In Search of Kodachrome #1

If I can only have one film emulsion, let it be Kodachrome (25, 64, or 200). If I can't have Kodachrome, let my images have that Kodachrome aesthetic.

My take on the Film-Look

Film Simulation: the process of obtaining the film-look from images obtained by digital means.

There are two  kinds of film-looks: the cheap-lens look and the expensive-lens look.

The cheap-lens look can be found in old family albums, pre-2000 snapshots. Typically, these photos were taken with consumer cameras with plastic lenses, using film of varying quality, film-processed in  chemical soups in different states of freshness, in thousands of developing labs where film-processing protocol weren't always followed. Finally, cameras were used with primitive focusing systems. So-called auto settings  were imprecise, let alone accurate. A decent lens inaccurately focused is a lousy lens.

Finally, to fully realize the cheap-lens aesthetic, shoot scenes with total disregard for the rules of composition, shoot into the light, shoot on Auto setting, etc. or all of the above. With or not-with a cheap lens.

The following photos were taken with a 2008 Canon G11, 1/1.7" sensor, 28-140 F2.8-4.5 lens, processesd to look like film snapshots. I tried to get away from conventional rules of composition, with little success. 

The expensive-lens look is what is found in publications and photo exhibitions. The tools used were (traditionally) not accessible to the average consumers. Professional films had a narrow exposure latitude, which necessitated accurate metering. Lenses were colour corrected and sharp (read: expensive).  Films went to Labs with  precise processing. For example, Steve McCurry used Kodachrome that could only be processed in a handful of labs in the United States.

The following photos were taken with a Sony ZV-1 with it's 1" sensor and a very sharp 24-70 F1.8-2.8, processed to look like Kodachrome 64. I used the ZV-1 because it produces detail that looks like film grain.

And two honorable mentions, taken with a Sony A7III