Kodachrome is the oldest successfully mass marketed color film in history, it will be 75 in 2010. Kodachrome is renown for it’s incredible archival properties, natural color and ultra-fine rendering of details. In my opinion, Kodachrome is the single most influential color film of all time. It brought to life the otherwise black and white scenes that would fill the pages of Life, Time and National Geographic. As a child in the late seventies, I was fascinated by how the images seamed to float off the pages of these magazines when shot in Kodachrome.
Kodachrome would reign supreme as the best color film available from 1936 until 1989. In the early nineties, more economical and colorful films (albeit more punchy color) would replace Kodachrome as the top film for many pros who simply wanted it faster and cheaper. Kodachrome is still to this day the most archival color film there is. When it is stored properly, in a dark, cool and dry place, it will hold its color well over 100 years. The legendary emulsion even has the distinction of being the only film to ever be the subject of a song in Paul Simon’s May, 1973 release of the hit “Kodachrome”.
“Mama don’t take my Kodachrome away.”
Only a about 5 years ago, digital cameras were considered very expensive and out of reach for most consumers. Kodachrome was still available in three speeds, ISO 25, 64 and 200, was widely available and could be processed in a number of labs worldwide. Now, as of very recently, Kodak manufactures one speed, the 64 ISO version and by the end of the year, there will only be one lab on Earth in which to get it processed, at “Dwayne’s Photo” in Parsons Kansas. As all good things come to an end, I have felt compelled as a photographer to use the film in its last days to give tribute to it and our great country through this project. In a world full of computer-aided color and less that is real, Kodachrome speaks volumes. Using the film in practice, it is not forgiving, you either nail the exposure, or you do not, there is not much room for error. But when you do align the unique characteristics of Kodachrome and the right light, it is like life: truly magical.
There is nearly a life lesson in using Kodachrome. Like most films and unlike digital, it makes you wait, get the shot, have faith in what you did and move on and get busy shooting, not miss things. While I do shoot lots of digital, I have more than a warm place in my heart for Kodachrome as I started using the film some 26 years ago at age 14. The best I can hope do is to try to do it justice in my work and spread the awareness that it might not be around for much longer and get more people to use it before it is gone.
For what it is worth, I am very impressed that Kodak has made the film this long. It truly is a statement in product commitment and longevity so I have to really thank them for that.
Long live Kodachrome.
