the last days of kodachrome
End of an era, they're saying. As of December 31st, 2010, Kodachrome will no longer be developed. This comes only a year after actual production on the film stopped. The crazed and lucky few who still have some expired rolls of the iconic film lying around are spending these last days out having their hurried "Bye Bye, Miss American Pie" moments, photographing future American nostalgia.
In the late 1930's Kodachrome hit the shelves at $5/roll - the first color film ever. Too rich for middle America's blood but a novelty enough that the Farm Security Administration tasked several photographers with documenting American farm life... in color.
More than just a film, it would become a mirror in which Americans would learn to see themselves, those they identified with, those they did not, those who were hated, those who were loved and admired, those who were not yet known or ignored. Where we were, where we were going... it was all in the Kodachrome.
Eras are ending all around us. Nothing lasts forever. That's why we make photographs.
End of an era, they're saying. As of December 31st, 2010, Kodachrome will no longer be developed. This comes only a year after actual production on the film stopped. The crazed and lucky few who still have some expired rolls of the iconic film lying around are spending these last days out having their hurried "Bye Bye, Miss American Pie" moments, photographing future American nostalgia. 
Here's what Steve McCurry shot with the last 36 frames of Kodachrome... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38527198/ns/business-us_business/
ReplyDeleteUm, I took a picture of a pigeon with mine...