"Our America"
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Re: "Our America"
by The Kodachrome Project
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I am actually sitting here with my web tech preparing to re-do the site it self right now. Kodachrome has a finite life and it will be coming to a close sooner than later as common logic would have it. So with that, I personally decided to shoot the film in as many diverse places in the country as I can. That is far more realistic that trying to go all over the world in 2-4 years time.
With this said, the site will soon reflect what the true idea of the Kodachrome Project is at this point. While I will make reference of my intentions to portray "Our America" with the film, even the title page will say "Our World: One last look on Kodachrome" to more accurately portray who should be shooting this and why. No one, and I do mean NO one should feel left out or barred from participating in what this idea is. What the Kodachrome Project is about is the idea to do more than just shoot pretty pictures of abstract color and form and your kids on the film. What the idea means is to go deeper than that. Grow as a person, take risks, be even more kind and inquisitive among each other. I have seen some of the images on the Flicker groups. While there is some nice color in there, what is lacking is the soul of this film and the way it speaks to it's viewer when one simply emerges with great imagery with real social depth and meaning. There is no way Alex Webb, Sam Abell or any other accomplished Kodachrome shooter is going to be able to take this film today and shoot it all. This has to be a collective of everyone's best work. And it has to be phenomenal. The Kodachrome Project is an excuse to get out and grow by leaps and bounds as a photographer and a social human being. We have VERY little time in which to do this. But we DO have time, that is the amazing thing folks!!! In my 33 years as a photographer, Kodachrome is by far the most compelling medium in which to depict the world. It is the one I have bonded most with. I feel like if I can succeed at doing it justice in it's final days in looking at the world around me RIGHT NOW, then I am doing something that many will be able to look back on for years to come and feel touched, proud and like this film went out with a bang. I know I have it in me to do this. But I also know by the hundreds of letters from all photographers, greatly known and amateur alike, anyone who wants a great reason, venue and meaning in which to shoot the last rolls of this stuff ought to be on board, period. It is the year 2008 and in a world filled with digital mania, what are YOU going to do to help proudly close what is most certainly one of the most incredible eras in photographic history? The Kodachrome Era.....
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Re: "Our America"
by Ron Schwarz
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=============================================== "We have VERY little time in which to do this." =============================================== I have been watching the little dust-up from the sidelines over the past few days. I have no dog in that fight, so I've said nothing. Now, there *is* something I do find troubling, which I will attempt to put into words, and, hope that it NOT taken as being in any way related to the recent donnybrook. You have intimated that you have had close contact from Kodak regarding your project, and the film. You offer as statement of fact that Kodachrome is on death row (to-wit, your statement which I've quoted at the top of this post). You seem to have the inside track -- insider knowledge of what's coming down the pike. Your website, your project, is predicated *on* the death of Kodachrome. If Kodachrome were NOT to be relegated to extinction, your project's raison d'etre would no longer exist. What I find troubling is that it seems that the ONLY "Kodachrome-oriented" entity that Kodak is opening up to is one that, for lack of a better expression, stands to benefit *from* the death of Kodachrome. Those of us who would like to see Kodachrome continue in production are ignored. Suddenly, someone pops up with a tribute to the death of Kodachrome, and the company warms up to him? Any non-flamish commentary/explanation/clarification/expansion is welcome 12:27 AM 2/3/2008 -0800, The Kodachrome Project wrote: > >I am actually sitting here with my web tech preparing to re-do the site it >self right now. Kodachrome has a finite life and it will be coming to a >close sooner than later as common logic would have it. So with that, I >personally decided to shoot the film in as many diverse places in the >country as I can. That is far more realistic that trying to go all over the >world in 2-4 years time. > >With this said, the site will soon reflect what the true idea of the >Kodachrome Project is at this point. While I will make reference of my >intentions to portray "Our America" with the film, even the title page will >say "Our World: One last look on Kodachrome" to more accurately portray who >should be shooting this and why. > >No one, and I do mean NO one should feel left out or barred from >participating in what this idea is. > >What the Kodachrome Project is about is the idea to do more than just shoot >pretty pictures of abstract color and form and your kids on the film. What >the idea means is to go deeper than that. Grow as a person, take risks, be >even more kind and inquisitive among each other. I have seen some of the >images on the Flicker groups. While there is some nice color in there, what >is lacking is the soul of this film and the way it speaks to it's viewer >when one simply emerges with great imagery with real social depth and >meaning. > >There is no way Alex Webb, Sam Abell or any other accomplished Kodachrome >shooter is going to be able to take this film today and shoot it all. This >has to be a collective of everyone's best work. And it has to be phenomenal. >The Kodachrome Project is an excuse to get out and grow by leaps and bounds >as a photographer and a social human being. We have VERY little time in >which to do this. But we DO have time, that is the amazing thing folks!!! > >In my 33 years as a photographer, Kodachrome is by far the most compelling >medium in which to depict the world. It is the one I have bonded most with. >I feel like if I can succeed at doing it justice in it's final days in >looking at the world around me RIGHT NOW, then I am doing something that >many will be able to look back on for years to come and feel touched, proud >and like this film went out with a bang. I know I have it in me to do this. >But I also know by the hundreds of letters from all photographers, greatly >known and amateur alike, anyone who wants a great reason, venue and meaning >in which to shoot the last rolls of this stuff ought to be on board, period. > >It is the year 2008 and in a world filled with digital mania, what are YOU >going to do to help proudly close what is most certainly one of the most >incredible eras in photographic history? > >The Kodachrome Era..... > > >Daniel Söderström-2 wrote: >> >> Ahh ok, I didn't realise, its a Kodachrome forum just for Americans. >> >> Daniel. >> _______________________________________________ >> Kodachrome mailing list >> Kodachrome@... >> http://lists.kjsl.com/mailman/listinfo/kodachrome >> >> > >-- >View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/%22Our-America%22-tp15241028p15251456.html >Sent from the Kodachrome mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > >_______________________________________________ >Kodachrome mailing list >Kodachrome@... >http://lists.kjsl.com/mailman/listinfo/kodachrome > > Photos: http://www.michi-kogaku.com/picsdir Modern "Privacy": "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear." Suggestion: Watch "Cabaret!" (It's a documentary, not a musical; a portrait of the end-game of a decadent culture.) _______________________________________________ Kodachrome mailing list Kodachrome@... http://lists.kjsl.com/mailman/listinfo/kodachrome |
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Re: "Our America"
by The Kodachrome Project
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Well, firstly, I have no definite inside track as to what is going on with Kodachrome. I only have what I have been told by certain people behind the scenes who will always remain nameless.
It is entirely possible that Kodachrome will live on for another 10-20 years, but at the rate Kodak is nixing films like High Speed Infrared and other products that are seeing declining numbers, it is not likely that it will stick around much past it's 75 years anniversary in 2010. It's hard to deny that in the past three years alone, the closure of the labs and loss of K-200 might be an indicator of what is to come. There is no money to be made on my site, there is no inside track of funds even helping to foster my own portion of the project. And honestly, the more time I have to shoot it, get the message out and get people excited about shooting it, the better. I don't like the idea of having as little as 2 years in which to shoot this project. I do like the idea of having 10 years. How awesome would it be to witness the 100th anniversary of Kodachrome! I never had a XPan to shoot Kodachrome in as youth. I could have never dreamed of shooting K-25 in 24 X 65mm format, but now I can even though I have only 160 rolls of it ( Batch 2003 ). More time to shoot Kodachrome? You are damn right I will take it....
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Re: "Our America"
by Ron Schwarz
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10:45 AM 2/3/2008 -0800, The Kodachrome Project wrote:
> >Well, firstly, I have no definite inside track as to what is going on with >Kodachrome. I only have what I have been told by certain people behind the >scenes who will always remain nameless. Well, OK, if you won't mention their names (perfectly reasonable and prudent to protect one's sources), then the least you *can* do is to tell us what they've said. Otherwise, what possible reason is there to even mention that they've been whispering in your ear? >It is entirely possible that Kodachrome will live on for another 10-20 >years, but at the rate Kodak is nixing films like High Speed Infrared and >other products that are seeing declining numbers, it is not likely that it >will stick around much past it's 75 years anniversary in 2010. > >It's hard to deny that in the past three years alone, the closure of the >labs and loss of K-200 might be an indicator of what is to come. > >There is no money to be made on my site, there is no inside track of funds >even helping to foster my own portion of the project. And honestly, the >time I have to shoot it, get the message out and get people excited about >shooting it, the better. > >I don't like the idea of having as little as 2 years in which to shoot this >project. I do like the idea of having 10 years. How awesome would it be to >witness the 100th anniversary of Kodachrome! > >I never had a XPan to shoot Kodachrome in as youth. I could have never >dreamed of shooting K-25 in 24 X 65mm format, but now I can even though I >have only 160 rolls of it ( Batch 2003 ). > >More time to shoot Kodachrome? You are damn right I will take it.... > > >Ron Schwarz wrote: >> >> >> =============================================== >> "We have VERY little time in which to do this." >> =============================================== >> >> >> I have been watching the little dust-up from the sidelines over the >> few days. I have no dog in that fight, so I've said nothing. >> >> Now, there *is* something I do find troubling, which I will attempt to put >> into words, and, hope that it NOT taken as being in any way related to the >> recent donnybrook. >> >> You have intimated that you have had close contact from Kodak regarding >> your project, and the film. You offer as statement of fact that >> Kodachrome >> is on death row (to-wit, your statement which I've quoted at the top of >> this post). You seem to have the inside track -- insider knowledge of >> what's coming down the pike. >> >> Your website, your project, is predicated *on* the death of Kodachrome. >> >> If Kodachrome were NOT to be relegated to extinction, your project's >> raison >> d'etre would no longer exist. >> >> What I find troubling is that it seems that the ONLY >> entity that Kodak is opening up to is one that, for lack of a better >> expression, stands to benefit *from* the death of Kodachrome. >> >> Those of us who would like to see Kodachrome continue in production are >> ignored. Suddenly, someone pops up with a tribute to the death of >> Kodachrome, and the company warms up to him? >> >> Any non-flamish commentary/explanation/clarification/expansion is welcome >> >> >> >> >> >> 12:27 AM 2/3/2008 -0800, The Kodachrome Project wrote: >> >>> >>>I am actually sitting here with my web tech preparing to re-do the site it >>>self right now. Kodachrome has a finite life and it will be coming to a >>>close sooner than later as common logic would have it. So with that, I >>>personally decided to shoot the film in as many diverse places in the >>>country as I can. That is far more realistic that trying to go all over >the >>>world in 2-4 years time. >>> >>>With this said, the site will soon reflect what the true idea of the >>>Kodachrome Project is at this point. While I will make reference of my >>>intentions to portray "Our America" with the film, even the title page >will >>>say "Our World: One last look on Kodachrome" to more accurately portray >who >>>should be shooting this and why. >>> >>>No one, and I do mean NO one should feel left out or barred from >>>participating in what this idea is. >>> >>>What the Kodachrome Project is about is the idea to do more than just >shoot >>>pretty pictures of abstract color and form and your kids on the film. >>>the idea means is to go deeper than that. Grow as a person, take risks, be >>>even more kind and inquisitive among each other. I have seen some of the >>>images on the Flicker groups. While there is some nice color in there, >what >>>is lacking is the soul of this film and the way it speaks to it's viewer >>>when one simply emerges with great imagery with real social depth and >>>meaning. >>> >>>There is no way Alex Webb, Sam Abell or any other accomplished Kodachrome >>>shooter is going to be able to take this film today and shoot it all. This >>>has to be a collective of everyone's best work. And it has to be >phenomenal. >>>The Kodachrome Project is an excuse to get out and grow by leaps and >bounds >>>as a photographer and a social human being. We have VERY little time in >>>which to do this. But we DO have time, that is the amazing thing folks!!! >>> >>>In my 33 years as a photographer, Kodachrome is by far the most compelling >>>medium in which to depict the world. It is the one I have bonded most >with. >>>I feel like if I can succeed at doing it justice in it's final days in >>>looking at the world around me RIGHT NOW, then I am doing something that >>>many will be able to look back on for years to come and feel touched, >proud >>>and like this film went out with a bang. I know I have it in me to do >this. >>>But I also know by the hundreds of letters from all photographers, greatly >>>known and amateur alike, anyone who wants a great reason, venue and >meaning >>>in which to shoot the last rolls of this stuff ought to be on board, >period. >>> >>>It is the year 2008 and in a world filled with digital mania, what are YOU >>>going to do to help proudly close what is most certainly one of the most >>>incredible eras in photographic history? >>> >>>The Kodachrome Era..... >>> >>> >>>Daniel Söderström-2 wrote: >>>> >>>> Ahh ok, I didn't realise, its a Kodachrome forum just for Americans. >>>> >>>> Daniel. >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Kodachrome mailing list >>>> Kodachrome@... >>>> http://lists.kjsl.com/mailman/listinfo/kodachrome >>>> >>>> >>> >>>-- >>>View this message in context: >http://www.nabble.com/%22Our-America%22-tp15241028p15251456.html >>>Sent from the Kodachrome mailing list archive at Nabble.com. >>> >>>_______________________________________________ >>>Kodachrome mailing list >>>Kodachrome@... >>>http://lists.kjsl.com/mailman/listinfo/kodachrome >>> >>> >> -- >> Photos: http://www.michi-kogaku.com/picsdir >> >> Modern "Privacy": "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing >> to fear." >> >> Suggestion: Watch "Cabaret!" (It's a documentary, not a musical; >> a portrait of the end-game of a decadent culture.) >> _______________________________________________ >> Kodachrome mailing list >> Kodachrome@... >> http://lists.kjsl.com/mailman/listinfo/kodachrome >> >> > >-- >View this message in context: >Sent from the Kodachrome mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > >_______________________________________________ >Kodachrome mailing list >Kodachrome@... >http://lists.kjsl.com/mailman/listinfo/kodachrome > > -- Photos: http://www.michi-kogaku.com/picsdir Modern "Privacy": "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear." Suggestion: Watch "Cabaret!" (It's a documentary, not a musical; a portrait of the end-game of a decadent culture.) _______________________________________________ Kodachrome mailing list Kodachrome@... http://lists.kjsl.com/mailman/listinfo/kodachrome |
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Re: "Our America"
by The Kodachrome Project
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Basically, There is frustration and mistrust of what upper management might have planned for the Kodachrome line. It is by far the most expensive to produce and maintain so unless declining numbers at least stabilize a bit, there is less and less reason for Kodak to continue the product as each year goes by.
But it would seem that there is also an awareness of what kind of negative attention nixing Kodachrome would have for the company, so for now, it seems as though keeping Kodachrome to just the most popular speed, 64 and supporting one lab could keep it around a bit longer. But by and large, most seem to think that the film has 2-4 years. No reasons have been given for this, it just seems to be gut feeling. I have poured tens of thousands into this project. Believe me, it is kind of disturbing not knowing when things could change and what those changes might be. But if 2010 rolls around and there is no announcement of Kodachrome's discontinuation, then what we have is a even better reason to celebrate as we get to still use the stuff beyond it's 75 year mark. All things considered, I think it is truly a miricle that it is even still around. I hope all of this helps people understand what I am about in regards to this film and the project.
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Re: "Our America"
by Ron Schwarz
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11:46 AM 2/3/2008 -0800, The Kodachrome Project wrote:
>Basically, There is frustration and mistrust of what upper management might >have planned for the Kodachrome line. It is by far the most expensive to >produce and maintain so unless declining numbers at least stabilize a bit, >there is less and less reason for Kodak to continue the product as each year >goes by. Does *anyone* there -- in a position of "power" so to speak -- have ANY concept of the *value* of a "flagship product" -- and the "trickle-down" revenue it produces? "Kodachrome" -- as an entity unto itself -- may not (in pure beancounterese) "carry its own weight" -- however, its value to the Kodak *brand* is something that ... aw, heck. If they don't get it, they *can't* get it -- it's *that* obvious! I suspect that GM does not make a whole lot of money on the Corvette, likewise Chrysler with the Dodge Viper -- but these lines provide a cachet for the *rest* of their products. A few years ago, I read something (don't remember what/where/when, or even the product or store -- but that doesn't matter). The was a certain store that, in its grocery section, carried a certain type of... oh, heck, like I said, I can't remember. It was frozen, that's all I can recall. Ice cream? Yoghurt? Dunno, doesn't matter. The point is, this product did not sell in very large quanties. The "SKU didn't carry its own weight" -- so, the sharp-pencilled beancounter dropped it from their inventory. Made perfect sense. The loss in revenue would be miniscule. Ah... but it wasn't! The loss in revenue was NOT miniscule. What happened was that those customers who bought that "low-demand" product had to go to a competitor to find that product. But, they didn't buy ONLY that product at the competition. They did ALL of their shopping at the other store. Sometimes common sense and bean-counting do not run in parallel tracks. The companies who go with the beancounters *against* common sense will end up learning the difference, but it may be a costly lesson. With just a *little* bit of marketting, Kodak *could* make Kodachrome into a goldmine. Instead, it's the red-haired stepchild. Or yellow-boxed, as the case may be. The "logic" is almost comical. (Make that "apparent" logic, since, from the outside, we're reduced to reading chicken entrails, *and*, the inferred "logic" is definitely scarequoteworthy :) "Gee, we do no promotion, we close down lab after lab, we chop away at the varieties and formats, and yet, for some odd reason, the sales volume keeps shrinking! Golly, it's getting hard to justify continued production. What's *wrong* with these customers?" Oh, well. Maybe Fuji or Ferrania or "China, Inc." (or even "FSU Inc.") will jump in when "Big Yeller" leaps out. I'd bet even Ilford could stake a claim, if they wanted to. (Can't be any harder to coat "K14Chrome" than Ilfochrome. In fact I'd wager it'd be a *lot* easier, since "K14Chrome" is a simpler emulsion than Ilfochrome.) Hmmm... I think I'll use that generic term from now on -- "K14Chrome" -- in the hopes that it might waft up to the right eyes, and maybe create a spark of interest. It's not every day that a loyal base of customers is *begging* for product, with the sole-supplier gradually strangling off the supply. I wonder what would happen if some stockholder were to show up at an annual meeting with a sheaf of printouts illustrating how even long-outdated rolls of Kodachrome 25 are selling for stratospheric prices (up to $50 a roll if I'm not mistaken), and ask one simple question: "WHY???" >But it would seem that there is also an awareness of what kind of negative >attention nixing Kodachrome would have for the company, so for now, it seems >as though keeping Kodachrome to just the most popular speed, 64 and >supporting one lab could keep it around a bit longer. Well, one thing is certain -- they're spot on in their analysis -- 64 IS the most popular speed! (Funny how that works, isn't it.) -- Photos: http://www.michi-kogaku.com/picsdir Modern "Privacy": "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear." Suggestion: Watch "Cabaret!" (It's a documentary, not a musical; a portrait of the end-game of a decadent culture.) _______________________________________________ Kodachrome mailing list Kodachrome@... http://lists.kjsl.com/mailman/listinfo/kodachrome |
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