If you can handle the annoying “Today Show” branding, and faux camera sounds, go check out this heart-warming story about Parsons, Kansas, Last kodachrome man standing.

See more of my kodachrome images here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kodachroma/tags/kodachrome/

Thought I’d break my Chemistry revision up a bit with a little post. It’s been a while.

What a crazy month it has been. In fact, what a crazy season Autumn has been. The weather in the UK at the moment has been terrible (at the moment it isnt so bad, thank god), but there have been some bad floods in the North. The last couple of years this time of year hasnt been too bad; no where near as much rain and generally colder than it’s been this year. It’s starting to get cold now, but it has been very mild the past few weeks.

What can I say, not a great deal photographically is happening right now. I’ve just about run out of film (ordered some last night to replenish my stocks for the run up to Christmas, after which I will be getting some), the weather has been too dull to really be out shooting and I have gone out several times without cameras and regretted it (yesterday for example, although that really was my Mum’s doing :@ ). On the other hand, it was my 2nd birthday on Flickr! Hurray! Seems like a long, long time since I joined in 2007. So much has happened in the meanwhile, most importantly me improving as a photographer.

I phoned Royal Mail yesterday morning to try and put in a complaint, which they managed to dodge very well, it must be said. The Kodachrome still has not arrived, and it is now classified as “lost” under Royal Mail’s terms. Three months ago, Kodak sent it back to me from Switzerland, and it’s not here, which is pretty much unacceptable, and I cant do a damned thing about it. Trouble is, international mail is not Royal Mail’s problem unless it comes into their jurisdiction, so I’ve emailed Kodak (wankers) to ask them which postal service they used to send it to me so I can take it up with them. Worse still, the parcel isnt trackable, so it could literally be anywhere.

Needless to say, I’m in a high state of pissoff over it all. From my perspective, it looks like I’ll never see the stuff again. Urgh, very unhappy with it all.

On the plus side, although I havent seen it yet, the Leica is fixed. My Dad got it back on Friday from the repair shop, and it (supposedly) is back to its former glory and working order, but I havent seen him yet, so I wont get it back until next week. Doesnt matter, I still dont have a lens for the damn thing (after Christmas, that issue should be resolved, haha. Telling most of the relatives to just give me money for a lens)

Well, this hasnt been much of an interesting post now has it? I’m not really in the mood to berate anyone today, but maybe I’ll make a post sometime next week when I feel like I need to bitch about something photographic.

“NBC Today Show- Kodachrome Story” on Friday, November 27 at 8:00am.

The segment is finally to air on Friday, at 8:30, but may be anytime between 8 and 9. Same in all time zones.NBC Today Show- Kodachrome Story
       ”Interviews with Leon Crooks and Grant and Dwayne Steinle.”
Start Time: Friday, November 27 at 8:00am
End Time: Friday, November 27 at 9:00am
Where: Your local NBC Affiliate~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SEE THE 5 MINUTE STORY HERE:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33553202/ns/today-today_people/

I’ve been a keen photographer since I was a child. I remember acquiring my dads 35mm SLR, a Yashica TL Electro with a 50mm f1.8 lens, and snapping away on Kodachrome and then Kodacolor. It was with some sadness that, inevitably, Kodachrome passed away in June this year.

It used to be a art in itself to get anything on slide or print that bore a passing resemblance to the subject you took a photograph of.

Never being just content with taking the picture I also developed and printed my own. The smell of photo chemicals washing over film and paper and the sheer magic of watching the image appear is an experience now almost completely lost and I think something that will, and should, be missed.

Now, as with all things, technology marches on and its never been better for the photographer. The digital age has provided easy to use, accessible tools to capture, manipulate and print our pictures.

But its important to remember why you have a camera. Its not because its the latest technological masterpiece, its because you want to take great pictures. I’ve been through a stream of different cameras over the years, taking in

1. Yashica TL
2. Canon A1
3. Canon T90
4. Minolta Dynax 700
5. Minolta Dynax 800
6. Canon EOS3
7. Minolta Dimage7 (hateful thing)
8. Canon EOS40D

I’m often asked by friends and relatives ‘what camera should I buy?’ or more often, “what do you think of abc, is it any good?”, the question seeming begging for an answer that will guarantee any and all future photographs are worthy of Magnum.

In truth I think today you would be hard pushed to buy a ‘bad’ camera. Interestingly though hardly ever do they ask, “what is the lens like on abc?”, or , “which bounce head flash gun should I buy with abc?”, two questions that just through asking show a path to much better pictures than “it has 15 megapixels, is that enough?”.

The modern digital compact is a marvel of performance and price. The D-SLR though is where things can get quite complex, but don’t let them. In over 30 years of taking photographs I would say the thing that will make you keep taking them is using a camera that you enjoy using. That may sound simple, and it is, but its also true.

My eldest son (Eos40D, f/5.6, 1/250 sec, 78mm (iso400)

My first foray into the digital world, at the time I had been using an EOS3 for a few years, was a Minolta Dimage 7. Now this thing at the time along with the Nikon of more or less the same spec and price was supposedly the dogs dangly bits. I hated it. Almost from the minute the novelty of ‘going digital’ had worn off, the cracks started to appear. Now at this time a D-SLR was something that required a second mortgage, the Dimage was a new breed, sort of compact SLR. The Fuji was the popular choice but I had loved the two previous Minolta SLR’s I had owned (in fact I would say the Minolta Dynax 800 was one of the best handling cameras Ive ever used) so I went for the Minolta, an IBM 1GB microdrive (at the time this cost about £200, 1Gb Flash CF is 20 quid these days, if that!) and a few sets of high power rechargeable batteries.

Well, this thing sucked down batteries like nothing I had ever seen, the images were great, fantastic quality, but using it, well it was an ergonomic wreck, I couldn’t find a comfortable way to handle it and more often than not it came out, snapped few pics then went away. Hardly the camera that was going to capture the great shots when it spent most of its life in the camera bag. I found myself using my EOS3 and more and more Velvia, rather than embracing the digital age I was going retro.

When the thing finally broke, and it wasn’t actually that long, I was almost relieved. I went back and stuck to film for quite a while. Then the EOS20D arrived on the scene, at this point my interest in a D-SLR was awakened. The EOS30D arrived and I would have jumped in at this point save for the rumors of the next model, I waited and then plunged in with the EOS40D. My existing lens all fitted (albeit with the 1.6x multiplier as the sensor is not full frame), flash, all the bits I used with my EOS3. I added the additional battery grip to give me a vertical hold shutter release and to be honest I felt like I had the modern equivalent of my Minolta 800 back, it all just felt… right. Because it felt right it gets used and its a pleasure to use, I pay attention to my subject not my camera.

So my advice about which camera to buy..set your budget then go to your local store and play with them, if it feels right in your hands you will use it and you will get results, if it feels wrong, try another. Budget for a few memory cards, a bounce head flash gun (trust me on camera direct flash will be a huge disappointment) and the right lens. Now take photographs, lots of them, don’t take one snap of your kids, take a hundred, then take some more.

I mean, really. How hard is it to scan some slides in, huh?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44834073@N04/sets/

The first set is too blue, the second too red. Kodachrome has some lovely, golden colours. They’re not here…

(some of the results don’t look half too bad though)

The piece for the Today Show that was filmed here in Parsons should air tommorrow, FRIDAY during the 8 O’clock segment on The Today Show.

The piece for the Today Show that was filmed here in Parsons should air tommorrow during the 8 O’clock segment on The Today Show.

Also read a bit here http://wp.me/pzKhI-fY about Leon Crooks, the WW2 Veteran.

I have taken photographs of my family and friends all my life – especially when we  lived in Los Angeles in the 70’s and 80’s.   I will soon be uploading these photos to my photography website www.lisadiamondphotography.com.

I have been scanning lots of photos and getting them copyrighted.  I am no longer going to scan transparencies that are in their original cardboard mounts because of all the little pieces of fiber strands that hang into the photo.  I bought these great plastic mounts by Gepe and have been putting the slides into these plastic mounts.

I got nostalgic cutting open the Kodachrome, Ektachrome, etc. mounts.  So many memories…

Apropos of yesterday.

The owner writes:

My dad took this picture of his 356 Porsche on his way back home to California after leaving Germany. His car was so stuffed with stuff that he had to strap the spare to the outside.

Photo credit: Patrick Joust

- Gyro

Finding out about our heritage, learning about what life was like in the past is something that has always fascinated me. In much simpler times when the world wasn’t as small as it seems today Jeff Altman provides us with some gloriously colourful footage of San Francisco in 1958. Also check out his other videos by checking out his Vimeo page. Credit has to go to Josh Reichlin at Chicago Now for finding this gem.

- Jason

I have neither added or subtracted colors from this photograph, but it has obviously been filtered with Photoshop.  I did this to try to capture a period in which you might be driving down the road and encounter an old gas station like this one.  I was trying to imitate the high contrast feel of Kodachrome slide film (which is no longer made).

This small museum is along side state route 9 in West Virginia near Berkeley Springs.

I know, the story that The Today Show is coming here to cover really is about the end of an era. That is, the end of traditional photography. We all know that photography, like music, is being transformed by the digital age.

 The main story here is about how one local industry is the last-of-the-best-of-the old traditional photography developers. (try saying that 10  times fast without your dentures in) That local business is Dwayne’s Photo. A hometown institution that has been here as long as I can remember, and ran by the Steinle father/son duo. My hat is off to them, they have been reliable employers for many ‘Parsonians’ for many years. And the last thing I want to do is detract from anyone here locally that is willing and able to employ anyone.

To the folks Of Dwayne’s Photo….SALUTE!

 But, like another midwest native always said; “Now, the rest of the story”………

 According to the Parsons Sun news article, another father/son pair will be featured too. Leon Crooks will be talking about his life here as a well known photographer, using Kodachrome of course. His son Brad will be featured as the new generation, using digital photography. Any Parsonions my age or older know Leon Crooks, and his family. Leon photographed Parsonions for decades. So many photos for school yearbooks, I doubt the Crooks family even know how many.

 But, before I get too long winded with old memories, the rest of the story. About a WW2 veteran, a local hero in the eyes (and words) of Brad Crooks, his father Leon. I am stealing the pictures and words from Brad.

 Maybe Leon, and many others only known to few, never achieved the notoriety of “Shifty” Powers. To their friends, family and neighbors, their stories are just as important. And sometimes, like Leon, the stories are just as interesting! So, borrowing from Brad’s Facebook, here is just a little about Leon Crooks in World War 2. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The pic on the lower right was taken in the famous Hofbrauhas Beer Hall in Munich. It is credited as having been the location of the first Nazi rally in 1926. Adolph Hitler had quarters on the upper floors of the building. My dad and two others were the first Americans to enter after Munich fell. The fedora he is wearing was one of Hitlers and has his name inscribed in the brim.

The upper right was right after the invasion of Italy. My dad made 3 “D-day” beach h-hour invasions; Sicily, Italy, and France.

People have said the one on the bottom left looks like Errol Flynn or Clarke Gable. A piece of a parachute is around his neck. The guys made them into ascotts, after supplies were dropped to them in Southern Italy. Attached to the 36th Div at the time, they were bottlenecked by 3 German Divisions. My dad said the aircraft dropping the supplies of much needed ammo and weaponry is what saved them. Needless to say, they saved the parachutes as souveniers.

Photo of a Railcar at Dachau

As for Dachau…I asked him if that was the worst part of the war for him. He said no, that having to fight Hitler Youth and women was probably the worst thing. Hitler Youth were as young as 10 and 12, and they were so indoctrinated in Nazi Propaganda, they would fight to the death. Women and Hitler Youth would be all that was left defending some German towns. He carried several photos that he took at Dachau in his wallet for 10 or 15 yrs. Anytime people would question the Holocausts reality, he would pull those out and show.

My mom said for several years after the war, my dad would have nightmares, yelling for his buddies and wake up in cold sweats. That passed in a few years. I remember when I was young child, my dad was not particularly fond of American Independence Day Celebrations. Not only did the sounds bother him, but he lamented that the smell of sulfur from fireworks heavy in the air was the worst thing. He said it smelled like a battlefield. Physiciatrists say that smell is the sense most linked to memory. There used to be things called Night Howlers on the 4th of July. They sounded just like an incoming shell. Being in a heavy mortar outfit, the sounds of incoming shells was something he “got used to” as they were always a primary target for the enemy. One time we were his backyard when I was a kid, and one of those things went off. He said “Now those things bother me”.

Photo by Leon Crooks

Wirges, Germany. Picture my father took of the men holding up a flag, which they took off of the Hotel behind them. The hotel had served as a German military Headquarters. This flag is among the souvenirs my father brought home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are at least 40 more great photos and Brad’s commentary, all on Brad’s Facebook.

How Ironic, with the Today Show coming to document the demise of photographic film, it is the digital age that makes this great story available to the whole world. ~sekanblogger

I’m not quite sure what the occasion is for our little corner of PARADISE to be on The Today Show? Maybe they are going to show how the midwest is dying without manufacturing? All the empty buildings and closed businesses? Factories forced to layoff 60% of their workforce?

Dwayne’s Photo is a bright spot when it comes to “The end of an era”. They have the dubious distinction of being THE LAST PLACE ON EARTH that still processes Kodak’s Kodachrome color film!

At least our brand new High School will get some air time. Now if people here just had a job to pay for the very things we voted to be taxed for.

 And while I’m thinking about it, WHO IN THE WORLD is going to buy into this new housing addition that the City is being duped into investing in? You know, the one they want to call REDTAIL RIDGE. We, the people, are paying $35,000 just for drawings of this area’s imaginary housing boom? WHY? Who stands to profit at our expense, some group of speculators who calls themselves JOBS Inc.? Give me a break! This very name sounds like a “snow job” to me!

Who is it that will buy $200,000 homes in an area where we can’t even keep jobs? Why don’t we invest in our crumbling infrastructure before we give sweet deals to already well-to-do groups like this?

 I’m just saying……these are the things I would like to see on the today show.

By now everyone knows about Kodak putting the nail into a piece of photographic history by killing off their legendary emulsion Kodachrome earlier this year.  And Dwayne’s in Kansas, the only lab in the world that still does the K-14 process (how Kodachrome is developed) announced that they are going to stop developing and processing Kodachrome.  I bought two of these rolls of K64 about 5 years ago, (these rolls expired in October 2003) and stuck them in my freezer.  Due to a recent move out of my old apartment, I took out all the film that I had frozen (most of it expired).  I had forgotten about these rolls, I was saving them for some special occasion or something.  And now, with the end of the year rapidly approaching us, I need to take to the streets and shoot something with it, just to say that I shot some Kodachrome.  I don’t know exactly what though….

I recently spent a few days (he says nonchalantly, when in fact he means a whole week of all-hours, screen-gazing obsessiveness) stitching together another short film.

It’s a kind of an amateur science film. See, I’m a bit of a biology geek. A few months ago I put together a little 10-minute film montage of very old archive footage and stills–primarily from engraver extraordinaire Gustave Dore– on the subject of morality within the Old Testament (see it HERE). It was just a fun experiment in a medium I’d never used before, and it got some attention. Some of that attention was from the creationist-baiting crowd, and this led me to the idea of making another movie in a similar vein, this time about evolution.

So here it is: a half-baked timeline of evolution from the appearance of  single-celled organisms all the way through to great apes.

Just like my collage work, when it comes to film I adore anything with it’s best days behind it. Anything old. Those Super-8 home movies with the ephemeral feel, all cracked and faded and bleached out.

First Polaroid, now Kodachrome! Kodak is discontinuing Kodachrome forever….

Some vintage kodachrome images I found.

After Snow in Emory (GA)

I always seem to be attracted to snow and ice. I found this photo in a little drainage ditch in Emory – I have the feeling I was quite near the university. I only seem to be able to find a small jpeg of it. My memory is of being freezing cold, but very happy trudging through the snow. The roads were quiet, ‘cos the Georgians didn’t seeem so keen to drive in the snow and so I was pretty much alone (which can be nice).

Ok, Nazis suck and Hitler was a mass murdering maniac, but this is funny as hell…

Kodak’s flagskib indenfor dias film, Kodachrome ser nu ud at være ved at afgå ved døden. Kodachrome 64 regnedes for verdens skarpeste film. Oprindelig var den kun på 8 ISO, mens en 25 ISO film kom til senere. I 1986 kom desuden ern 200 ISO version.

En ulempe ved filmen var, at den havde en særlig fremkaldesproces, som kun kunne foretages ganske få steder i verden. Det betød, at filmen aldrig blev særlig populær blandt fotojournalister. Men for folk der havde tid at vente på sin film, blev fremkaldt, var det en fantastisk film.

De Kodachrome film der ligger på hylderne hos forhandlerne, udløber i 2009, og der er ikke noget hos Kodak der tyder på, at de producerer flere. Og da der idag kun er eet sted i verden, de fremkaldes, virker det somom tiden er løbet fra Kodachrome filmen og K-14 fremkaldelsesprocessen …

Kilde: wikipedia og Pressefotografforbundet.dk