PHOTOG’S JOURNAL: Technology, Seduction and Black & White Film, Part 3

Ritz Camera is a bankrupt business – again – and closed, with minimal impact to the black and white film photographer.  Kodak shrinks to the size of a raisin, which is more of a indication of change and concern.

As for me, I am in trouble – again.  ‘Gotta sell the motorcycle – again.  ‘Gotta sell something.  ‘Gotta win the lottery, too; then I can get a brand spanking new Leica M digital ($7,000!), or settle for a Nikon D-something full-frame at $2 to $7k!  Technology moves on and it makes me lust for the latest stuff, despite my feeling that black and white film is important to photography and photographers.  

But my wife put me back on the straight path.  She said, “Stay with what you’re doing.  Don’t get sidetracked.”  Temptation and photo-lust has passed, and I am glad for it. 

We like our advanced cameras, don’t we?  We also like our smart-phones, tweeting and texting.  We like Facebook and Insta-gram.  We like the immediacy and instant nature of the things we can do quickly.  Heck, even our cars have become rolling theaters.  Newspapers are on the decline and printed books could be next, what with iPads and other devices.  Are there people out there, like me, who wishes things were just a bit slower?  Of course, there are.  Tech stuff can seduce us and separate us.  Tech is also fleeting, as it keeps changing.  What’s to like?  How about something permanent?

So, my recent black and white film class is done, with some fanfare.  We learned more about setting up proper photo density and contrast; it was also fun work under the safelight, watching the prints develop, and come into view.  They should not fade with time, those prints.  Neither will the feelings of accomplishment.  In fact – thus inspired – April and Steven suggested I set up a more advanced BW course, which I may do.  We discussed shooting and processing 120 medium format, and 4x5 sheet films.  Hmmm, good idea.

In addition to my wife’s encouragement, I met a bright and cheerful film shooter on Charleston’s King Street.  Kate informed me that she loved the slow pace of black and white film, that shooting such made her think about what she is doing.  Her enjoyment is then lasting and satisfying.

Ritz Camera was bloated and mismanaged from the top down.  Oriented toward the retail consumer, the company simply bought and sold the wrong stuff and it could not change its ways.

Kodak was great, once.  We remember Eastman Kodak (George Eastman) invented popular photography - brought it into every home and consciousness.  We owe Kodak a thank-you for todays digital, too; they invented the digital sensor in 1975.  Too bad Kodak was also too big to change.  The company did not take an advantage when it should have.

I think Kodak film technology is here to stay, somehow, somewhere.  All over the world photographers are still buying film for the craft of black and white.  Kodak makes some of the best.  Come to think of it, it is time to order more 35mm for the Leica, and 120 for the Rolleiflex.

I invite my readers to email me at douglascarrcunningham@live.com

Ask questions about photography.  Maybe I will learn something.