amateriat
We're all light!
Last weekend, galfriend invited her older sister (who recently turned 70), her son, his wife and three-year-old son over for a dinner get-together. GF had requested that her sister try and bring along a stash of old family photos that she hadn't seen in a very long time to go over, and, possibly, have me digitally archive them. (Several years ago, after my mother's death, I embarked on a major archiving project with the family's photos, and galfriend has sort of wanted something similar for her family.) Her sister obliged, bringing a large-ish box of largely unorganized snapshots, mostly black-and-white (much to my relief...as expected, the few color prints in the mix were quite badly faded; to think, back then, shooting black-and-white snaps signified you weren't well-heeled enough to shoot color. There's a joke with a sad, cosmic punchline.)
In the middle of all these loose prints, however, was an old Kodak processing envelope: here it is, and what was inside:
Everything appeared intact, except for the original set of prints that were likely made. The prints I found in the envelope were likely from a reprint order. The smaller print is a 2-1/2 x 3-1/2" size (remember, this was the standard size of the period, approximately mid-1968); the larger print was 3-1/2 x 5". "Deluxe" 4 x 6" prints were at least a decade and change away.
I was, of course, curious about how these negs would scan. But, before even that, I was intrigued by the price list on the envelope, and wondered how those prices, adjusted for inflation, as they say, stacked up against what we usually pay now for the ol' D & P.
I don't know about anyone else here, but I was rather surprised at how high those prices seem in hindsight. (I shot almost nothing but color slide film from the mid-70s well into the early 90s, and this might have been part of the reason!). Reprint prices weren't quite as bad, as you can see. The graphics and nomencature on the envelope were sort of interesting as well, even though "nostalgia" for me is little yellow boxes of Kodachrome (with the occasional red Agfa box for variety
).
I did scan the roll–yes, the entire 20 frames–just to see what I could come up with. The film has a sort of "vintage" look that can't easily be PS'd away. Could be the emulsion (Kodacolor II? That's the setting I used on VueScan, and that seemd to work best). Not sure of the camera, but the frame-registration seemed to be pretty good. All shots were taken indoors with flash, most likely your garden-variety AG18 flashbulb (as a kid, I was a sucker for Sylvania Blue Dots, but mostly used those with Polaroids).
What away to go back in time, with somebody else's Wayback Machine:
(Note to dmr: check that uniform!)
Another reminder about why I still (mostly) shoot film. Now, onto those old black-and-white prints...
- Barrett
In the middle of all these loose prints, however, was an old Kodak processing envelope: here it is, and what was inside:
Everything appeared intact, except for the original set of prints that were likely made. The prints I found in the envelope were likely from a reprint order. The smaller print is a 2-1/2 x 3-1/2" size (remember, this was the standard size of the period, approximately mid-1968); the larger print was 3-1/2 x 5". "Deluxe" 4 x 6" prints were at least a decade and change away.
I was, of course, curious about how these negs would scan. But, before even that, I was intrigued by the price list on the envelope, and wondered how those prices, adjusted for inflation, as they say, stacked up against what we usually pay now for the ol' D & P.
I don't know about anyone else here, but I was rather surprised at how high those prices seem in hindsight. (I shot almost nothing but color slide film from the mid-70s well into the early 90s, and this might have been part of the reason!). Reprint prices weren't quite as bad, as you can see. The graphics and nomencature on the envelope were sort of interesting as well, even though "nostalgia" for me is little yellow boxes of Kodachrome (with the occasional red Agfa box for variety
).I did scan the roll–yes, the entire 20 frames–just to see what I could come up with. The film has a sort of "vintage" look that can't easily be PS'd away. Could be the emulsion (Kodacolor II? That's the setting I used on VueScan, and that seemd to work best). Not sure of the camera, but the frame-registration seemed to be pretty good. All shots were taken indoors with flash, most likely your garden-variety AG18 flashbulb (as a kid, I was a sucker for Sylvania Blue Dots, but mostly used those with Polaroids).
What away to go back in time, with somebody else's Wayback Machine:
(Note to dmr: check that uniform!)
Another reminder about why I still (mostly) shoot film. Now, onto those old black-and-white prints...
- Barrett
oftheherd
Veteran
That's a great story and those are great photos. I guess color photos were something of an extravagance for a long time, since they were more expensive. But b/w were just a norm since that is the way photography started. Interestingly, many commercial photo shops offered b/w portraits colored with oils. Marshals still sells oils and pencils.
Thanks for sharing the story and photos. Must have been a lot of work though.
By the way did you mention AG1 flash bulbs? Not the AG1B you mentioned, but something I actually picked up from Ritz a couple of weeks ago. I don't know if the marked price was the original price, nor if so, from what date. I got them for a buck each for two. Still remember guide numbers?
Thanks for sharing the story and photos. Must have been a lot of work though.
By the way did you mention AG1 flash bulbs? Not the AG1B you mentioned, but something I actually picked up from Ritz a couple of weeks ago. I don't know if the marked price was the original price, nor if so, from what date. I got them for a buck each for two. Still remember guide numbers?
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sanmich
Veteran
Another reminder about why I shoot kodachrome for my family stuff.
monochromejrnl
Well-known
wonder if the price for processing B&W and Kodacolor film included a 'free roll of kodak film' ???
Rhoyle
Well-known
The envelope says "PLUS FREE KODAK FILM" right on it. If you want to really archive them make good prints and put them in an archival album. The CD's you burn won't be able to be opened by your grandkids, but they'll be able to enjoy the prints. Make sure you include names and dates for all the photos.
My father in law is in the process of copying and printing old family photos his ancestors, many (photos) being over 100 years old. Having 4x5 bw negs made as well.
My father in law is in the process of copying and printing old family photos his ancestors, many (photos) being over 100 years old. Having 4x5 bw negs made as well.
amateriat
We're all light!
Near as I can remember: half the time I took film in, it did; the other half, it didn't. (This was all 127 Verichrome Pan, BTW.) The "free roll" offer wasn't exactly universal...it seemed to depend on where you took your film.
- Barrett