An open letter to Kodak
From the series, Dhaka Diary. Shot on Tri-X with a Holga.
Dear Kodak,
First of all, thank you.
Thank you for reinventing photography with the Brownie, and more importantly, film. Thank you for putting 35mm film into cartridges, which has remained virtually unchanged since 1934.
When I first got started in photography, I tried a lot of different films. Back then, there was Konica, Fujifilm and of course, Kodak. Sure, there were other brands such as Agfa, but these 3 brands of film were most commonly available at film developing stores.
I tried them all, but at the end of the day it was Kodak Gold 200 that won me over. That was my choice of film (unless I was shooting events in the school hall, then I switched to ASA 400 film) for quite some time.
I have previously written about my favourite film, Tri-X, so I shouldn’t ramble on about how I fell in love with it.
So, Kodak, on behalf of those who still shoot primarily with Tri-X these days, please, please keep it alive.
I have produced some of my best works on Tri-X, and I still look forward to creating more.
In fact, in my cabinet, I still have several more rolls that I look forward to shooting with.
I know that from a business perspective, keeping Tri-X afloat would be a bad idea. But imagine how many professionals out there are still standing by this stock of film, and imagine how they would feel when you decided to can Tri-X in 120 roll. I am sure it’s a matter of time before you look at the 35mm format and kill it.
So, before you do that, please hear this appeal from a young photographer.
Honestly speaking, I might never shoot with film again if you decide to discontinue Tri-X in 35mm format. That’s because I don’t know which other film can deliver that wide range of tonality and grain that I’d grown accustomed to over the years. With Tri-X, I can shoot without relying on the meter, by just gauging the scene and setting my exposure. My latest roll from my Olympus Pen FT proved just that.
From the series, 1/2-Frame Happiness. Shot on Tri-X with an Olympus Pen FT.
From the series, 1/2-Frame Happiness. Shot on Tri-X with a Golden Half.
From the series, By Night. Shot on Tri-X with a Canon QL17 GIII.
Speaking on behalf of all the other photographers who use and love Tri-X, I appeal to you, Kodak, to please firstly reinstate Tri-X in 120 roll, and promise you won’t can the 35mm cartridge variance.
Take T-Max all you want.
Regards,
Leonard
