Kodak Aerochrome III Infrared Film 1443 was discontinued more than a decade ago, and it now changes hands on eBay for more than $100 for a single roll. If you were to head out with one of these few remaining canisters loaded into your camera, what would you shoot?
Jason Kummerfeldt of grainydays scooped up a handful of rolls of Aerochrome a few years ago and wandered the hills of northern California to produce some mind-bending colors and make the most of this unique film stock.
An initial version of Aerochrome was created in the 1940s as part of an attempt to give Air Force pilots an advantage when trying to spot enemies camouflaged among a canopy of trees. The theory was that lacking chloroplast, the uniforms of enemy troops would stand out among the vegetation, which itself is converted by the film to vibrant pink. In the 1960s, Kodak released a consumer version that was in production until its demise in 2010.
There are occasional rumors and petitions to bring the film back into production, but if you’re impatient or devoid of optimism like Kummerfeldt, Really Nice Images has an infrared film simulation preset for Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw available for $96.
Let us know in the comments below what you would shoot with one of these near-mythical rolls of film.
I'd shoot fir trees in the snow