National Geographic: Steve McCurry's Last Roll of Kodachrome

[leicapixie]

A difficult undertaking made more difficult by all those restraints..
Those who have used Kodachrome for Pro work, it was about batches being same, tests of ACTUAL speed in OUR cameras.everything varied..
Why shoot the very last roll rather than one of the"last rolls".
Using Digital for exposure, well i do it..

 

[craygc]

I love Steve ...but I really think he's a mediocre photographer. He initially had balls when he shot his original B&W in Afganistan but his latter work is rather pedestrian

 

[nobbylon]

Thanx for posting, interesting video. Did anyone else notice that the LAST roll of Kodachrome was loaded, at 03:33, into an F100 and the back was closed, at 03:45 on an F6 ? 😕

Yes noticed that myself and thought LOAD OF OLD B@@@@@@S.
I bet he had a 10 pack and was alternating cameras anyway.
I love his pictures especially his India pics over the years.
They'd probably have turned out better if he'd used an F5 for the VERY last roll🙂

 

[Clint Troy]

I love Steve ...but I really think he's a mediocre photographer. He initially had balls when he shot his original B&W in Afganistan but his latter work is rather pedestrian

Pedestrian? Mediocre? You clearly have absolutely nooo idea. I mean, have you seen his book South Southeast or Unguarded moment? Every page, I mean every page had my jaw on the floor.
These two books almost got me to stop photographing as I was realizing how many light years separated me and him.

Just look at those 2 books.


But maybe you can top this?

2011 Leica Hall of Fame Award St. Moritz, Switzerland 2011 Prix LiberPress Girona, Spain 2009 Ambrogino D’Oro Milan, Italy 2006 Lowell Thomas GOLD
2006 First Place, Buddha Rising, National Geographic, Dec. 2005 National Press Photographers Association 2006 Honorary Fellowship New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography (NZIPP) 2005 Honorary Fellowship The Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, London 2005 Photojournalism Division-International Understanding through Photography Award Photographic Society of America 2003 The Lucie Award for Photojournalism International Photography Awards 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award Pennsylvania State University 2003 Co-recipient of the New York Film Festival Gold for documentary, Afghan Girl: Found" New York Film Festival 2002 Distinguished Visiting Fellow College of Creative Studies, University of California 2002 Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ 2002 Photographer of the Year - PMDA Professional Photographer Award PMDA 2002 Photographer of the Year American Photo Magazine 2002 Special Recognition Award United Nations International Photographic Council 2002 Award of Excellence for "Women of Afghanistan" French Art Directors Association 2001 Award of Excellence, Book Series: "South SouthEast Photography Annual, Communication Arts 2000 Book of the Year: "South SouthEast" Magazine Feature Picture Award of Excellence: "Women in Field, Yemen
Picture of the Year Competition 1999 Lifetime Fellow Award Pennsylvania State University, PA 1998 Our World Photo Winner, "Red Boy" Our World Essay Finalist, India
Life Magazine: 'The Eisenstaedt Awards' 1998 Award of Excellence, Portraits: Red Boy Picture of the Year Competition 1998 Southern Asian Journalistic Award: Outstanding Special Project: National Geographic Story, India: 50 Years of Independence Southern Asian Journalistic Award: Outstanding Photograph: Red Boy

1997 Magazine Feature Picture Award of Excellence: Fishermen Picture of the Year Competition 1996 Magazine Feature Picture Story Award: '"Beggar Magazine Feature Picture Story Award: Burma: The Richest of the Poor Countries
Picture of the Year Competition 1994 Arts and Architecture Distinguished Alumni Award Pennsylvania State University 1993 Award of Excellence for Rubble of War National Press Photographers Association 1992 Oliver Rebbot Memorial Award: Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad on Gulf War Coverage Overseas Press Club 1992 Magazine Feature Picture Award of Excellence: Fiery Aliens First Place, Magazine Science Award: Camels under a Blackened Sky First Place, Gulf War News Story: Kuwait: After the Storm
Picture of the Year Competition 1992 First Place, Nature and Environment: Oil-Stricken Bird, Kuwait First Place, General News Stories: Kuwait after the Storm Children's Award: "Camels under a Blackened Sky
World Press Photo Competition 1990 Award of Excellence, "Spanish Gypsy White House News Photographers Association 1987 Medal of Honor for coverage of the 1986 Philippine Revolution Philippines 1986 Oliver Rebbot Memorial Award: Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad for work done in the Philippines Overseas Press Club 1984 Nature Category, First Place Nature Series Category, First place Daily LIfe Category, First Place Daily Life Series, First Place
World Press Competition 1985 Oliver Rebbot Award Citation: Monsoons and The New Faces of Baghdad
1984 Magazine Photographer of the Year National Press Photographers Association 1980 Robert Capa Gold Medal for coverage of the war in Afghanistan for Time Magazine

 

[craygc]

Pedestrian? Mediocre? You clearly have absolutely nooo idea. I mean, have you seen his book South Southeast or Unguarded moment? Every page, I mean every page had my jaw on the floor.
These two books almost got me to stop photographing as I was realizing how many light years separated me and him.

Just look at those 2 books.


But maybe you can top this?

2011 Leica Hall of Fame Award St. Moritz, Switzerland 2011 Prix LiberPress Girona, Spain 2009 Ambrogino D’Oro Milan, Italy 2006 Lowell Thomas GOLD
2006 First Place, Buddha Rising, National Geographic, Dec. 2005 National Press Photographers Association 2006 Honorary Fellowship New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography (NZIPP) 2005 Honorary Fellowship The Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, London 2005 Photojournalism Division-International Understanding through Photography Award Photographic Society of America 2003 The Lucie Award for Photojournalism International Photography Awards 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award Pennsylvania State University 2003 Co-recipient of the New York Film Festival Gold for documentary, Afghan Girl: Found" New York Film Festival 2002 Distinguished Visiting Fellow College of Creative Studies, University of California 2002 Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ 2002 Photographer of the Year - PMDA Professional Photographer Award PMDA 2002 Photographer of the Year American Photo Magazine 2002 Special Recognition Award United Nations International Photographic Council 2002 Award of Excellence for "Women of Afghanistan" French Art Directors Association 2001 Award of Excellence, Book Series: "South SouthEast Photography Annual, Communication Arts 2000 Book of the Year: "South SouthEast" Magazine Feature Picture Award of Excellence: "Women in Field, Yemen
Picture of the Year Competition 1999 Lifetime Fellow Award Pennsylvania State University, PA 1998 Our World Photo Winner, "Red Boy" Our World Essay Finalist, India
Life Magazine: 'The Eisenstaedt Awards' 1998 Award of Excellence, Portraits: Red Boy Picture of the Year Competition 1998 Southern Asian Journalistic Award: Outstanding Special Project: National Geographic Story, India: 50 Years of Independence Southern Asian Journalistic Award: Outstanding Photograph: Red Boy

1997 Magazine Feature Picture Award of Excellence: Fishermen Picture of the Year Competition 1996 Magazine Feature Picture Story Award: '"Beggar Magazine Feature Picture Story Award: Burma: The Richest of the Poor Countries
Picture of the Year Competition 1994 Arts and Architecture Distinguished Alumni Award Pennsylvania State University 1993 Award of Excellence for Rubble of War National Press Photographers Association 1992 Oliver Rebbot Memorial Award: Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad on Gulf War Coverage Overseas Press Club 1992 Magazine Feature Picture Award of Excellence: Fiery Aliens First Place, Magazine Science Award: Camels under a Blackened Sky First Place, Gulf War News Story: Kuwait: After the Storm
Picture of the Year Competition 1992 First Place, Nature and Environment: Oil-Stricken Bird, Kuwait First Place, General News Stories: Kuwait after the Storm Children's Award: "Camels under a Blackened Sky
World Press Photo Competition 1990 Award of Excellence, "Spanish Gypsy White House News Photographers Association 1987 Medal of Honor for coverage of the 1986 Philippine Revolution Philippines 1986 Oliver Rebbot Memorial Award: Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad for work done in the Philippines Overseas Press Club 1984 Nature Category, First Place Nature Series Category, First place Daily LIfe Category, First Place Daily Life Series, First Place
World Press Competition 1985 Oliver Rebbot Award Citation: Monsoons and The New Faces of Baghdad
1984 Magazine Photographer of the Year National Press Photographers Association 1980 Robert Capa Gold Medal for coverage of the war in Afghanistan for Time Magazine

If you're in the cliche awards are really somewhat irrelevant, although I don't really want to go there this time. I've seen the books and I've personally seen an immense amount of Asia; YMMV but as such I'm just not overly impressed...

 

[Clint Troy]

I don't think Steve will be crying for not receiving the CraigCooper 2013 award.

But seriously, I'm very curious to know who impresses you if McCurry doesn't?

 

[TXForester]

But seriously, I'm very curious to know who impresses you if McCurry doesn't?

I don't get it. We all have different tastes. Sometimes those tastes overlap and other times they do not. Why should it matter if craygc doesn't care that much McCurry's work? It's not like he is bashing the man, and craygc did say McCurry is a likeable person.

 

[Clint Troy]

I don't get it. We all have different tastes. Sometimes those tastes overlap and other times they do not. Why should it matter if craygc doesn't care that much McCurry's work? It's not like he is bashing the man, and craygc did say McCurry is a likeable person.

You read sarcasm where there wasn't any.
And you also misread craygc as he wrote that McCurry's photography was Mediocre.

Really? Mediocre?? And you defend it?

Again, I ask craygc and you (and without sarcasm): if you find McCurry's work mediocre, which photographer's work do you like? No arguments please, only names. I'm eager to FINALLY find out who's better then McCurry. After all the years, I'm still searching and I'm happy that the search is almost over.

 

[John Cox]

I'm not a fan of Steve McCurry either and I don't think you have to be. John Sexton got me into photography and I've learned more from art instructors about what goes into a good image than I've gleaned from any photographer.
I think the bigger issue with great photographers is that you can't see their talent the way you do with a great artist (IE what a camera makes, you see everyday with your eyes), this is less the case with black and white because we don't see in black and white. I think that people like McCurry who work in colour have an uphill battle and I admire them when they achieve success. I just find it difficult to appreciate their work.

 

[Out to Lunch]

I believe that the "one and only last roll" concept for this short got the photographer and the producer into trouble. All a bit too artificial and entertaining.

 

[TXForester]

You read sarcasm where there wasn't any.

I did not read sarcasm. Don't know where you got that. All asked is why does it matter if he doesn't like McCurry as we all have different tastes.

And you also misread craygc as he wrote that McCurry's photography was Mediocre.

Exactly how did misread him? Where in my post did I contradict the mediocre comment? Read this sentence again.

Why should it matter if craygc doesn't care that much McCurry's work?

I put the important part in bold for you. It should be obvious that it refers to the mediocre remark in craygc's post.

And you defend it?

Read the post again. I neither defended the remark or endorsed it. Nothing in my post implies an opinion about McCurry's work. I was just curious why you would care. Considering the population size on this planet, I'm sure the number of people who don't share my taste numbers in the billions. If there is intelligent life outside our solar system then that number could be....well...astronomical.

 

[Clint Troy]

Argumentation contest?

Man, you win.

 

[TXForester]

No. Just clarification.

 

[icebear]

To the OP 28mm,

thanks for posting, a very interesting video. The images are great and I do not really mind if it was the last or the "very last" roll of Kodachrome 64. Some iconic images in the history of photography have been captured on this emulsion and a great idea to make this a project for/with Nat.Geographic.

As for the "mediocre" discussion:
An oak tree doesn't care, if a boar is rubbing at the bark.

 

[leicapixie]

A very difficult undertaking.
Not like going bang bang with your auto everything, all pix look same digital camera with that green program.Watching Steve age 200 years as he waits for the processor..If one has never had a major shoot like that, one cannot comprehend the weight of responsibility.
A friend was given one of the last rolls.
I warned him to bracket..The actual speed? His Leica being mechanical may have varying speeds etc.. He was extremely angry with my stupid advice.
Months passed and i asked his wife about that Kodachrome.
"Nothing came out! Vastly underexposed."
Steve is a hard working, driven photographer with a special eye.
One should try a similar shoot..