic]

Vale Kodachrome. Some of my best memories are Kodachrome moments.

But shooting at 25 or 64 ASA (ISO) was a test at times!

Happy New Year to the members of this august forum.

[Matt. K]

Simon and Garfunkle will keep the memory alive! Happy New Year everyone!

[ATJ]

I have files and files of Kodachrome slides. I will have to be careful not to shed a tear on them when next I view them. It was indeed the best ever film. Even the Kodachrome 200 was great.

Happy New Year to all.

[aim54x]

Another ending....it is sad, and I have never savoured Kodachrome!

[the foto fanatic]

Why let Kodachrome pass with a whimper? Let's do it proud - photography in these exciting times owes such a lot to the past, whether it be the great photographers, great cameras or great films.

I challenge those of you with the suitable experience to present your favourite Kodachrome moment in this thread. Not for judging, but for nostalgia. A picture that brings back memories to you or one that has special significance. Or even your favourite from this medium.

Here's mine. Taken on my first trip to Europe, back in 1986. A British Airways passenger jet had been bombed by terrorists just before we arrived in Athens. We passed the shell of the plane as we taxied to the terminal - it had a huge hole in the side and its guts were hanging out. The terminal was full of soldiers in flak jackets carrying automatic weapons. My wife and I felt like staying on the plane and flying straight back out. Fortunately we didn't. The Acropolis, and the other famous sites of Greece awaited. The photo below was taken in the Athens Museum, where Greeks were going about their everyday business - in this case an art student drawing one of the most famous statues from antiquity "The Boy Jockey" which dates from about 230BC. Brought me back to the wonder of life.

[ATJ]

Here's one of my first colour underwater shots taken on Kodachrome 64 in 1980:



One of my first SLR shots, also on Kodachrome 64:



One of my favourite shots from a trip to the US in 1993 (Kodachrome 64):



And here's a Kodachrome 200 image:

[the foto fanatic]

Great images there Andrew!

It's obvious that great technique ranks far above the having the latest equipment as far as producing an excellent photograph is concerned.

[aim54x]

Great images there Andrew!

It's obvious that great technique ranks far above the having the latest equipment as far as producing an excellent photograph is concerned.

I cant wait to see more Kodachrome images!

[phillipb]

Bloody hell, I missed the boat, I have a hand full of kodachromes about 25 years out of date wich I can't process now

[DanielA]

I never did that much with film, but I found an old (1958) Kodak film packet with some appropriate messages.

"Kodachrome Film -- Most popular colour film made -- gives crisp, sparkling, full-colour transparencies for both hand-viewing and projection. In sizes to fit 828 and 35mm. cameras."

"Kodak
Leadership in Photography . . . Today and Tomorrow
In 1908 the name Kodak first became associated with photography in Australia. [...]
Tomorrow, just as today, Kodak will be your guarantee of quality and dependability in everything photographic."



Daniel

[gstark]

Daniel,

Wonderful contribution to the thread. What I think you've added is the envelope that you'd get back from the chemist after having sent your film away - probably for a period in excess of a week - for developing and printing. On one side of the envelope you would have your negs - as you are showing in the image - but the sleeve on the other side would contain your prints.

The envelope, as you can see, is full of useful photographic tips.

[Oz_Beachside]

If only they listened to a young Australian boy...

I recall a personal experience as a teenage boy around 1990, a BBQ discussion with the executives of Eastman Kodak in Rochester New York, when I was asking about digital technology replacing film, and I recall the exact words, "Electronics will never replace the quality of silver halide." To which I asked "if semiconductor technology resolution doubled every year, how many years would it be until it reached that of silver?" Paraphrased, "how many grains of rice are found on the 64th square of a chess board if we start with 1 and double it each square until the 64th?"

I can only find sense by concluding that the mind of a Chemist is very different to that of a Physicist.

Oh, if only they listened...

[DanielA]

What I think you've added is the envelope that you'd get back from the chemist after having sent your film away - probably for a period in excess of a week - for developing and printing.

Thanks. Yes here is the front cover of the envelope (golden jubilee version):


This more regular envelope just proclaims the benefits of enlargements and Kodak accessories:

I do like how this packet is stitched together and not glued.

Daniel