Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/06/25
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Fred Ward wrote:
"That of course is the dilemma. The main problem with Kodachrome is that
it is not as attractive as the other films available today. No contest.
And the really good film remains at ASA 25, a bit slow by today's
standards. So, I suffer with the problem on every assignment. I want the
ASA 100 speed at least and I want the warm and wonderful colors (but not
as warm as Ektachrome 100S, which almost ruined my most recent month in
Upper Burma because of its excessive red tilt).
The ideal would be the E-6 emulsions built to last 100-300 years. The
kids out there who cannot think beyond Friday night may think that
fading in 50 years is no problem. But I can tell you that almost ALL my
early work in the 1950s and 1960s that was not shot for NGS on
Kodachrome is severely damaged or totally worthless. The early E160, the
Anscochromes, the original Ektachromes are almost all huge problems for
me. And this is in one working lifetime, not over a century.
Digital may turn out to be the answer, but it is not close yet."
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You mirror my exact thoughts! Speed is a tad slow. The saturation a tad low
compared to the over saturated palettes of the fuji's & E100 line. The
problem is sometimes you need a quick turnaround time for an assignment & E6
is the answer.
On longevity, I've read countless stories on early color work & how the
emulsions have faded & left no record. It's a shame people are not more aware
or care about archival issues. Last year I attended a workshop at Rockport,
Maine. A lecturing well established art photographer was asked after her talk
about longevity of her color work. She said she did not care, she would shoot
other pictures. I have trouble understanding people who think that way. Why
do something at all if it has no lasting value?
Anyway, no film is perfect. Fred...what E6 film do you normally use?
Incidentally, Fred, I read in PDN that feature story on how you do your own
color seps. I'm a graphic designer so I was doubly fascinated. I've got some
questions for you!
Regards to all
Frederic