While it is hardly current news that Kodak’s famous Kodachrome emulsion was discontinued, sometimes history holds wonderful treasures that it imparts upon us before the coffin is lowered. This is the party BEFORE the funeral, before the wake, and before the ultimate demise. The funeral is officially set for the 30th of December 2010 at Dwayne’s Photo Service in Denver, CO.

This hauntingly beautiful time capsule was part of the beginning of Kodachrome color film being tested for moving images, set in a time 13 years before the 35mm film was even available. I liken this video to seeing a childhood video of a loved one you only ever met while they were on their deathbed.

Fun Fact! Kennedy’s Assassination footage was shot on Kodachrome movie stock in 1963.

This footage poignantly displays the wondrous ability of photography to enable time to endure the Passage of Time.

(many thanks to Chris Abell for showing me this)

I think of it like this: My grandfather shot this film on his honeymoon, but it was also used for some of the most famous images in the world. In my eyes that is a powerful reach that extends not only across the years, but across the lines of “Professional” and “Consumer”. There are no other films that will ever reach the lifespan of Kodachrome, or the general public’s notoriety.

it is not a coincidence that i keep referring to Kodachrome’s discontinuation as a “Death”, the thought of that red and mustard yellow box bring the sad images of after 2010, when Kodachrome will be buried, if it be in landfills, trash heaps, burned, left in repose, or rotting in photographer’s cold storage. On that unstoppable day, how many will get emotional about throwing away film?

i have many film-centric photographer friends who have a stockpile of this film sitting in their refrigerators, film that if not shot and mailed by the beginning of December 2010, will NEVER have the chance to ever be developed. One of these friends, Tim Colose, was kind enough to give me a roll of Kodachrome 64 ISO and a roll of 200 ISO to shoot before the last roll is developed at Dwayne’s. Given the chance, i do not want this film to disappear into the night without me being able to take part in it’s not so small piece of photographic history.

LINKS
Kodachrome – Wikipedia
Early Kodachrome Images
Kodak’s June 22, 2009 News Release
Dwayne’s Photo Service
Kodak’s Tribute to Kodachrome
Kodachrome FLICKr Group
The Kodachrome Project
Steve McCurry and “the last roll” (msnbc)

Notes
Video
initially this footage were designated as two separate videos but i simply have not found the time to shoot more footage to bring either to completion. this video came from footage i shot on the 4th of july, there was no initial concept, i was just shooting video with my 5d mkII. As it started down the path of being edited together i noticed it was telling a narrative of sorts, a dream like quality. i wanted to shift it more into the nightmare realm.

the second part of the footage is an excerpt from a music video i have been working on this summer that is still incomplete. i have every intention to continue to work with this part of the footage as it’s own project.

Audio
constructed from the following music:

• “Underneath it All” from the album “The Fragile” by Nine Inch Nails
• “Underneath it All” from the album “Dream On” by Scala and Kolacny Brothers
• “Hang You From The Heavens” from the album “Horehound” by The Dead Weather
• “A Drowning” From the EP “How to Destroy Angels” by How to Destroy Angels

i’m no musician, nor am i an audio engineer. i will be the first to admit that the audio portion of this video project is imperfect. the mix is not good and most certainly needs to be revisited.
Despite it’s glaring faults it is something i’ve been toying with in my Final Cut Pro “sketchbook”. the attempt is to combine a song with a cover version of said song, as one piece of audio. in some of my other audio tests i’ve put both pieces of audio on top of each other and let parts of each become more predominant. this attempt is a different approach to that idea.

animated .GIFs

this is the first film sheet shot with my CYKO RYKO

Long Island, NY