2010 - The Last Year Shooting Kodak Kodachrome

Last days of Kodachrome, a photo by Michael Raso - Film Photography Podcast on Flickr.

Images from one of my last shoots (June 2010) using Kodak Kodachrome color reversal film. "Kodachrome is a type of color reversal film introduced by Eastman Kodak in 1935^. It was one of the first successful color materials and was used for both cinematography and still photography. Because of the widespread transition to digital photography, Kodachrome lost its market share and its manufacturing was discontinued in 2009 and its processing ended in 2010."

An inspired day with Catherine (top page) and Sarina (above). Make-up and hair expertly done by Paige Davis. Images shot on the Canon AE-1 Program 35mm SLR camera / Kodak Kodachrome 64 /  Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. lens. 

Images © 2010 Michael Raso

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http://filmphotographyproject.com/podcast

Kodachrome quote quote from Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Ansco B2 Speedex Junior

I purchased this beautiful vintage Ansco camera for $0.99us on e-bay. It’s fast becoming one of my favorite 120 cameras. Not a great deal of information on the web but I was able to find the following:

- Made in (or around) 1945 in the US
- Uses 120 film
- 1/30th sec shutter
- f-stops 11 through32
- Has "time" mode for long exposures
- Camera boasts a "deep" area to load the film - meaning that a 35mm canister fits perfectly should you want to shoot 35mm "sprocket" photography

Strangely enough, I shot the image above of the Ansco B2 Speedex Junior with 31 year old Kodak Ektachrome film using my Canon FP camera and 50mm FL lens. I purchased the film on e-bay. Seller claimed frozen since 1978! I've mentioned it many times and I'll say it again...storage is the KEY in film. I've purchased expired film from 2006 and have had miserable results. Storage is the key.

Here are a few images I took in the last few weeks using the Ansco B2 Speedex Junior


Stream off of Hamburg Turnpike, Butler, NJ USA 4/21/2010 - Kodak Ektachrome E100sw (film expired 7/2004)


One of the many buildings in the Butler Center industrial complex. Home of my studio and The Film Photography Podcast 4/21/2010 - Kodak Ektachrome E100sw (film expired 7/2004)


The Ansco B2 Speedex Jr loaded with 35mm Kodachrome 64. Oops, I forgot to tape the red window on the back of the camera (when using 35mm film)

By using 35mm film in the Asco 120 film camera, you will be able to shoot your image on the entire piece of film. This is also known as “Sprocket Photography” or “Sprocket Revolution.” Fun stuff.


Flip Side Records in Pompton Lakes, NJ USA
A real joy to have an indie vinyl shop near by. Flip Side has been around since the 1980s. One peek inside and you’d think it was still 1984!




William Hellfire and Erin Russ record shopping at Flip Side Records. Open shutter and hand-held flash created the “trippy” effect.


Spontaneous laughter from Erin Russ when I took out the Ansco B2 Speedex Junior folding camera and snapped a quick picture.


I used the “T” time fuction to keep the shutter open about 30 seconds. Shot of me sitting in my studio.

What can I say…I love The Ansco B2 Speedex Junior!

Ansco links
http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Ansco

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansco

http://www.jollinger.com/photo/cam-coll/histories/history-ansco.html

Sprocket Hole Photography!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprocket_hole_photography

The Film Photography Internet Radio Show
http://www.filmphotographypodcast.com/

My Film Photography Flickr Page
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelraso/

Images © 2010 Michael Raso

Death meets Kodachrome

Last fall Erin Russ asked me to shoot photos of her for the Spring 2010 issues of “Girls and Corpses” magazine.





After my ear-to-ear grin subsided, I said a hearty “yes.” I love a photo challenge and I looked forward to picking and packing my favorite vintage camera gear for this sinister assignment. Another Grinch-like smirk appeared on my face, knowing that I’d shoot this project on the defunct Kodak Kodachrome film stock.





Invented in 1935 and discontinued in 2009, Kodachrome film is unlike any other film on the planet. The image shot on this amazing stock creates an image with “ridges.” Color is systematically added in the processing - producing an amazing color (known for its brilliantly warm skin tones).



The film is also amazingly archival. Surviving Kodachrome slides from the 1930s remain as vividly brilliant as the day they were shot. Simply amazing.



Kodachrome is gone but I have a special stash hidden away for special projects this year. On December 31, 2010 the last processing batch will occur.



Eight more months of Kodachrome joy.

Images © 2010 Michael Raso

Gear used:
Canon AE-1 Program
Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. Lens
Canon FD 24mm f/2.8 Lens
Kodachrome 64 film
Epson V700 scanner

Thanks to Erin Russ and William Hellfire for thinking of me for this fun project.

Girls and Corpses Magazine - Issue 10, Spring 2010 (featuring Erin Russ)
http://www.girlsandcorpses.com

Film Photography Internet Radio
Hosted by "Yours Truly" and Duane Polcou
http://filmphotographypodcast.com/

What Does Expired, Badly Stored Kodachrome Look Like?

Results from Film that was Mistreated, Badly Stored, Heated, Unloved & Wayyyyyyyyy Past Its Expiration Date.

The film stock in question was Kodachrome 64 (110 format), expired in May 1988 and purchased from e-bay. E-bay seller promised film was properly stored. I never say it, but I’m gonna have to…impossible that it was properly stored.

Images shot 2/20/2010 on the same roll of 5/88 expired Kodachrome.
Shot at Chainsaw Kiss film benefit @ The Clash Bar in New Jersey.
w/ the JC Penny “11” 110 Camera and MagiCube Flash.


Don't know why this particular frame yielded a blue-magenta cast (while other shots from the same roll varied)


Don't know why this particular frame yielded a color-less cast (while other shots from the same roll varied. My guess is that the film emulsion sensed that a vampire and werewolf were being photographed)


The most normal-looking (sort-of) exposure while certainly the subject matter is far from normal.


Too creeped out to guess why "666" appears in the middle of the frame (instead of the image that I shot).

I will admit, it is very rare that I encounter such a horribly stored roll of film. Luck of the draw.

For comparison, here is a shot taken with my Canon FTb
On the same evening using Kodachrome 64 that expired 8/1992


Shattered that the images from the 1988 film look so aweful. Don’t lose faith in expired film. Here is a shot taken with Kodachrome 25 with an expiration date of 06/1985 (shot in 2009)

I, Hyper Critical

I did a tremendous about of shooting in January which led to many nights of scanning. With over a hundred images now on hand, I became hyper-critical of my new material.


That’s me! Shot with the Olympus Stylus 80 on Kodachrome 200 film

So, I stepped away from my work for a few weeks. When I returned, I was able to look at it all with a fresher perspective.

Fellow FLICKR members have been very helpful and encouraging by posting comments or even selecting my shots as their “favs.” So, here are some shots from the last few weeks. Hope you like ‘em.


The 1960 Kodak Brownie Cresta 3


The “Little Snowman” on Kodachrome 64 using the Kodak Brownie Cresta 3 camera


Woodland Lake, Pequannock, NJ USA Olympus Stylus Epic / Kodachrome 200


1959 Kodak Brownie Twin 20



Test shots with the Kodak Brownie Twin 20
I have yet to produce a shot with a sharp focus from ANY Brownie camera


New York’s Radio City Music Hall shot with the Canon FTb and Kodachrome 64 film


Similar shot using Agfa Chrome 100 Cross-Processed in C-41 chemistry. Shot with the Olympus Stylus Epic camera


The 1954 Agfa Clack 120 camera. Lomography.com calls it “Your Tubby Little Plastic Friend”


Friend Michael Bowen shot (with the Agfa Clack) on 9th Ave in New York. Massive light leak most likely lab error.


Last light falls on my studio at Butler Center, Butler, NJ USA - Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim camera / Kodachrome 64

Midnight Creeps at Yule Time

When I showed up on December 4th to shoot Violent Hearts at the Loop Lounge in New Jersey USA, I was happy to find that a second band was playing – Rhode Island’s Midnight Creeps.



According to the bands MySpace page they’re “Straight out of the bowels of Creepsville USA armed with sleazy tales of sin, sex, and destitution. The Midnight Creeps bring the danger back to rocknroll! Consisting of singer Jenny Hurricane, guitarist Stimbot, bassist Jonas Parmelee, and drummer...ummm...well we don't know who the drummer is right now but anyway the Midnight Creeps specialize in churning out three-minute roller coasters of good gone bad.”

I met the band before the show and told them that I’d love to photograph them. They were super cool and stoked to have me shoot.



My kit was the same as reported in my previous blog. ( http://michaelraso.blogspot.com/2009/12/making-photography-liquid-shooting.html ) ‘73 Canon FTb, 50mm f1.4 lens, small strobe and few rolls of Kodachrome 64 film. For the Creeps set I utilized a second strobe snapped on top of a small electronic slave. I picked up this handy mini-device from a Hong Kong e-bay seller for cheap.





With the help of pal William Hellfire, I was able to fire off a few frames using the second strobe. The shots created a slight glare on the lens but I think it was for the better. Next time I’ll mount the strobe on a monopod and gel the strobe amber or blue.



Hey, check out the Midnight Creeps!

Midnight Creeps on MySpace
http://www.myspace.com/midnightcreeps

Midnight Creeps on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Midnight-Creeps/112148064875?ref=search&sid=1807321902.2050218808..1&v=wall

Archived article from Sleazegrinder!
http://www.sleazegrinder.com/int_midnightcreeps.htm

The Loop Lounge, Passaic, New Jersey USA
http://www.thelooplounge.com/



Happy Holidays to all my Film Photography Friends around the world!

Making Photography Liquid - Shooting VIOLENT HEARTS

When I ventured out on December 4th to shoot stills of Violent Hearts performing at the Loop Lounge, I hastily packed a tiny bag. Inside, all analog photo gear including my ‘73 Canon FTb, 50mm f1.4 lens, small strobe and few rolls of Kodachrome 64 film. I threw in an extra FTb body (just in case).



Pals William Hellfire and Erin Russ gave me a lift, giving me about 20 minutes to figure out how I was going to shoot the performance. Most small clubs are “black holes,” sometimes not even offering stage lights.



The performance was loud with great energy. Rather than conventional flash, I decided to attempt to get some movement in my still images. With no way to measure the ambient light, I shot most exposures with my shutter open for about five seconds, manually flashing the band. This technique gave the still images the illusion of motion.





Special thanks William, Erin, the Loop and, of course, Violent Hearts. Rock on.

See all the performance pix here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/newyorkgrindhouse/sets/72157623015882820/

Violent Hearts
http://www.myspace.com/theviolenthearts
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Violent-Hearts/87262264301?v=wall

The Loop Lounge
Passaic Park, New Jersey
http://www.thelooplounge.com/