Before pixÂels there were silÂver halide crysÂtals, and before memÂoÂry cards, film. LitÂtle yelÂlow boxÂes clutÂtered the lives of phoÂtogÂraÂphers everyÂwhere, and the EastÂman Kodak ComÂpaÂny was virÂtuÂalÂly synÂonyÂmous with phoÂtogÂraÂphy.
Things have realÂly changed. With the recent news that Kodak is teeÂterÂing on the brink of ChapÂter 11 bankÂruptÂcy, many are feelÂing nosÂtalÂgia for those litÂtle yelÂlow boxÂes and the rolls of silÂver gelatin film inside. To indulge this nostalgia–and perÂhaps learn someÂthing new about an old technology–we offer a fasÂciÂnatÂing 1958 docÂuÂmenÂtary from Kodak entiÂtled How Film is Made.
The docÂuÂmenÂtary is in Dutch, but memÂbers of the AnaÂlog PhoÂtogÂraÂphy Users Group launched a project to creÂate EngÂlish subÂtiÂtles. You can read more about the project on Dutch memÂber MarÂco Boeringa’s webÂsite. And you can watch the 18-minute film startÂing above and conÂcludÂing below.
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My first full-time job after gradÂuÂaÂtion from SyraÂcuse UniÂverÂsiÂty in 1955 was for the EastÂman Kodak ComÂpaÂny, in Rochester New York. I was hired as a techÂniÂcal ediÂtor, with the expecÂtaÂtion that, like everyÂone else, I would work for 41 years and be retired now with full benÂeÂfits until I die. It was like joinÂing a church. AnothÂer stoÂry. There I met my first Dutch friend-forÂevÂer, Fred KubÂbinÂga. AnothÂer stoÂry. The work culÂture? Unique. AnothÂer stoÂry. After 18 years I left Kodak to purÂsue a free-lance life style in the largÂer world. I am now a writer and actor who sings and dances. AnothÂer stoÂry. Thank you for noticÂing.
^^ Love this comÂment ^^ Thanks for sharÂing!