halraiser

My point of course is that Kodak is allowing one of the most tyrannical and harsh regimes on the planet to determine what they say. They have a right to delete posts the Xi regime doesn't like, but we have a right to refuse to support any company that indirectly supports Xi.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Are you boycotting Kodak?
If so, what Kodak products that you bought regularly have you stopped buying, and what have you replaced them with?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I certainly agree with your assessment of c*******t China. They are known abusers of human rights, a major contributor to pollution and environmental damage, a safe haven if not an endorser for ransomware hackers, intellectual property thieves on a massive scale, an allay of warmongering North Korea, and currently conducting an obvious military expansion in the South China Sea. C*******t societies are not our friends. But regarding Kodak, their action, IF it is in response to China’s demand, is so minuscule compared to the huge amount of business that almost any American company you can name does with China, that it hardly seems balanced to single them out. If you want to protest China’s human rights record, then don’t buy ANYTHING from China, and I think you’re going to find that very difficult considering they are currently producing a huge percentage of consumer items. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m all for your position, I just think Kodak’s action is trivial compared to the larger problem. I haven’t added up the percentages, but I’m guessing a substantial amount of the cameras and lenses used by UHH members are manufactured in China. Maybe we should start by boycotting them?

User ID

It’s where bebulamar gets his beloved Kodachrome. That oughta be nuffsedd right there !!!

User ID

By “general” I mean general, just as by “necessary” I mean necessary.

I wasn’t referring specifically to legacy supplies. They made all sorts of stuff ... grey cards, projectors, funky digital cameras, etc.

MDI Mainer

And even in the ancien régime had not Fuji already photographically outclassed and out-competed this ill-starred company (whose founder took his own life in 1932)?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

My darkroom is filled with Kodak products from safelights/filters to chemicals and film, so for my “general” work, their products are “necessary”.

Yes, I still practice “this ancient regime” occasionally and still shoot some TMax, although I do generally prefer Fuji color film. Call it nostalgia, or manufacturer/marque loyalty or habit, but there are products that I’ve used most of my life, and I appreciate the legacy and quality as well as the familiarity.

MDI Mainer

At one time hand-grenades too!

MDI Mainer

What's a darkroom? All kidding aside, a few years ago my neighbor's son was thinking of taking a photography class at the local community collage and, reading the course description, actually asked me that question! I do on some level envy those who can still practice the craft.

Along the same lines, I once had a young secretary who came across a cache of onionskin, and asked what it was. She just about refused to believe me when I explained about making carbon copies.

MDI Mainer

And while we're on the subject of Kodak's t***sgressions, let us not forget this sordid tale of p******c profiteering from 2020:

July 28, 2020: The Trump administration announced that it planned to give Kodak a $765 million loan for manufacturing ingredients used in pharmaceuticals, in order to rebuild the national stockpile depleted by the C****-** p******c and reduce dependency on foreign factories.[122] The funding would come through U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, a government agency with international mandate.[123] Within two days, the company's stock price had gained as much as 2,189% from its price at the close of July 27 on the NYSE.[124] The New York Times reported that one day before the White House announced the loan, Kodak CEO Jim Continenza was given 1.75 million stock options, some of which he was able to execute immediately.[125] The funding was put on hold as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission began probing allegations of insider trading by Kodak executives ahead of the deal's announcement,[126] and the funding agency's inspector general announced scrutiny into the loan terms.[127]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodak

User ID

Nostalgic endeavors are not necessities nor are they general practice. Enjoy film photography while it’s still manageable. Photograph some antique car races, fox hunts, or the Viking games. Maybe they should ban digital devices at nostalgia events and historic reenactments :-)

BebuLamar

Did I said Kodachrome? Well I meant Ektachrome. Sorry.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Just because I admit to personally finding it nostalgic and comforting to work in a dark room, I wouldn't term film photography as a “nostalgic endeavor”. It is simply a different medium for creating a photograph, and those who still use it appreciate that a silver print has a different aesthetic appearance from a giclee print and are willing to manage the “inconvenience” of chemistry to achieve that end. I do in fact photograph older classic European cars and the occasional “classic car race”, collect Maxfield Parrish prints and have a house filled with Art Deco and Art Nouveau “antiques”. I also like old friends, old wine and old manners (something that is often lacking on UHH). There seems to be a tendency in our country for some to discard anything old or historical (including individuals) in favor of something new and shiny, but lacking character. A sadness.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Your point is well taken, I had forgotten that sordid “incident”.

FrumCA

Much like the same thing Facebook and some of the other social media giants are doing.