Kodachrome. Processed in Color. Seriously.
EDIT: Due to the high volume of responses, I need to stress that ShootFilmCo DOES NOT Process Kodachrome and that this article is about the person who does: Kelly-Shane Fuller, who can be contacted through these channels:
Email: photo@piratelogy.com
Piratelogy Studios (Facebook)
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Kodachrome, as you may know, is the film manufactured, and since discontinued in 2009, by Kodak that required a proprietary process to develop--essentially a "secret sauce." The last lab to have the capability to develop this process, Duane's, ceased all development in 2010. There was even a documentary produced by National Geographic of Steve McCurry shooting and developing the last roll of Kodachrome.
Some labs will offer Kodachrome processing, but only in black & white. To say that losing this film and process didn't sit well with a lot of photographers would be an understatement.
Kelly-Shane Fuller of Piratelogy Studios has been experimenting...and experimenting...and experimenting with processing Kodachrome in color. And he's done it. And he's offering Kodachrome processing to YOU.
From Kelly-Shane's post on Facebook in the Film Photographer's Group:
Ok friends, as many of you may know I've been developing Kodachrome as *COLOR SLIDES* for several months now, and I've been asked by a LOT of people if I'd be willing to offer lab services.
I've put a lot of thought into it, and the answer as of today is YES.
If you've been hoarding Kodachrome in the back of your freezer, its time to pull it out.
Here's the rundown:
I take no responsibility for color shifts, lack of image, weirdness in development, or children born with the head of a dog due to my process.
These couplers are LIKELY not going to give long term image stability.
I've processed MOSTLY Kodachrome 64 in 35mm, along with a little bit of K25 in 35mm. I've just gotten the pictured roll of PKR64 in 120 to try, so 120 film will be a go as well.
I CANNOT currently do motion picture lengths, though I'm working out a way to make that happens. That means no Super8, Double8, or 16mm films.
Development will be $25 a roll + shipping. This process is expensive, and I'm the only one doing it right now. Hopefully with enough interest I can order larger chemistry amounts and drive this cost down.
Kelly-Shane shared some examples with me showing the evolution of his process, from the beginnings where he was even able to get (wildly shifted) color in the first place, through the refinement, and onto what he's able to do today. Check out these photos:
"Colors are all sorts of off, but it proved I could GET color." - Kelly-Shane Fuller
"One where I was really getting decent color. Saturations were low, but it was basically 'correct'." - Kelly-Shane Fuller
And finally, from one of the last 3 rolls he's done.
Now, I've yet to try his service myself, so this is by no means an endorsement--but I AM excited that someone has begun to crack the code of this secretive and proprietary process that has been all but lost--and you better believe I'm going straight to my film fridge after I post this to shoot what I have.
Want to give it a shot? Get in touch with Kelly-Shane through the below channels, and share your results!
Email: photo@piratelogy.com
