A Leica IIIc in Japan, 1949, with Kodachrome

Gordon Coale

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In 1949 my grandfather was stationed in Morioka, Japan as part of the Occupation. He took his new Leica IIIc and Summitar and shot Kodachrome. I am eternally grateful that he shot Kodachrome. I am halfway through scanning the 44 slides he had in one of his slide trays of his time in Japan. They can be seen here: http://gordoncoale.500px.com/my_grandfather_s_photos. I should have the rest of the scans done in the next week. Here is one of them:


Scan-130820-0003.jpg
 
Thanks a lot for sharing these !! 🙂 It is very rare to see color-photos from that time in Japan so very interesting to see what has changed and what not so much. Looking forward to some more !
 
Did your grandmother have a role in the school system there?

My grandfather was a Lt. Colonel in the Army in charge of the Occupation in Morioka and the surrounding area. In that capacity, as the Colonel's wife, my grandmother was probably there, at what appears to be some award ceremony, as a very important person. Of course my grandfather was there taking the pictures.
 
Cool! Did he pick up some of those fancy new Nikon lenses for cheap during his stint?

In 1949 my grandfather was stationed in Morioka, Japan as part of the Occupation. He took his new Leica IIIc and Summitar and shot Kodachrome. I am eternally grateful that he shot Kodachrome. I am halfway through scanning the 44 slides he had in one of his slide trays of his time in Japan. They can be seen here: http://gordoncoale.500px.com/my_grandfather_s_photos. I should have the rest of the scans done in the next week. Here is one of them:


Scan-130820-0003.jpg
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Thanks for putting those Kodachromes up. The quality is still amazing, even after long time. They must have been stored reasonably well as there seems to be very little damage to them.
Now, if he had been shooting digital - wonder if they would have held up so well after 60+ years.
Eagerly awaiting the result of your next scanning session.
 
The photo titled School Scene is an event at an elementary school`s Sports Day. They still play the exact same game today on Sports Day. Nothing ever changes in Japan.
 
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