Kodachrome...

[Axel]

Being a member of the Kodachrome-Generation one of my photographic interests is to give actual photos a decent kodachrome-look.

Obviously with digital aids, one of the possible ways is the G´Mic Filterset for
GIMP. So from time to time I pick a subject that easy could have existed 30 years ago for this project.

I would like to read your thoughts and see possible own creations in this respect.

Here are some examples

 

[gnuyork]

I don't know why, but I feel this digital image of mine has a Kodachrome feel. I didn't use any filters or do anything in particular to make it look that way...I guess it's just the light maybe?

I did use a Sigma Merrill camera, which I promptly bought when I first discovered my favorite slide film (other than Kodachrome) was extinct, which was E100VS 🙁 Still have some in the freezer in 35mm, 120 and 4x5 formats.

I think I read that the Foveon sensor replicates the saturated colors of slide film better than Bayer sensors... or maybe I'm am I making that up??

Anyway, I think the little Sigma camera is by far my best digital camera for it's files, even though it's a pain in the neck to use.

 

[dmr]

I would like to read your thoughts and see possible own creations in this respect.

I love the look of Kodachrome, but I never had the desire to try to re-create the look using Gimp or whatever.

However, every so often I'll get a digital shot that does, to me anyway, look more or less Kodachrome-ish, such as the example below.

In this particular case I think it's really more to do with the light and the tones of the subject, rather than sensor, post-processing, etc.

 

[gnuyork]

However, every so often I'll get a digital shot that does, to me anyway, look more or less Kodachrome-ish, such as the example below.

In this particular case I think it's really more to do with the light and the tones of the subject, rather than sensor, post-processing, etc.

Exactly. That's how I feel about my shot above too...just luck of the light and tones...like the metallic paint finish of the 1950s Jag.

 

[mbisc]

I love the look of Kodachrome, but I never had the desire to try to re-create the look using Gimp or whatever.

However, every so often I'll get a digital shot that does, to me anyway, look more or less Kodachrome-ish, such as the example below.

In this particular case I think it's really more to do with the light and the tones of the subject, rather than sensor, post-processing, etc.

awesome image!

 

[Dogman]

My memory of and my old slides of Kodachrome pretty much indicate to me that nothing digital really looks like it. Just like no other film at the time looked like it.

First, it was contrasty as hell. Shadows blocked up and highlights blew out easily. Exposure was critical, however, many times we Kodachrome shooters underexposed a third of a stop to increase color saturation. We lived with blocked shadows.

Secondly, nothing did reds better than Kodachrome. Red was RED! There wasn't a hint of orange to Kodachrome reds. I'm a Fuji shooter these days but I really dislike Fuji's color palette when it comes to their orange-orange reds. I don't recall other cameras I've used doing reds too much better either. (Today, I mostly shoot B&W.)

Finally, Kodachrome skies had a hint of magenta. You never got a perfect sky blue with Kodachrome (Ektachrome was better here) but you got a special look that most people liked.

Others who shot Kodachrome in the 70s and 80s might recall other characteristics that differ from mine.

 

[mbisc]

Grew up with Kodachrome (and slide film, in general). To this day (and my "serious" photo work is all-B&W film stuff), my brain doesn't want to see and photograph high-contrast scenes. On the plus side, my negatives are usually really easy to print in the darkroom 🙂

 

[dmr]

I was a very late adopter of digital, and my very first digital camera was a junker hand-me-down Kodak DX4530. The main reason I agreed to take it, and started using it, was that it had a real viewfinder, something I personally find difficult to do without. I just can't compose comfortably looking at a TV screen held in front of me.

Anyway, this quirky long-obsolete-by-2010 cast-off P&S really surprised me, because within its limitations it could actually take some stunning shots. Some of these shots (not all by any means) had somewhat of a Kodachrome-ish look and feel to them, two of which I'm including below.

My guess as to why this happens is along the line of the sensor and the electronics of that time (ca. 2003) did not have the dynamic range of today's digitals, as well as somewhat of a quirky but pleasant color rendition. Both of these qualities (??) I also associate with Kodachrome.

If you're curious, a very dated review of this camera appears here:

https://www.dpreview.com/articles/4452213615/kodakdx4530

 

[Ronald M]

I have some 50 year old K 2 slides that look like new. Waltz Envoy camera, 50 2.0 Nippon Kogaku lens.

I can not find that combo in the Waltz records. Sadly I did not appreciate the 50 2.0 Nikkor at the time.

 

[Axel]

Thank you all for your comments and pics so far!

I don't know why, but I feel this digital image of mine has a Kodachrome feel. I didn't use any filters or do anything in particular to make it look that way...I guess it's just the light maybe?...

I think it is the subject with the light and some special kind of rendering of the camera.

Analogous to this interesting thread I´d like to talk about possible ways to get some kind of kodachromefeeling in actual photography here.
Thoughts and samples welcome 🙂

 

[Axel]

Here is another one from my little Kodachromeproject

 

[daveleo]

Can you point me to the GMIC menu item that you use.
I looked at "film emulations" but . . . . ?

Thanks.

 

[Axel]

Sure. Choose FilmEmulation-Slide color and Kodak Kodachrome... as preset.

 

[daveleo]

^ Jees ..... I walked right by that and missed it. Thanks.

 

[Axel]

You´re welcome 🙂

Just made another one yesterday

One characteristic I know from good old Kadachrome days is visible here as well: harsh light (high noon sun) forces the film to show a bit cooler colors.