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Kodak started testing it’s Kodachrome motion picture film in 1922, that’s 13 years before the first full length colour feature. Kodak posted it up on YouTube.

I don’t do a lot of video work personally, but from a photographic perspective it’s still pretty cool. It also continues to show the archival quality of the Kodachrome film stock. Kodachrome is actually a black and white film, which is the most stable film out there, with the layers of colour built up on top of that solid base. Take a look at a Kodachrome slide or motion film, turn it sideways, and look across the top, you can see the relief, the layers built up.

Dwayne’s in Parsons Kansas, will continue to process 35mm, 126, and 110 Kodachrome film until December 2010.

I realized that I never actually posted this. Back in January I had the honor of learning from a master developer, on how to develop and print Black and White Film. The experience was fun actually, and I’ll admit I was a little nervous when I started the processing, if the shots I had taken would even work, or if I screwed something up. I was using my old Yashica, which does have shutter problems in the cold weather.

But after pulling the negs out I was pleasantly surprised that it had actually worked! Aside from some issues along the edges, probably due to loading/unloading the film in the bright sun (it was a clear sunny day at the Pit Mine). The next day was printing, that was a little bit more tricky, but again got some good results for my first attempt.

All shots were taken using a Yashica-12 (Copal-SV 80mm 1:3.5) on Kodak TMax 400 film, developed in Kodak D-76 Developer. Scanned using an Epson V500 scanner @ 1200 DPI, edited in Adobe Photoshop CS3 for curves, and sharpening.

Kodak announced on June 22nd, it will be ceasing production of the iconic Kodachrome line of slide film after 74 years. Kodachrome was first introduced in 1935 and quickly gained popularity and earned an iconic status in the photography world. Especally after the haunting Afghan Girl portrait was published on the cover of National Geographic in 1985. The haunting image was captured by professional photographer Steve McCurry on Kodachrome. In addition to that Paul Simon wrote a song about the film, titled “Kodachrome.”

I would never think that a song would be written about a particular film. But then again, I’ve never used the stock, and at this point probably never will. It is hard to come by and even harder to get developed, as it has to be sent to Kansas, the only remaining K-14 lab (K-14 being the name of the process for developing Kodachrome).

For more details:
Official Kodak Press Release
A Tribute to Kodachrome