There was only one Kodachrome lab left in the world - Dwayne's - in Kansas, and Kodak stopped making the chemistry. They committed to Dwayne's to supply chemistry through a specific time frame and once it was done, it was done. There was a mad rush to get film in to Dwayne's before the midnight December 31st deadline - I think it was four years ago. I sent in about twenty rolls, but really a hard time shooting up all I had.
Here's a portrait I did of my girlfriend just before the deadline. I told her to put a scarf on and some sunglasses to look like a 60's movie star. We shot at dusk here in Culver City. It was with a Canon 35mm L at f/2, PKM - Kodachrome 25, well over twenty years out of date. Scanned at 8000 ppi on my Howtek and what a beautiful large print it makes. There's more detail in K25 than a 1DsMKIII - when you have a scanner that can pull it out.
Finally got the chance to try my hand at developing "without a net." My first roll of film, I didn't do a lot of the work involved, really only handling the final rinse, hang to dry, and clean up. Today, I did everything and there was no one here to help either. Bit the bullet and went for it. Stayed calm and didn't allow myself to get flustered. Haven't scanned yet, but the negatives look really good! Hope to get some scanned this weekend and see what I really have.
Kevin, good for you!
Yea, after you do it a few times, it's just a sequential process.
BUT, the fear of screwing up the negs is bigger than messing up a Photoshop edit.
Go figure.
BTW, I just received my Mamiya Six,circa ~1950. In pretty good condition.
Andrew, nice job!
I have been meaning to drag the 4x5 with some Portra 400 down to the local velodrome for friday night cycling races.
Thanks for the reminder
Dan
Wow, Dan. That Mamiya has an Olympus lens. Who knew? Very interesting.
We used to go to Hellyer Velodrome back in the late 70's when Eric Heiden was still racing there - before he was an Olympic champion and before he became a respected orthopedic surgeon. 4x5 should be interesting there.
Peter,
I'm guessing this an early 50's model. Oly lens is a 6 element I think. Shutter speeds sound ratiometrically good, overall accuracy not known. I will do some sunny-16 & light meter shots this weekend.
BTW, the Helyer Velodrome is just a few miles from my house. I've only been a couple of times. I think my brother raced there as a teenager.
I read a short article by an old time sports shooter who was explaining how they got shots at baseball games. It turns out that the newspaper sent a senior photographer and a couple of juniors to each game. There were wires hanging down from the ceiling of the press box that they attached their Speed Graphics. Each member was assigned a shot, like first base, or home plate. With his camera hanging at the ready and pre-focused for that shot. He just waited for it to happen.
kwoodard wrote:
Finally got the chance to try my hand at developing "without a net." My first roll of film, I didn't do a lot of the work involved, really only handling the final rinse, hang to dry, and clean up. Today, I did everything and there was no one here to help either. Bit the bullet and went for it. Stayed calm and didn't allow myself to get flustered. Haven't scanned yet, but the negatives look really good! Hope to get some scanned this weekend and see what I really have.
Next time I am in Sac let's make some contact prints or some proofs!
Just beautiful shot.It pops
