You know when you break up with some one, it's all you have to NOT think about them? To distance yourself as far away from them as possible so you can heal?
I did this when I left the photo lab. After working for the same one since I was sixteen, it was like a break up when I left. Sitting and crying, thinking the wine is helping. Thinking I am not capable of working anywhere else, this was all I loved....
After a few days of sobbing, I picked my life up and moved on into other things. It's been many years since I left the lab, with out giving my age, and although I'd always have one eye on a lab if I were in a drug store, I never really gave it another go since. I suppose I am bitter, that now they really only cater to the digital customers. Most lab techs now-a-days can't suggest film to you, let alone, help you get it out of your camera. Sorry to insult, but today's lab tech aren't "lab techs". They're part-time teens who could care less about your dinosaur film camera....
Just the other day, in a pinch, I called Wal-Mart (gag) to see if they could process- JUST process- a roll of color 120 film. The girl told me that they couldn't process any film there, they'd have to "send it out". I asked how this made her a one hour lab- she replied that they could still print my digital uploads with in the hour. Geeee, thanks....
I have a local lab that I try to always use, to support the Indy movement. Their techs are knowledgeable and seem capable. I was going to send one roll of 120 I have to develop to Kodak to see their results against my Indy lab. (Hey, it's my choice to move around and compare!) Only to be informed that Kodak DOESN'T PROCESS FILM ANYMORE. Shock to the system, took me a few minutes to wrap my head around this one...
So this is where the break up-ignore thing comes in. Being that I had to pry myself away from all things LAB, I didn't hear the news when Kodak decided this. I still can't figure out when- I find reports of other Kodak labs closing here and there, but not the big red, flashing CLOSED sign I am looking for.
Confused, I called the Kodak number off their Gallery site, thinking I was missing something and film could still be shipped to them. The helpful Juan explained to me the travesty of not being able to process any longer. Mr. Eastman must be rolling in his grave right now. As I have emerged slowly back out into the photo world, there's this whole "Film is Dead" attitude, and it's rampant.
Film is NOT dead, it's just not as easy nor cheap as digital, but it IS better. For me to learn that Eastman Kodak will no longer have a large, fully capable, central site lab anymore was crushing. Where is film going if Kodak doesn't want to play anymore? To your Indys- so you better get out and help them before it's too late for them, too! Then we'll all be playing with red light bulbs and trays in our bathtubs!
I often wonder, could I pull some part-time hours in a lab on the weekends or something? Although, it calls to me, I don't know if I could. I can push and pull, salvage, repair, do processing tricks to make your negs look better, but I don't think I could yap megapixles with a random customer. Digital is why I left the lab- ours was trying to really push out film. They were converting all the machines to accept digital and pushed us hard to sell the first primitive digital cameras we had in stock. We all felt like hypocrites, I couldn't explain a megapixle to any one then- just film grain!
I am rambling, but I have let this Kodak issue sit like heartburn in my chest for days. I wasn't going to post anything about it until I found all the facts and articles about Kodak's lab shut down, but I have to speak. If a large, and I mean billion dollar large, facility can close due to lack of work, so can our Indy's. And I'm sure a lot of them are already facing that.
Break out your film cameras, load them up, and start shooting. Get all LOMO about it- use mom's old Canon point and shoot from 1986 with the four unused flashbulbs and expired film- who cares? It's all for fun! The funkier and older your camera is- the more interesting the results! Be kind, support your local labs, with out them, sadly, we'll have nothing left. Share the prints with your friends and family, enter them in contests, get involved with projects and assignments, join the local clubs, and I can't say this enough, support your local Indy Lab!
Remember to tip your waitress, thank you and good night.
I did this when I left the photo lab. After working for the same one since I was sixteen, it was like a break up when I left. Sitting and crying, thinking the wine is helping. Thinking I am not capable of working anywhere else, this was all I loved....
After a few days of sobbing, I picked my life up and moved on into other things. It's been many years since I left the lab, with out giving my age, and although I'd always have one eye on a lab if I were in a drug store, I never really gave it another go since. I suppose I am bitter, that now they really only cater to the digital customers. Most lab techs now-a-days can't suggest film to you, let alone, help you get it out of your camera. Sorry to insult, but today's lab tech aren't "lab techs". They're part-time teens who could care less about your dinosaur film camera....
Just the other day, in a pinch, I called Wal-Mart (gag) to see if they could process- JUST process- a roll of color 120 film. The girl told me that they couldn't process any film there, they'd have to "send it out". I asked how this made her a one hour lab- she replied that they could still print my digital uploads with in the hour. Geeee, thanks....
I have a local lab that I try to always use, to support the Indy movement. Their techs are knowledgeable and seem capable. I was going to send one roll of 120 I have to develop to Kodak to see their results against my Indy lab. (Hey, it's my choice to move around and compare!) Only to be informed that Kodak DOESN'T PROCESS FILM ANYMORE. Shock to the system, took me a few minutes to wrap my head around this one...
So this is where the break up-ignore thing comes in. Being that I had to pry myself away from all things LAB, I didn't hear the news when Kodak decided this. I still can't figure out when- I find reports of other Kodak labs closing here and there, but not the big red, flashing CLOSED sign I am looking for.
Confused, I called the Kodak number off their Gallery site, thinking I was missing something and film could still be shipped to them. The helpful Juan explained to me the travesty of not being able to process any longer. Mr. Eastman must be rolling in his grave right now. As I have emerged slowly back out into the photo world, there's this whole "Film is Dead" attitude, and it's rampant.
Film is NOT dead, it's just not as easy nor cheap as digital, but it IS better. For me to learn that Eastman Kodak will no longer have a large, fully capable, central site lab anymore was crushing. Where is film going if Kodak doesn't want to play anymore? To your Indys- so you better get out and help them before it's too late for them, too! Then we'll all be playing with red light bulbs and trays in our bathtubs!
I often wonder, could I pull some part-time hours in a lab on the weekends or something? Although, it calls to me, I don't know if I could. I can push and pull, salvage, repair, do processing tricks to make your negs look better, but I don't think I could yap megapixles with a random customer. Digital is why I left the lab- ours was trying to really push out film. They were converting all the machines to accept digital and pushed us hard to sell the first primitive digital cameras we had in stock. We all felt like hypocrites, I couldn't explain a megapixle to any one then- just film grain!
I am rambling, but I have let this Kodak issue sit like heartburn in my chest for days. I wasn't going to post anything about it until I found all the facts and articles about Kodak's lab shut down, but I have to speak. If a large, and I mean billion dollar large, facility can close due to lack of work, so can our Indy's. And I'm sure a lot of them are already facing that.
Break out your film cameras, load them up, and start shooting. Get all LOMO about it- use mom's old Canon point and shoot from 1986 with the four unused flashbulbs and expired film- who cares? It's all for fun! The funkier and older your camera is- the more interesting the results! Be kind, support your local labs, with out them, sadly, we'll have nothing left. Share the prints with your friends and family, enter them in contests, get involved with projects and assignments, join the local clubs, and I can't say this enough, support your local Indy Lab!
Remember to tip your waitress, thank you and good night.
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