All the guff about Kodak

Details

Published on Tuesday, 24 January 2012 04:16

Written by Neal

In recent news you've already heard, Kodak has filed for Chapter 11, which is such that the company must now re-organise in order to stay afloat. There have been a lot of doom and gloom type posts floating around the internet based on this filing along. The media doesn't help with their barrage of misinformation. 

Kodak doesn't need to go out of business and providing they can reorganise into a leaner and more profitable company then the future could be just as bright for this once-giant. Many other big names have been through a chapter 11 and come out on top, Many large airline and automotive companies have done this in order to dodge a bullet and survive another day and many of them are very strong companies today.

One might worry that the film division would get sold off or scrapped altogether, this is not the case and is stated in an interview with Kodaks director of marketing and PR. You can read some more information from the British Journal of Photography >> HERE

Further information about Kodak filing for chapter 11 can be found at their new website http://www.kodaktransforms.com/

i for one am not too worried, this sort of thing happens all the time and I am confident in the depth of the film and photography industries there is enough profit for Kodak to go on making some of the best films that we have around today such as the new Portra 400 - Ektar 100 and the amazing black and white films on offer. 

This shot of new growth after a fire taken on Kodak Ektar 100 might help to signify something new growing out of the ashes of the old and poorly managed Kodak. 

Why choose slide?

Details

Published on Wednesday, 16 November 2011 06:35

Written by Neal

Slide film is often overlooked these days, it's been pushed aside by it's brethren (Colour Negative Film) which has come a long way and is more advanced than ever. The new Kodak Portra range of films for example was developed by borrowed technology from the Kodak Vision motion picture stock, which we all know and love from many of the hollywood blockbusters.

With colour negative film (c41) becoming so popular and having more latitude and forgiveness for horrible lighting, why choose slide film at all?

Personally I still believe that a projected slide is a magical thing, it's three dimensional in a way that no other medium is. It has the power to transport you into the frame so you can feel the sand between your toes or share a laugh with that close friend.

The colour gamut of many slide films is what draws me in, not that it can be described in any measurable way, it's more of a subjective aesthetic kinda thing. not to mention the interaction with slide film is something overlooked by many people. With colour negative or black and white film the negative is the middle ground, it's what you need to then go ahead and make something, a scan, a print etc. but with Colour Slide film, the film IS the end product. Look at a 4x5 transparency on a light table with a loupe and tell me i'm lying! in fact forget the loupe just hold it in your hands. Hold it up to a window and gaze through it's beauty. 

You might feel at this point that i'm talking it up a bit much but it really is something different. Even the scans have a rich feel to them and the resolution captured by many of the slower slide films is literally amazing. grain? whats that? for many years slide film was the choice of the pro's, ask any old pro to tell you all about it.

Below are some reasons why I love slide film and continue to use it when I feel it's necessary.

Film Alive and Well!

Details

Published on Wednesday, 23 November 2011 01:18

Written by Neal

Recently at the PDN photo expo in NYC, Mike Raso and Matt Marrash from the Film Photography Project spoke with Scott DiSabato from Kodak Proffesional film division and Keith Canham from Canham Cameras about film and it's future. 

The good news is that film use is growing worldwide. 

Check out the interview HERE. 

Just as predicted, Digital is dead. use what the real pro's use. Use film. 

Plus-x Professional 125 has been Discontinued

Details

Published on Friday, 04 November 2011 01:07

Written by Neal

Well the rumors are true, Kodak has discontinued Plus-x due to low sales volumes. It's a real shame. plus-x has a wonderful tonality that isn't matched by other 125iso films. Ilford fp4+ comes close. Kodak has suggested that Tmax100 may be a suitable replacement. 

You can read right from the horses mouth HERE

Here is a recent shot on Plus-x 125

yep and it works magic with skin tones.. stock up now while you still can.