Momma Gimme Back my Kodachrome

Something we don't usually get to see in Southern California...the change of seasons. And this small parcel of trees with their changing colors had me thinking appreciating this little spot of color and about Kodachrome. Most likely the best known Kodachrome photo was Steve McCurry's 1985 portrait of the Afghan girl, Sharbat Gula, he shot for National Geographic. There is even a state park named after the film, Kodachrome State Park in Basin, Utah. Sadly though the digital format portraying this very scene has contributed in a small part to the decline of the transparency film. And as if to further make the point, there is one commercial lab in the entire world that processes the film.

Even before I knew what Kodachrome was Paul Simon had already immortalized the film's striking capacity to rendering light. Digital has made all of our jobs easier. It's made the "acquisition of imagery" easier and more accessible. It's saved time and money. It's cut out messy and dangerous chemical processes. But I can't recall the last time I heard a song praising the attributes to digital...not even in an elevator. Give a little time I guess.

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the worlds a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away