[pure-silver] Re: Kodak Discontinuing everything that ain't nailed down.
- From: "Dave Valvo" <dvalvo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 10:12:30 -0400
Taking the liberty of forwarding a note from John Sexton to this forum.
Dave
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A SAD DAY FOR PHOTOGRAPHY...
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY DISCONTINUES
ALL BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER
Many readers of my email newsletter will already be aware of the news I am
including below. However, I wanted to make sure that any and all
photographers on my email list had heard the sad news about Kodak's recent
decision concerning traditional black and white silver halide imaging.
On Wednesday, June 15, in Rochester, New York, Eastman Kodak Company,
announced it would discontinue the production of all black and white
photographic papers. Kodak cited significant declines in market usage of
papers designed for Black-and-White printing as the reason for the decision.
As you might imagine, this was a day of great sadness that I, along with
many other photographers, will never forget.
As many of you know, I have used Kodak photographic films and papers for
many years. Over the past few years, my primary printing paper preference
has been Kodak Polymax Fine Art paper. I mourn its discontinuance, along
with the rest of Kodak's black and white papers, and realize it will mean
inevitable changes in my own photographic printmaking. I did want to assure
those who have prints on order with me that I have a sufficient supply of
paper to complete all existing print orders with the paper on which they
were initially printed. While there are still a few other photographic
papers of excellent quality available from some manufacturers, for my own
personal needs I found Polymax Fine Art to be the best choice for much of my
imagery. As you might imagine, I have already begun to anticipate possible
alternatives.
Here are some links to news stories about Kodaks recent announcement:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050615/kodak_paper.html?.v=4
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8AO836O1.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8231657/
In addition, I have attached a document that was emailed by Kodak on
Wednesday.
I wish I could say that an outpouring of letters, emails, and phone calls to
Eastman Kodak might change their decision, but according to friends who work
at Kodak, this is a virtual impossibility. That being said, I want to
encourage all readers of this email newsletter, along with anyone with whom
you might share this information, to write a letter to Daniel Carp, the
Chairman of Eastman Kodak Company. I am told that letters will be far more
effective than phone calls or emails in communicating your reactions about
Kodak's decision.
Here is Mr. Carp's mailing address:
Daniel A. Carp
Chairman
Eastman Kodak Company
343 State Street
Rochester, NY 14650-0228
As I noted, I suspect there is little chance for Kodak to change direction
on this decision. However, Kodak still manufactures silver halide films, as
well as photographic chemicals. I believe it is imperative for the
management of Kodak to realize that much greater advance warning is
necessary for professional photographers and photographic enthusiasts, such
as us, to plan and adjust our working methods. By choice, I have used Kodak
Professional black and white films exclusively for many years. The reason
for this is its impeccable quality control. To date, I have seen absolutely
no deterioration in their film quality. However, I am concerned that changes
could be made which might compromise the quality and consistency of their
products, and I would not want to be put in a situation to have such limited
lead time, if and when Kodak decides to discontinue essential products or
entire product lines in the future.
I do hope that photographic manufacturers, such as Agfa, Forte, Ilford,
Kentmere, and Oriental, will continue to produce fiber-base papers of high
quality well into the future. To date I have never seen a black and white
print from the digital domain that rivals the sensuous and tactile qualities
of a well-crafted black and white silver print. Perhaps there is a company o
n the horizon that will see the need for an on-going truly archival
photographic medium, and rise to the occasion to manufacture high quality
black and white silver papers for decades to come. Let's hope so! Moreover,
let's support any company that undertakes such a noble endeavor.
I hope that my next email newsletter will contain more positive news and
information. I still love working in the traditional silver halide darkroom.
I find there to be a therapeutic aspect to making prints by hand in the
darkroom - gently "massaging" the light onto the paper, and handling those
prints through the photographic chemistry. I've said many times in workshops
and lectures that two or three minutes in the developer goes by much more
quickly for me than fifteen or twenty seconds watching the icon of a
wristwatch spin on my computer monitor. Long live silver!!!
John
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CONTACT US WITH QUESTIONS, OR COMMENTS:
John Sexton
291 Los Agrinemsors
Carmel Valley, CA 93924
Voice: 831-659-3130
Fax: 831-659-5509
mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.johnsexton.com
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