andybarton Posted November 11, 2012 Share #1 Posted November 11, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Documentary about the demise of various film manufacturers About the project | The Disappearance of Darkness Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 11, 2012 Posted November 11, 2012 Hi andybarton, Take a look here The Disappearance of Darkness. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
plasticman Posted November 11, 2012 Share #2 Posted November 11, 2012 Documentary about the demise of various film manufacturers About the project | The Disappearance of Darkness My problem with this project is that it's being portrayed as yet another 'death of film' story - look at the way Wired covered the project, for instance. As far as they were concerned, even Ilford and The Impossible Project are part of this 'moribund' industry, and it's all gonna be gone in a few short years (at most). When I started shooting film about five years ago I felt I was going out on a limb - everyone was saying that film was gonna be gone any day. It's still here - and I just wish I hadn't listened to the doomsayers, and started earlier instead. I missed out, and projects like this will mean other people will miss how wonderful film actually is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messsucherkamera Posted November 12, 2012 Share #3 Posted November 12, 2012 People have been singing and dancing about the imminent disappearance of film since 1998. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted November 12, 2012 Share #4 Posted November 12, 2012 I had a phone call on Saturday from someone who knows me only from my photography. He wanted to know whether I'd be interested in his darkroom equipment that he's trying to get rid of: he doesn't want money for it, he just wants to know it would be going to someone who would use it. I thanked him but had to tell him I'd been trying to do the same thing for about eight years now: no schools, photography clubs, art centres, colleges or anyone that I can find is interested. So whilst the decline isn't terminal, its serious. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messsucherkamera Posted November 12, 2012 Share #5 Posted November 12, 2012 It is indeed serious - it is beyond sad to see outstanding emulsions such as Tech Pan, Kodachrome, Plus X and the entire Agfa line slip beneath the waves like the Titanic. Then there's the loss of Ilfochrome. And the loss of the many wonderful film based cameras that have been felled by the digital grim reaper, like the Fuji GX617 to mention one of my favorites. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym911 Posted November 12, 2012 Share #6 Posted November 12, 2012 Being a film fanboy I must say that seeing stuff like this does make me wonder , just how long we will be able to get film for our cameras. Intuitively I feel that film will eventually go away faster than I want or think it will today. All the more reason why I not only shoot more and more than ever before, but also embrace and enjoy its properties and characteristics much more than before. Every time I develop a film it is a meaningful experience for me, I can truly say I enjoy and appreciate every moment of it. I would love to be able to develop color at home as well as black and white and the only regret I have is not starting with color development at home..maybe I will one day soon, lets see. Anyway the demise of film is pretty certain but it will not become extinct in my lifetime. Lets savour that acetate while we can and enjoy pouring away the fixer and opening the developer tank for years to come:D:D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith (M) Posted November 12, 2012 Share #7 Posted November 12, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) ^ A heartfelt +1 ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
moikle Posted November 12, 2012 Share #8 Posted November 12, 2012 lAnyway the demise of film is pretty certain but it will not become extinct in my lifetime. :D I just hope you're not 90 years old! Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym911 Posted November 12, 2012 Share #9 Posted November 12, 2012 No I am 12;) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted November 13, 2012 Share #10 Posted November 13, 2012 Film will live on, but most likely in formats larger than 35mm. There are so many historic and competent cameras of medium format (120), and of course large format that those are likely to live long. It will not be inexpensive, but it will be valuable to the rest of us. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don'tknowmuch Posted November 13, 2012 Share #11 Posted November 13, 2012 Not a big help to those whose own particular favourite film does become unavailable, but as a general observation, and in the interests of keeping our glass half full, I would hope that as the range of available films decreases, the market for those that remain will increase as we all have to buy what is available. Maybe this will keep an albeit smaller range of available films going for longer? Incidentally, when asked whether I saw a glass as half full or half empty, I had to admit that I was more of a glass quarter empty kind of person... Jim. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted November 13, 2012 Share #12 Posted November 13, 2012 ...I would love to be able to develop color at home as well as black and white and the only regret I have is not starting with color development at home..maybe I will one day soon, lets see...D Good luck with finding the chemicals for home color processing. No longer available here for years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 13, 2012 Share #13 Posted November 13, 2012 I've done home processing for color negatives for years in the past. I cannot lament the demise of colour printing - it was one of the most frustrating jobs in photography. Digital shooters agonize over colour balance - I could sing them a song.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted November 13, 2012 Share #14 Posted November 13, 2012 Good luck with finding the chemicals for home color processing. No longer available here for years. I have a couple of friends* here in Sweden who use color home-process kits and seem to get good results. Been tempted to try it myself, but have neither the time nor probably the patience - but if it became a necessity I wouldn't hesitate. * Facebook friends rather than 'real' friends. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyedward Posted November 13, 2012 Share #15 Posted November 13, 2012 I had a phone call on Saturday from someone who knows me only from my photography. He wanted to know whether I'd be interested in his darkroom equipment that he's trying to get rid of: he do sn't want mon y for it, he just wants to know it would be going to someone who would use it. I thanked him but had to tell him I'd been trying to do the same thing for about eight years now: no schools, photography clubs, art centres, colleges or anyone that I can find is interested. So whilst the decline isn't terminal, its serious. As someone who has ditched digital and is in the process of building their own darkroom, I'd gladly take free equipment from generous benefactors! My first purchase will be the new Jobo cpp-3, followed by an enlarger, etc. ad infinitum...... l refuse to be pessimistic about the future of film. There are a few glimmers of hope that future generations will gravitate towards film, such as the tens of thousands of kids who learn to develop and enlarge at school today Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted November 13, 2012 Share #16 Posted November 13, 2012 Andy, I'll PM you with details if you like. Colour & B&W set up. The problem, if you were interested, would be getting it to you, which would probably cost a lot more than its worth now, even though it was state-of-the-art about 12 years ago! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalArts 99 Posted November 13, 2012 Share #17 Posted November 13, 2012 I just bought another M4 last week. The color palette of film is unsurpassed, imho. Yes, one gets used to digital color but it's really not the same. e.g., try working with reds (as found in nature) in digital. Digital also has a clinical and artificial look that always seems a bit off to my mind's eye. Humans are analog and most of the things we do everyday, and most of the world we encounter, is analog. But paradigms shift and the shift is towards immediacy and convenience. It's always pretty much been like that throughout history. Anything that's easier and more immediate will be embraced readily by most people and that's to be expected. Yet for every story of film's demise there is another story of somebody discovering film for the first time. But film has been around forever so those stories aren't sensational enough and aren't noticed. In a city like Los Angeles, film is everywhere and labs are plentiful (and many students in the college and university art departments here are using film.) I think the only thing interesting about this 'Disappearance of Darkness' project is that it's another dialogue of industrialization, technology, and profitability. But the factories of Kodak being torn down is just a tiny part of the overall story. Artists like Edward Burtynsky (Zeitgeist Films | Manufactured Landscapes) have already put this into a much broader context. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messsucherkamera Posted November 14, 2012 Share #18 Posted November 14, 2012 I just bought another M4 last week. The color palette of film is unsurpassed, imho. Yes, one gets used to digital color but it's really not the same. e.g., try working with reds (as found in nature) in digital. Digital also has a clinical and artificial look that always seems a bit off to my mind's eye. Humans are analog and most of the things we do everyday, and most of the world we encounter, is analog. But paradigms shift and the shift is towards immediacy and convenience. It's always pretty much been like that throughout history. Anything that's easier and more immediate will be embraced readily by most people and that's to be expected. Yet for every story of film's demise there is another story of somebody discovering film for the first time. But film has been around forever so those stories aren't sensational enough and aren't noticed. In a city like Los Angeles, film is everywhere and labs are plentiful (and many students in the college and university art departments here are using film.) I think the only thing interesting about this 'Disappearance of Darkness' project is that it's another dialogue of industrialization, technology, and profitability. But the factories of Kodak being torn down is just a tiny part of the overall story. Artists like Edward Burtynsky (Zeitgeist Films | Manufactured Landscapes) have already put this into a much broader context. Couldn't have said it better myself. To my eye, digital images just don't look "right" for lack of a better term. HDR images look unnatural and contrived - there are no shadows. The real world has shadows. I have read a lot of commentary that leads me to believe that film is actually a resurgent medium - some would go so far as to say there is a renaissance of film photography. Stories abound online and in magazines of photographers who left film, became disillusioned with digital and returned to film base photography. The fact that Deardorff is back from the dead and is making and selling large format cameras again is significant. One large format enlarger builder ( can't recall which one at the moment) has stated in their advertising that in 2012 they have sold more enlargers than in the last five years combined. That speaks volumes, IMHO. Kodak may well disappear completely from the face of the earth - but I don't see the same happening to film as a whole. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted November 14, 2012 Share #19 Posted November 14, 2012 Stories abound online and in magazines of photographers who left film, became disillusioned with digital and returned to film base photography. The fact that Deardorff is back from the dead and is making and selling large format cameras again is significant. Got some links that show the resurgence in use of film?? And the same for Deardorff. Evidence? IMHO the Deardorff is overweight and under-capable. Or did you mean Linhof? Again, some evidence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messsucherkamera Posted November 14, 2012 Share #20 Posted November 14, 2012 Got some links that show the resurgence in use of film?? And the same for Deardorff. Evidence? IMHO the Deardorff is overweight and under-capable. Or did you mean Linhof? Again, some evidence. Attack, attack, attack - Jeezuz, give me a break. When I mentioned online stories of people coming back to film photography, I was referring to anecdotal accounts from various online photography forums where posters relate their account of going digital and coming back to film. I was not referencing a body of empirical evidence that one would amass for the purpose of authoring a Ph.D. dissertation. My apologies for not making that clear. As for "evidence" in regard to Deardorff cameras, here you go: Deardorff Cameras | LF Deardorff & Sons, Inc. | Deardorff Cameras If you will kindly examine this website, you will find that Deardorff is indeed back from the dead and is building and selling view cameras - precisely as I stated above. I have even seen Deardorff ads in View Camera magazine, so I seriously doubt that their website is some sort of hoax. If you think Deardorff cameras are overweight and under capable, that's your business - but the fact is I did not comment on the weight or capabilities of Deardorffs. Linhoff? Where did that come from? Where do I mention Linhoff?? Next time, perhaps a few minutes of actual thought are in order before launching your attack. It might help you to appear less foolish and impulsive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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