Bill Pierce
Well-known
Henry Wilhelm is “the man” when it comes to how long your prints are going to last. He was an active photographer during the civil rights movement before turning to researching how long our black and white prints and color slides were going to last. As an independent, rather than a manufacturer who claimed images on his materials would last and last, he gave us invaluable information coupled with equally important information on how to fix, wash and store our b&w materials for maximum permanence. He even made an effective washer to aid that process. He went on to advise important film makers, museums, e.t.c.. Today most of his work has turned towards the permanence of digital images. He and his team are an invaluable resource for everyone from the snapshooter who hopes his grandchildren will pass on his family record to their grandchildren to the historians and artists who hope their work will long outlive themselves. Here’s his website
http://www.wilhelm-research.com/
http://www.wilhelm-research.com/
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Bill,
It has to be said, though, that while Henry's data is invaluable, and usually the best available, and we are all very grateful to him, the figures are not definitive. There are even those who challenge some of his conclusions, simply because they are necessarily based on accelerated aging tests: you can hardly test 100-year stability in real time.
In other words, yes, visit his web site and support his work, but don't necessarily take it as the final (or indeed the only) word on the subject of permanence.
Cheers,
R.
It has to be said, though, that while Henry's data is invaluable, and usually the best available, and we are all very grateful to him, the figures are not definitive. There are even those who challenge some of his conclusions, simply because they are necessarily based on accelerated aging tests: you can hardly test 100-year stability in real time.
In other words, yes, visit his web site and support his work, but don't necessarily take it as the final (or indeed the only) word on the subject of permanence.
Cheers,
R.
Canyongazer
Canyongazer
"...Henry's data is invaluable, and usually the best available,..."
Gee, that's pretty good, no?
If only he combined that with the patience to wait 100 years before drawing any conclusions....
Gee, that's pretty good, no?
If only he combined that with the patience to wait 100 years before drawing any conclusions....
charjohncarter
Veteran
A Kodachrome from 1941 taken by W. K. Amonette.
1941-kf43 by John Carter, on Flickr
So at least 75 years. Also I have a couple from him taken in 1939; these have color shift.
1941-kf43 by John Carter, on FlickrSo at least 75 years. Also I have a couple from him taken in 1939; these have color shift.