21Apr

Trip to Kodak Headquarters

When I went back home last summer to shoot the Climb to the Clouds race, Cameron and I had some free time in the days ahead of that event. Part of that time we took to drive from New Hampshire over to Rochester New York so that we could meet up with the Direct of Web Strategy and Development at Kodak, Matt Stoffel. Once we made the 6+ hour drive we stopped in at the Genesee Brew House and waited to meet up with Matt. While waiting, one of the fellow film photographers I know from Instagram, Taylor Hendricks, happened to see Cameron and I were in town and stopped by the brew house to hang out for a bit as well. It was really random to run across another photographer who I had only known through their work online.

Matt later came to meet us at the brew house and brought along a nice Hasselblad, H3 I think it was, as well as some rare and discontinued Kodak films. Cameron, Matt, and myself then headed out to do a short photo walk on our way to the Kodak Headquarters. We were lucky enough that Matt was able to give us an amazing tour through some of their facilities and explain more of the history of the headquarters, company, and what may lay ahead for them in the future. Hopefully Kodak will continue to have a base of support with photographers like myself who enjoy the medium and I’m looking forward to when they bring e100g back to the market. Next time we go back to Kodak, hopefully we can see even more and I should also bring a tripod.

Genesee falls in Rochester New York Genesee Falls near downtown Rochester

Cameron Marin in Rochester New York near the Kodak HeadquartersCameron with his Bronica ETRSi outside the Kodak Headquarters

Kodak HeadquartersKodak Headquarters

Kodak sign in the headquartersNice to see you for the first time

Kodak employee old pool and trackFormer pool and track for Kodak employees, apparently color tests were also performed in this area

Hallway full of darkrooms at the Kodak headquartersHallway lined with numerous darkrooms, yes.. I needed a tripod

George Eastman's Memorial at the Kodak HeadquartersGeorge Eastman’s grave site

Buildings at the Kodak HeadquartersFilm production magic happens somewhere in there

Kodak sign at the headquartersAt the production facilities

Cameron Marin shooting at the Kodak HeadquartersI think Cameron was shoot the Kodak sign and buildings behind it

Random picnic table sitting on a high spot out of the Genesee riverRandom picnic table on some rocks in the middle of the Genesee river

Pattern of repeating outcrops of a parking garageParking garage near downtown Rochester

Rochester New York at night looking over the Genesse RiverLooking over the Genesee River to the Kodak Headquarters

Kodak Headquarters at nightTighter shot with my 150mm lens instead of the 80mm

Stairs up to a parking garage in Rochester New YorkParking garage entrance

Bridges over the Genesee RiverDos bridges

Pedestrian bridge over the Genesee RiverBuildings on State Street

14Apr

Evo 7 nearly complete

It has been a long time in coming, but my Evo is nearly ready for some track days. All that is really left is to add a roll bar, harnesses, fire extinguisher. Last time I washed the car I spent some time getting new shots since I hadn’t really since the Evo 7 conversion was really completed. Next I’ll have to bring it out in the day some places and get new film photos of it.

My Evo 7 parked off of Chevy Chase Drive at night

Rear shot of my Mitsubishi Evo 7 at night

Rear angled shot of my Mitsubishi Evo 7

My Mitsubishi Evo 7 parked at night with the lights on

Front shot of my Mitsubishi Evo 7

Front 3/4 shot of my Mitsubishi Evo 7

11Apr

Fujifilm

I’m back from visiting the Philippines with Zab and catching up on things. What I’m most disappointed to learn though is that Fujifilm is yet again ending production of more of their film products. They’re stopping production of all their black and white films and papers, which sucks since Acros 100 film is probably my favorite and most versatile black and white film. It has far fewer problems with reciprocity failure than the Ilford or Kodak black and white films, plus you can push process it beyond 800 iso in caffenol. Fujifilm cited the costs of production not matching demand, however in that case why aren’t they just raising the costs of the products so they remain profitable even at the lower volume? If they really don’t want to continue producing these and other films later they should sell their patents and formulas off to companies who seem to still care about this art medium. Soon they’ll have to drop “film” from their name entirely it seems..