End of the Line for Kodachrome
I just saw the news today that Kodak is discontinuing Kodachrome. I’m not surprised. It’s use has been in decline for a long time—even before digital cameras made their mark—thanks to its unique chemistry and processing requirements. The introduction of Fuji’s E-6 process Velvia in 1990 was really the turning point for Kodachrome. Ever since then, the writing has been on the wall.
Still, it’s sad. Kodachrome has a look like nothing else. And, nothing else lasts like it. You can pick up a Kodachrome from the 1950s and it looks just like it did when it was taken.
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Velvia apparently also lasts a hugely long time without fading, at least according to Ken Rockwell, as much as you can trust his impish sense of humour.
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Derek, apparently E-6 is rated a bit lower down the longevity scale than K-14. But, it isn't bad at all.
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NPR had a nice piece on All Things Considered mentioning this: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105766617 The piece was with Steve McCurry, who took that famous National Geographic photo of the Afghan girl and who shot a lot with Kodachrome.
I didn't get into photography until the digital age, but listening to the story still made me feel like we were losing something important, and a reminder that no matter how accurate or sophisticated the equipment, photography is still an art.
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John, indeed. I think the important thing is that photography is--and always has been--an evolving technical art. Processes come and go. I've seen a few Daguerreotypes and they are simply amazing.
But, I should say that I am glad we're in a digital work. Photography is shifting gears and going into new realms. But, we should always keep in mind where it's been.
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So true. Nothing else lasts like it. I scanned one of my Dad's Kodachrome slides just last night from 1975 of NY's Twin Towers.
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