Can Ektachrome Save Film Photography?

Can Ektachrome Save Film Photography?

In 2018, Kodak followed up a surprising announcement and released their beloved Ektachrome film, an E-6 slide film that was a favorite for National Geographic, Playboy, and even NASA. In this video by ex-Digital-Rev Host Ian Wong, we get a bit of history, a bit of strangeness, and a lot of really great information.

In this video Ian Wong takes us on a tour of an "alien planet" (in Hong Kong) for a photoshoot with a totally real astronaut. I will say, it's a bit refreshing to see someone testing a film with photos that are conceptual and thematic beyond "pretty girl in pretty location." Sometimes, having a concept can really elevate a video like this. With Ektachrome being E-6 slide film, there is not much exposure latitude; however, it seems that Ian does quite well keeping everything exposed well, and the photos he got with the white-on-white inside were absolutely gorgeous. It definitely makes me want to pick up my 35mm camera and go buy some film to go shoot. Maybe they'll make a 120 version.

While the video does not quite answer the question of Ektachrome saving film, it is encouraging to see the big companies recreating old films for today.

Have you ever shot Ektachrome? What was your experience with it? Would you shoot it again?

Check out the video here.

David J. Fulde's picture

David J. Fulde photographs people. Based in Toronto, ON, he uses bold lighting and vibrant colours to tell people's stories. His work in the film industry lends a cinematic energy to his photographs and makes for an always-colourful studio -- whether he's shooting portraits, fashion, or beauty.

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7 Comments

I rather like to use Kodakcrome

Good luck with that.

Waiting for 120

Does film photography require "saving"? Seems like it was doing fine prior to Ektachome being announced. If anything, I'd argue that Ektachrome was only announced in the first place because film photography's place was already safe.

Unfortunately Ektachrome did not have very good archival storage properties. There's a Luminous Landscape video about Jay Maisel in which he says his decades of Kodachrome photos are still good, while his Ektachrome photos are "all gone". I'm not sure exactly what he meant, but I imagine he meant the color has shifted or faded too much.

I'll be shooting some Ektachrome. I'm starting to shoot a little bit of street, and it will suit the aesthetic I want.

I spent the first 15 years of my my career shooting Kodachrome (some magazines would only except Kodachrome), Ektachrome, Tri-x. Don't really miss shooting any of these film (or film for that matter). Will a slide film save photography? NO.