This morning in lower Manhattan, Eastman Kodak filed for Chapter 11 at the bankruptcy court after a decade-long struggle to turn profits in this era of digital photography. If you follow any photography news, you’ve probably read countless articles speculating when this day would happen, but it doesn’t make the pill any easier to swallow (especially when one of the listed ‘liabilities’ is $245M of US retirement pensions. hoo boy.).
Regardless of what happens, I’ll always have love for Kodak. Their films and iconic colors and contrasts elicit nostalgia and inspiration, plus they have captured so many wonderful memories for me and millions of others. There’s no way I could express myself about the gratitude I feel for Kodak better than David Gonzalez did today on the NYT Lens Blog. Be sure to check out his tribute to “Life – and Kodak – Remembered.”
While I try and resist the urge to stockpile Portra and Ektar, Ektachrome and Tri-X, please admire the wonderful Kodak-created images from our Flickr pool below. Please feel free to argue about what you think is the best Kodak film in the comments — even Kodachrome (may it rest in peace)!
“Land Mark, Williamsburg” by Ravi Jolly:
“Coney Island Lights” by Barry Yanowitz:
“Fifth Avenue Diner” by Jill Harrison:
“I C E” by 12th St David:
“No Parking, Williamsburg” by Shawn Hoke:
“Waiting for Summer, Coney Island” by Larry Beckhardt:
“Tower” by Peter Kruger:
“Red Hook Cranes 6″ by Alex Rabb:
Untitled by John J. Genna:
For years, I’ve wanted to do a photowalk through Brooklyn’s Chinatown ever since I read Robert Sietsema wax poetic about it here. I did go visit a few years back, but went camera-less and have regretted it ever since. Plus, there aren’t nearly enough great photos of Sunset Park in our Flickr pool! Though I LOVE Ed Brydon’s shot below…
Anyway — who’s in? Let’s meet at the N Train at 8th Avenue at the south end of Chinatown. We’ll walk up 8th Avenue and hopefully sample a few of the local delicacies like hand-pulled noodles, banh mi, and dumplings to ward off the cold. Please feel free to invite friends!
Date: Saturday, January 21st
Time: 3:00pm – 6:00pm (or later!)
Location: Meet outside the N train at 8th Avenue!
Bring a tripod if you want to continue shooting after dark! And if you just want to come along for the food — I don’t blame you.
Brooklyn photographer Alec McClure makes me want to take more photographs.
He’s been really inspiring me lately. Go see more at urban dreamscapes.
In the summer of 1978, when Ed Koch was the mayor of New York and John Travolta was dancing through Brooklyn in Saturday Night Fever, 27 people spoke at a public hearing in favor of designating two quiet blocks in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn a historical district. Check out a vintage photoset including pictures from that summer over on photographer Frank Florianz’ site. Oh, you sexy Ektachrome, you.
The two blocks in question at the hearing were Albemarle Terrace and Kenmore Terrace. Anchored on the north side by the gorgeous Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church and Parsonage, these two quaint dead-end streets are among the most charming and beautiful I’ve had the pleasure of visiting in Brooklyn.
I first learned about this tiny neighborhood when oogling real estate maven Mary Kay Gallagher’s neighborhood guide a couple of summers ago. I have kind of a thing for Brooklyn mews – I find their equestrian history totally romantic and fascinating. So one afternoon, I hopped on my bike and headed off to explore the Terraces.
Once I arrived (a long story involving a very flat bike tire and a bike that has not yet recovered), I found the neo-Federal rowhouses more reminiscent of Philadelphia than Brooklyn. Their original construction dates back to 1916-1917 at the hands of renown Brooklyn architecture firm Slee & Bryson, and Albemarle Terrace is the older of the two streets. The houses that line Kenmore Terrace are slightly more modern than those on Albemarle, and they boast some of the first examples of attached garages which allowed the well-to-do middle class families who resided on the Terrace to easily park their new-fangled cars.
There is a lot more fascinating history about these two picturesque blocks over at NYC.gov, and you can check out the full historic district report here. Also check out more photos over on Forgotten NY – or just head down to Flatbush and see them for yourself!
UPDATE: Ed just tipped me off that there’s an open house this weekend. I mean, if you’re in the market…
Thursday, January 19th, 2012 by Jill
tags: a little brooklyn love, film
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