Monday June 22, 06:39 PM
Kodak taking Kodachrome away
By Chris Lefkow
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Kodak (NYSE: EK - news) is taking Kodachrome away. More than 35 years after Paul Simon immortalized the color film in song, the company announced on Monday that it would be ending production of Kodachrome.
Eastman Kodak Co. said sales of Kodachrome represent less than one percent of Kodak's total sales of still-picture film and that it would stop making it this year.
Kodachrome was launched in 1935, becoming one of the most successful color films of all time, known for its rich colors and durability.
But sales have fallen dramatically, Kodak said, with the advent of digital imaging technology.
"Kodachrome Film is an iconic product," Mary Jane Hellyar, president of Kodak's film, photofinishing and entertainment group, said in a statement. "It was certainly a difficult decision to retire it, given its rich history.
"However, the majority of today's photographers have voiced their preference to capture images with newer technology -- both film and digital," she said.
Paul Simon praised the joys of Kodachrome in his 1973 hit of the same name.
"They give us those nice bright colors. They give us the greens of summers. Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah. I got a Nikon (Berlin: NKN.BE - news) camera. I love to take a photograph. So Mama don't take my Kodachrome away," he sang.
Kodak said only one laboratory, Dwayne's Photo in Parsons, Kansas, still processes Kodachrome film.
"This lack of widespread processing availability, as well as the features of newer films introduced by Kodak over the years, has accelerated the decline of demand for Kodachrome Film," Kodak said.
The Rochester, New York-based Kodak said it expects current supplies of Kodachrome to last until early this fall. It said Dwayne's Photo will continue to process the film through 2010.
Kodak set up a tribute page to Kodachrome at kodak.com/go/kodachrometribute featuring an interview with photographer Steve McCurry, who used Kodachrome to shoot his iconic 1985 National Geographic cover picture of an Afghan girl with haunting green eyes.
"The early part of my career was dominated by Kodachrome, and I reached for that film to shoot some of my most memorable images," McCurry said.
Kodak said McCurry will shoot one of the last rolls of Kodachrome and the images will be donated to the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film in Rochester.
Peter Guttman, another well-known photographer, said Kodachrome was "the visual crib in which my photographic dreams and visions were nurtured.
"The rich hues, and startlingly lifelike textures imbued within this elegantly crafted film provided a vivid training ground for sharpening my vision of the world," he said.
Users of the film sent in comments to the Kodachrome tribute page on Monday lamenting its passing.
"This is a really sad day for me," wrote "Erez." "I loved this film so much -- the colors and tones were just perfect. It's really hard to get something close to it with digital cameras... R.I.P Kodachrome."
Another contributor, "Philo," had a question: "Has anyone asked Paul Simon what he thinks of this?"
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