No tempo do Kodachrome

VSCO Went Full MacGyver to Create an Authentic Kodachome Film Simulation

Last month, VSCO achieved a years-old dream of releasing a preset/filter that was based on Kodak’s iconic “Kodachrome” film stock. But creating the KC25 preset was anything but easy. In fact, it involved custom chemicals, custom hardware, and two years of experimentation to get this one right.

The main challenge with recreating Kodachrome isn’t so much getting the film itself, it’s the incredibly complex developing process involved in turning the film—which is actually a black and white emulsion—into the final product that produced such iconic and strikingly colorful shots as Steve McCurry’s Afghan Girl.

Steve McCurry

A BRIEF HISTORY OF Kodachrome

June 23, 2009

It wasn’t easy being green. Or yellow or red or blue, for that matter. While color photography had been around in one form or another since the 1860s, until the Eastman Kodak Company came out with its Kodachrome film in 1935, those wishing to capture a color image had to deal with heavy glass plates, tripods, long exposures and an exacting development procedure, all of which resulted in less than satisfactory pictures — dull, tinted images that were far from true to life. So while Kodak’s discontinuation of the iconic color film will affect only the most devoted photo buffs — sales of Kodachrome account for less than 1% of the company’s revenue — the June 22 announcement breaks one of the largest remaining ties to the era of pre-digital photography. It also ends a legacy that includes some of the most enduring images of 20th century America.

VSCO

VSCO is a creative channel. We build creative tools, spaces, and connections driven by self-expression. Our mission is to help everybody fall in love with their own creativity.

Kodachrome faz parte da minha infância fotográfica. Cheguei a fotografar com esse filme mítico. Mas era difícil de achar, muito caro e ainda por cima, a revelação era feita no Panamá. Demorava mais de mês para você ver as suas fotos. Contando assim ninguém acredita.

PS: Pesquise na rede sobre o Kodachrome. Tem vários livros, tem filme e muita foto para se ver e apreciar.

PS1: O Kodachome no subtítulo fica por conta da PetaPixel.